Red Mango Announces Record Franchise Expansion

Red Mango, one of the fastest-growing retailers of authentic nonfat frozen yogurt, has announced record franchise development during the first quarter of 2009. Development deals with existing and new franchisees will result in some 128 new Red Mango stores to be added to the franchise network over several years. The agreements include further expansion in California and Illinois as well as entry into Texas, Massachusetts, Indiana, Wisconsin, Missouri, Kansas and Tennessee.

'This has been an incredible quarter for Red Mango, and we're just getting started,' said James Franks, vice president of franchising. 'The explosive growth of our brand will help us double our network in 2009 and set the stage to enter a series of new states in rapid succession.

'The spectrum of backgrounds of new franchisees who have signed with Red Mango demonstrates our enormous appeal as a brand as well as our ability to tailor the opportunity,' Franks added. 'We've found a great fit with multi-unit operators of other brands, successful entrepreneurs of family businesses and individuals looking for a great way to be their own boss. Whether the franchisee is developing a state, a city or a single store, Red Mango has a program that works for each person's need.'

* A California agreement with existing multi-unit franchise owner Yul Kwon, of San Mateo, Calif., awards him the rights to open an additional 46 stores. Kwon, who already owns five Red Mango stores, plans to multiply his success with locations throughout Northern California. A reality-TV celebrity and winner of the highly rated 'Survivor' show, Kwon has transitioned his passion for achievement to the franchise arena with great speed.

* Franchisee John Park, of Northbrook, Ill., who owns three existing Red Mango locations in Evanston, Oak Brook and Naperville, with three more stores under development, recently signed a multi-state agreement to expand throughout the Midwest. Red Mango awarded Park the rights to open a total of 75 Red Mango stores in Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Missouri, Kansas and Tennessee. Park is a veteran to multi-unit franchising and is the largest franchisee of a famous athletic shoe franchise with more than 70 locations. He has also successfully executed other food franchise concepts.

* Red Mango has also awarded its first agreement for Texas. Ramiro Valadez III, of San Antonio, signed a development agreement to build six Red Mango stores. The first location in San Antonio is already under construction and scheduled to open by June. Valadez, a serial entrepreneur and the third generation involved in several family-owned businesses, considers Red Mango's franchise model and ease of operation the most attractive aspect to any business he has experienced. His family is well-known for a national import/export enterprise that has grown into one of the largest leather goods providers to the auto industry, with clients including Toyota, Lexus and Ford.

* Red Mango also has announced its first franchise agreement in Massachusetts. Sean Kim and Kalin Bae, of SEKA LLC, will open the first Boston store for Red Mango later this summer. Kim and Bae first heard of Red Mango through a friend in South Korea, tried the product and were sold. Both are certified jewelers and gemologists, and Kim has managed eight jewelry stores in the greater Boston area for his family.

To address the growing number of inquiries and further Red Mango's expansion plans, the company will host a series of Franchise Growth Information Seminars beginning in New York on May 4 and Dallas on May 11.

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