Tag: frozen yogurt dry mix

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Diary of a Diabetic: the Power of Stevia

We received some great feedback about our Stevia Frozen Yogurt Mix from a type 2 diabetic named Steve (this is a real experience but names have been changed to protect the innocent). Keep in mind that this is not a conclusive scientific study, but rather one person’s anecdotal account.

On two different days, Steve measured his blood sugar level before eating frozen yogurt and two hours after. He compared YoCream, which is sweetened with lots of sugar, and Nanci’s stevia-sweetened frozen yogurt. Keep in mind that Steve does not take any medications to control his blood sugar levels.

Here are his results:

Day 1: YoCream sucrose (table sugar) sweetened frozen yogurt
Starting blood sugar level: 135
Blood sugar level 2 hours after eating 4 oz. of YoCream: 280

Day 2: Nanci’s Stevia Frozen Yogurt
Starting blood sugar level: 123
Blood sugar level 2 hours after eating 4 oz. of Nanci’s: 116

These numbers mean that the Nanci’s Stevia Frozen Yogurt had no affect on Steve’s blood sugar level, while the YoCream product caused his blood sugar to spike dramatically.

For many people with diabetes who can’t handle sugar, stevia is an excellent option. It is an herb from South America that has been used as a natural sweetener for centuries. The leaves of the Stevia plant have a clean refreshing taste and have zero calories, zero glycemic index, and zero carbs. And it’s 300 times sweeter than sugar, so you can use very little of it. And best of all, it is natural!

Check out our Vanilla Stevia Frozen Yogurt mix on our website. We also have a Chocolate Stevia Frozen Yogurt mix coming soon.

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Increase Sales Part 2: Improve Customer Experience

Improve the In-Store Experience for Your Customers

Kids Activity Area

Most frozen yogurt stores don’t offer a great place for families to relax and enjoy their frozen yogurt. A kids area is a great way to entertain children, so parents can enjoy their time in your shop. Parents will be much more likely to visit your store, if they know their children will be entertained. Even if your shop is small, you can use a corner for some simple kids activities.

A few ideas for a kids area include:
    • Paper and washable crayons/markers
    • TV with kids movies on a loop
    • Small toys or games
    • Simple crafts
    • Video game system – like a Nintendo Wii

Live Music

Ask local musicians to play music on weekends or evenings. Many musicians will play for free or just for tips. If you don’t have room inside your shop, maybe they could set up on your patio and you could put out additional chairs.

Games

Have easy-to-play group games available for customers to use and return. Ideas include trivia games (i.e. Wits & Wagers), Jenga, Catch Phrase, etc.

Do you have other ideas you’d like to share? Email us at info@nancis.com

CLICK HERE TO READ PART 3: MARKETING TIPS

 

 

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Benefits of dry powder frozen yogurt mix

Nanci’s has manufactured liquid yogurt mix in the past and now manufactures and sells dry frozen yogurt mix, so we fully understand the pluses and minuses to each. In our local market (Phoenix, Arizona) we used to offer a liquid frozen yogurt mix that was a terrific product, but about 27 years ago, we developed our first dry mix and since then we have added to that product line and have decided that dry frozen yogurt mix is the way to go – so our dry mixes have become our signature products.

Here are some of the reasons we are believers in dry mix:

  • With Nanci’s Frozen Yogurt dry mixes you don’t compromise taste, texture, or quality compared to liquid. We have done many blind taste tests between liquid and dry and no one can tell them apart.
  • Nanci’s dry mix has great probiotics you want in frozen yogurt. We have a unique method of micro-encapsulation that protects the good bacteria in the dry form. When you eat the frozen yogurt the probiotics come to life and deliver all the great health benefits yogurt is known for.
  • Less expensive than liquid mix. In addition to the price of the mix, liquid mix is expensive to store and ship. Nanci’s dry mix is usually at least $1 per gallon less expensive than comparable liquid mix plus the savings on storage and shipping.
  • Easy and inexpensive to store – you don’t need a ton of refrigerated space. Liquid mix actually comes frozen solid and it takes 1-3 days to thaw before you can pour it into your machine. This can cause logistical problems when you are out of product and requires a large amount of expensive freezer and refrigerator space.
  • Easy to use – you can use it right when you need it. Our dry mix is very easy to mix up – you just stir it into water or milk and then pour into your machine. It literally takes 3 minutes.
  • You can customize it if you want. Dry mix is very flexible. You can adjust the amount of liquid to affect the creaminess/iciness and you can mix and match flavors with the base mix.
  • Liquid mixes are pre-flavored, so storing in inventory a good variety of mixes can be prohibitive. We’ve solved that problem with our 100 flavor concentrates that you can combine to create more than 200 amazing flavors.
  • With dry mix you’re in control. You can control the level of flavor the overall texture from extra creamy to cold and icy. With liquid mix the factory is in control, not you.

