Welcome to the Smoothie Operators News PageOn these pages you will find articles and information that we come across from time to time that we think will be of interest, and indeed we will even comment on some of these from time to time ! If you have something you think we will be interested in feel free to contact us.
29th October 2010 - Our full range of Slush and Soft serve machine spec sheets are now availalbe via the DOCUMENTS link on the web site. All these spec sheets are in PDF format. Our Soft Serve Frozen Yogurt (or ice cream) machines are German Engineered and come with a full 2 year Warranty. Please contact us for more inforrmation on the profits you can make from Frozen Yogurt, Slush and ice cream !
 
18th October 2010 - I really should have updated these pages before now ! So much going on. Our business continues to grow, here and export. We have a brand new range of Soft Serve machines, and a range of slush machines which we will now be taking to market. On top of that there is the fantastic vending machine, which we ran a successful trial with, and I am now looking for the first permanent site in the UK for this great money maker. Have a look at a video of the machine at the YOUTUBE LINK !
30th October 2009 - It has been a while since I updaed these pages ! We have had a good summer - would have been better if the Met Office predictions had been correct - but this is England ! We have tied up distribution of our products in Spain, Portugal and Romania. We have als otaken on the agency for Universa lSoft Serve machines - including an exciting new Vending concept - watch this space. We opened an exciting new store in the summer too - combining Frozen yogurt, Smoothies and Italian Gelato - made fresh daily on the premises - and here is a picture - Come and try it in the Telfrod shopping centre.
 
17th April 2009 - Some news has reached my ears on fruit prices , essentially it looks like BLUEBERRY PRICES will remain in the same area that they are in at present, so no decrease in the pipeline on that, however APPLE PRICES are really low , and this could flow through to apple juice prices, and indeed the price of apples for those of you who are juicing your own ! Click on the links to see the articles.
14th April 2009 - Well the 'season' for us in the northern hemisphere has started - and lets hope it's a good one ! There has certainly been some news of late. Firstly INNOCENT selling a chunk to the corporate monster Coke ! A load of their customers feel betrayed - but on the bright side it does show that the smoothie market is real, and starting to be worth significant money ! Next I see that one of the new froen yogurt companies - RED MANGO - has ambitious plans to expand, again underlinign the strenght of the market sectore that Smoothie Operators specializes in ! We still believe that a small compnay, focussed on great products, great service with a friendly and flexible approach is the answer !
26th March - Well Well the sun came out for a bit - and we certainly noticed a surge in demand for smoothies and frozen yogurt ! Long may the summer roll on in 2009... A couple of interesting articles have come past my desk - and I include links to them here. First 'broaden the offer' - just selling one line (smoothies) - with the high overheads etc of todays retail environment can make a business vulnerable - so even the giants are adding food items ! Here is an article about Jamba Juice in the USA getting food on their menu. NEXT we have BREAKFAST - Smoothie King are opening earlier to get the breakfast trade up - and this is a trend I would love to see more of in Europe - Smoothies are a fantiastic way to start the day. FINALLY - we all new this was true - kids influence buying decisions - and here is some research to back it up - and again our products are in exactly the right space !
04/03/09 - I was watching a BBC program - The Truth about food - very interesting it was too. Lots of good scientific information ragarding the effects of how and what you eat ! One section in particular dealt with Dairy in diets. The finding was -DAIRY PRODUCTS HIGH IN CALCIUM ARE BENEFICIAL TO SLIMMING ! The reason for this is as follows - The calcium passes into the intestine in a soapy mixture which tends to line the walls and prevent the absorption of fats. A test was carried out over a 3 month period on cheese, butter and yoghurt being eaten. The results indicated that on a high calcium dairy diet 100% more fat was passed through the body and not absorbed, than one that did not include high calcium dairy. Our frozen yogurt and smoothies made with frozen yogurt are a good sourve of calcium ! Add the benefits of fruit, and all the natural fibre that keeps you feeling fuller, longer, and it is clear our smoothies are really good for you !
5/2/09 - Who can believe it's February already ! While it's snowing - and the phone is not ringing off the hook with orders today - time to update the news pages ! Here are two snippets that you may find interesting. FIRSTLY - there is a new market research report on the juice market in the UK out - showing good growth over the last few years - but unsurprisingly looking less rosy this year ! They do say the market for Fruit juices and health Drinks in the UK was £2.92 Billion in 2007 ! Click here for the Article. SECOND and article on apple juice -and preventive effects relating to Alzheimers ! As long as you remeber to drink some your should be fine then ! Click Here for the Article.
22/1/09 -Interesting News - the Red Mango frozen yogurt brand (all the rage in the USA) is now investing in smoothies too - buying into Jamba Juice - we of course know this is a match made in heaven ! Here is the link to the article.
22/1/09 - Even in these interesting economic times there are deals being done ! One of the large US smoothie chains - Planet Smoothie - has been sold - see here for more details.
16/01/09 - The EU Monolith is set to make sweeping changes again - probably in the one size fits all approach - it looks like the laws on pesticide use are about to get a whole lot more stringent. This could raise the prices of FRUIT as production costs go up and yields come down ! Here is an article with more detail - just watch this space over the next few years !
12/01/09 - HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE ! It is the time of New Years resolutions - and even the UK government is in on the deal ! The 'anti-Obesity' campaign swung into action with TV advertising starting over the weekend. Here is an article giving a summary - ANTI OBESITY CAMPAIGN
15/12/08 - Euro/Sterling exchange rate continues to slide - and as we manufacture our frozen yogurt in Europe, at a state of the art facility, we are having to increase our UK prices. New pricing is on the web site -and the Online Store - only affecting frozen yogurt.
8/12/08 - MINTEL Reports on drinks consumption - it seems that the healthy message is geting through to kids and adults alike !
05/12/08 - DairyFoods reports on the growing consumer demand for Frozen Yogurt, in the USA, but we are seeing that in the UK now too - with increased sales and more enquires and installations. If you want to get frozen yogurt into your businesslet us know !
03/12/08 - BREAKING NEWS ! NEW STORE OPENING - We have been comissioned to develop an exciting new concept store in Telford - watch this space for regular updates ! The Store will be opening early in the new year !
PLAY SPOT THE TRUCK ! If you spot our lovely truck anywhere - take a picture and send it in - we will post it here ! Here is a picture of the Fruity Beast, as if you could miss it ! This is outside the Rendezvous in Leicester Square. 
Last Spotted on the Ferry between Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight ! Note the lovely weather ! 
SPOT THE TRUCK UPDATE ! The Smoothie Wagon was snapped leaving 'Zandepol' in Holland
in July - Thanks Matt Wardle. 
Mintel Identify ProBiotics as the cosmetic 'trend' for 2009 - well we believe beauty comes from within - so what better way to feed your inner beauty than with a smoothie that is made with our fantastic ProBiotic frozen yogurt ?
Jamba Juice is the dominant US Smoothie Brand - the US market is huge , and Jamba has the leadership position nationally, the Uk and Europe markets are still young, buit will consolidate as they mature we feel.
Going to New York ? Maybe a bit of Christmas shopping (although the dollar a lot stronger this year) - here are some funky juice and smoothie places to try while you are there.
Are Juices good for You ? Of course they are - but with stories about sugars, carbs, dental health etc in the press it can be confusing. Everything in moderation we say. Here are some articles on the benefits of FRUIT and VEGETABLE juices. And on this theme - there is a lot written about 'Super Foods', it is nice to see our own BLUEBERRY, grown in europe, not in some far flung exotic rain forest, getting the recognition it deservees ! | 