If you want to talk more about the dry frozen yogurt mix versus liquid frozen yogurt mix give us a call at 1-800-788-0808 or email us at info@nancis.com. You can also get more info on our mixes on our Frozen Yogurt Mix webpage.

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Opa! Greek Frozen Yogurt

Greek Yogurt is all the rage. It is thicker and creamier than regular yogurt and has better health benefits…but what is Greek Yogurt?

Greek Yogurt, which is also called strained yogurt, is yogurt that has been strained extensively to remove much of the liquid whey, lactose, and sugar. This creates the thick consistency and strong flavor.

US News & World Report reported on the health benefits of Greek Yogurt in a recent article.

Nanci’s Frozen Yogurt is excited to introduce a new Greek Frozen Yogurt recipe. We don’t feel you can really capture the essence of Greek Yogurt by simply adding a flavoring, so we’ve created a recipe that gives you the best and most authentic Greek Frozen Yogurt on the market.

Contact us for the details at info@nancis.com or 1-800-788-0808.

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Two Magic Numbers for Frozen Yogurt

The correct temperature setting on your soft-serve machine is critical for making a good frozen yogurt product and for extending the life of your mix. Every frozen yogurt shop owner should have a good food thermometer like this one: https://frocup.com/product/digital-thermometer/

Use a thermometer to check the temperature in the hopper (the reservoir where you pour the mix) and the temperature of the product when you dispense it from the machine.

Magic Number #1

Hopper Temperature = around 35 degrees F (between 34 to 39 degrees)

The hopper temperature is critical for keeping the product fresh The temperature in the hopper should be under 40 degrees F. Any warmer and the product can go bad. It should also be warmer than 32 degrees or else the product in the hopper will freeze. If you see the product freezing in the hopper, just raise the temperature a degree or two.

Magic Number #2

Finished Product Temperature = 17-19 degrees F

The temperature of the product when it is dispensed should be between 17-19 degrees F. This would also be the temperature of the freezing cylinder. Because Nanci’s Frozen Yogurt use pure fruit sugar, the temperature for our mixes needs to be a little lower than for cane sugar mixes. A sugar mix might come out stiff at 22 degrees, but Nanci’s mixes are better at around 18 degrees. This can easily be adjusted on your machine – just consult your manual or contact the manufacturer if you need help.

If your product ever comes out wet, soupy, or melted then you need to lower the temperature. Frozen yogurt should come out stiff, creamy, and frozen (not wet). It’s amazing what a difference a couple of degrees makes.

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Frozen Yogurt Recipe Ideas

We have some great flavor recipes/combinations that will keep your customers coming back time and time again. We all have our “go to” best selling flavors that we don’t want to change, but you never know when a bold and unique new flavor idea could become your signature product. The beauty of Nanci’s mixes is you can keep it very easy and simple or you can make artisan products with your own creativity.

The key to these recipes is the using the “Blender Method” described below.

Blender Method

  1. Prepare the base mix as normal in a large bucket.FOOD PEANUTBUTTER 2 KC
  2. Fill a blender half way with prepared base mix.
  3. Add the extra additive (fresh peanut butter, Nutella or fruit) into the blender and blend throughly. There shouldn’t be any large particles.
  4. Stir the concentrated base mix from the blender back into the rest of the base mix in the bucket.
  5. Take a quick taste to make sure its the right strength and then pour into your soft-serve machine.

Recipe suggestions:

 

Peanut Butter using REAL peanut butter and Nanci’s peanut butter flavor concentrate

  • Use Nanci’s vanilla base mix.
  • Add 5 oz of Nanci’s Peanut Butter flavoring and 1/4 to 1/2 cup of real peanut butter using the Blender Method.Nutella

Nutella

  • Use Nanci’s vanilla base mix.
  • Add one large container (26.5 oz) of Nutella using the Blender Method.
  • You can also make Peanut Butter Nutella by adding 1/4 cup of peanut butter with the Nutella.

Fresh fruit

  • Use Nanci’s plain tart base, premium tart base, or vanilla base mix.
  • Add about 1 1/2 cups of fresh fruit using the Blender Method.
  • Be sure to blend throughly to avoid any large particles. You may want to strain the mix for seeds.

Peanut Butter Cupstrawberies

  • Use Nanci’s vanilla base mix.
  • Add 1/4 to 1/2 cup of Hershey’s Chocolate Syrup and 1/4 to 1/2 cup of real peanut butter using the Blender Method.

With all these recipes, stir the hopper regularly. After serving the flavor, be sure to clean the machines throughly to remove any seeds or particles.

New flavor combination ideas:

– Peanut Butter & Jelly (combine 1/2 peanut butter flavoring and 1/2 strawberry or raspberry flavoring)
– Snickers (combine salted caramel and peanut butter in either the vanilla or chocolate base)
– Coconut Taro (combine 2/3 taro and 1/3 coconut)

Try it for yourself and let us know how it goes!

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Review of Nanci’s Frozen Yogurt

Check out this review of our frozen yogurt mixes by The Frozen Yogurt Review website. This is a neutral third party that wrote this review — we have no affiliation or connection to them.

You can read the full review on their website at: http://www.thefrozenyogurtreview.com/2014/03/12/review-nancis-frozen-yogurt-mix/

Review of Nanci’s Frozen Yogurt by TheFrozenYogurtReview.com

“Whenever I go into a frozen yogurt store I am curious to see what type of frozen yogurt mix they use.  Last month I had a delicious mix of chocolate and low fat vanilla. The yogurt tasted perfect! It was creamy, cold, and had a delicious clean and rich flavor.  It was not too sweet and it also did not leave a poor aftertaste. I asked the cashier what product they used and she told me Nanci’s. This young lady was very helpful and gave me a little bit of background on Nanci’s frozen yogurt mix. She shared that the customers have always complimented on the stores flavors and that she has not heard of any of their customers being unhappy with the frozen yogurt product.

“I believed it. My cup of fro-yo was delicious. The chocolate was dreamy and the vanilla was velvety! I wanted to share my experience with you guys because the one thing that left me shocked is that Nanci’s frozen yogurt is a dry powder mix!! Dry powder mix? Yes it is a powder base and all you need to do is add water!!! I thought this was amazing that a powder base mix could taste so creamy, milky, and fluffy!

“After talking to the store employees about the frozen yogurt mix they used I went home and did a little research and contacted Nanci’s. I emailed the owner and he got back to me right away which showed me professionalism and dedication to his company. He was more than happy to give me information on his frozen yogurt mix so that I could share it with The Frozen Yogurt Review readers.”

 

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Nanci’s Frozen Yogurt Announces PowerPro Active Cultures

Phoenix, Ariz. — Nanci’s Frozen Yogurt announced its new line of branded probiotic frozen yogurt mix with PowerPro Active Cultures. As an industry leader in providing shelf-stable, powder frozen yogurt mixes, Nanci’s has set a new standard for premium frozen yogurt, with superior taste, texture, flavor, and health benefits.

PowerPro Active Cultures uses micro-encapsulated probiotics, which keep the cultures active and protected in the dry form and in extreme heat. Unlike most probiotics that die at room temperature, PowerPro Active Cultures can be stored at room temperature for more than a year and still deliver the powerful probiotic benefits to frozen yogurt consumers.

Studies have shown that PowerPro Active Cultures deliver more live cells than other probiotic cultures on the market. PowerPro Active Cultures has a higher survival rate through the body’s intestines compared to most other live yogurt cultures.

“Our goal is to provide frozen yogurt store operators with products that are easy to use, taste great, and delivery real health benefits,” said Nanci’s CEO John Wudel. “PowerPro Active Cultures is a critical piece in achieving that goal. As an example, the intestinal tract contains 70% of the body’s immune system, which is why probiotics like PowerPro Active Cultures are so important for good health.”

About Nanci’s Frozen Yogurt

Nanci’s Frozen Yogurt is a manufacturer and international wholesaler of soft-serve mixes including Frozen Yogurt, Fruit Freezer Sorbet, Non-Dairy Soft Serve, No Sugar Added mixes, Smoothie base mix, Granita mixes and more than 100 flavors. Based in the western United States, the family owned company has been in business since 1979, when the first line of healthy dessert products entered the market. For more information, please visit /

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New “Just Add Water” Mixes

Many powder frozen yogurt mixes require milk and/or fresh yogurt in order to make a smooth, creamy frozen yogurt product. We feel that when you have to add milk, you lose many of the advantages of the powder — like cost savings and not needed to refrigerate the mix.

For the last 6 months we’ve been working create a just-add-water mix to rule them all. We had two goals in mind when we started this process: 1) eliminate the need for customers to add milk, and 2) create mixes that stay smooth and creamy even after several days in the machine.

We feel that we’ve achieved both our goals — while still keeping the same great taste our customers love!

We’ve made upgrades to the following products:

  • Vanilla Frozen Yogurt Base Mix
  • Chocolate Frozen Yogurt Base Mix
  • Plain Tart Frozen Yogurt Base Mix
  • Stevia Vanilla Frozen Yogurt Base Mix (no sugar added)
  • Stevia Chocolate Frozen Yogurt Base Mix (no sugar added)

Read below for more details on the “Just Add Water” Mix and our new High-Yield Stevia Mixes.

New “Just Add Water” Mix

The most exciting part about Nanci’s new mixes is that you only need to add water! The base mixes already include milk, yogurt powder, probiotics and all the ingredients needed to make creamy frozen yogurt.

We still recommend adding air into the mix using the machine’s air tubes. Click here to read more about adding air.

Many shops have previously been adding milk to the base mix. In our testing, adding milk to the new base mixes can actually make them too thick. Plus, just adding water will result in significant cost and operational savings. Most importantly, they taste every bit as good as our original mixes made with milk.

New High-Yield Stevia Mix

Our new Stevia-sweetened mixes, both Vanilla and Chocolate, are also now High-Yield mixes. So instead of using 2 gallons (8 quarts/7.5 liters), you should use 2.5 gallons (10 quarts/9.5 liters). The final yield per bag is 3 gallons of mix. You may also need to add an additional 1-2 ounces of flavoring with the higher yield.

If you don’t use the increased amount of water, you may find that the mix is too thick and won’t feed into your machine.

Also, for the Stevia Mixes be sure to only add water and not milk. This is important for the consistency and also to keep the total sugar count low. Milk has naturally occurring sugar that will increase the amount of sugar per serving.

The previous Stevia mixes had to be mixed with warm water, but the new mixes can be added to any temperature water and they will dissolve fine.

Cost Savings with New Mixes

By only needing water, our mixes can provide you a significant cost savings. Here is an example scenario for a typical store on the East Coast, USA.

Previous Base Mix (with half milk and half water)
Cost per Gallon of Mix: $9.80
Cost per Ounce: $0.068

New Just Add Water Base Mix
Cost per Gallon of Mix: $8.40
Cost per Ounce: $0.058

For the Stevia Mixes there are even greater savings. Here is another example comparing the previous Stevia Vanilla and the new Stevia Vanilla (both made with water):

Previous Stevia Vanilla
Cost per Gallon of Mix: $9.20
Cost per Ounce: $0.064

New High-Yield Stevia Vanilla
Cost per Gallon of Mix: $7.67
Cost per Ounce$0.051

For questions about our new mixes email us at info@nancis.com or call 1-800-788-0808.

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The Secret Ingredient for Amazing Frozen Yogurt

Close your office door and make sure no one is listening because I’m about to share with you the secret to making amazing frozen yogurt…ready…here it is…AIR. That’s right – one of the key components of smooth and creamy frozen yogurt is to have air or overrun in the product. If the product comes out icy and dense that means there isn’t enough air in the mix. This is especially important with natural frozen yogurt mixes.

All frozen yogurt machines have a hopper and freezing cylinder. The hopper is where you pour the mix, and the freezing cylinder is the horizontal empty cylinder behind the handles where the mix is frozen and the air is whipped into it. Inside the freezing cylinder there should be at least 30-40% air. This gives room for the product to expand and create a nice, creamy consistency.

Getting air into the product will depend on the type of soft-serve machine you have. Here is a quick breakdown. For more detailed instructions and help contact us at 1-800-788-0808 or info@nancis.com. You can also visit our Training Page for a howto video on adding air into the product.

Pressurized or Pump Soft-Serve Machine

These machines pump the product into the freezing cylinder with the exact amount of air you want – up to 100% air. Pump machines allow for you to set the precise amount of air. Consult the operators manual for your machine to find out how to adjust these settings.

Gravity Soft-Serve Machines

With gravity machines, the mix is poured into a hopper on the top of the machine and gravity pulls the mix into the freezing cylinder. On a gravity machines you need to manually set the air, for a maximum of 45% air.

One very important piece on the machine is the carburetor tube or air tube. The carburetor tube is a skinny tube – usually stainless steel – that you insert into the intake hole in the bottom of the hopper. Once inserted, the top of the tube sticks up out of the product allowing air to get down into the product. All carburetor tubes have some way to shut off the product intake – either by flipping the tube over or by closing off the intake hole using a sleeve that fits around the tube.

Here are the 6 steps:

  1. Pour the frozen yogurt mix into the hopper without the carburetor tube and wait for the bubbling from the intake hole to stop. The freezing cylinder is now full.
  2. Insert the carburetor tube to stop the product from flowing into the freezing cylinder.
  3. Turn on the soft-serve machine and wait for it to freeze down and shut off.
  4. Keeping the intake closed, dispense 8-10 ounces of frozen yogurt into a clean cup. This product can be put back into the hopper.
  5. Wait for the machine to cycle off then open the air intake either by flipping the tube around or sliding the sleeve on the tube.
  6. The overrun is now set and the product should come out smooth and creamy. As long as you leave the air tube in place it will stay this way.
Another important factor in dispensing a great product is the temperature on the frozen yogurt coming out of the machine. Nanci’s mixes are best served at 17 degrees F.

If you have any questions, please contact us.