I Left Finance and Bought a 'Stale' Fro-Yo Business — Now It Brings in $21 Million/Year

Why It Matters

The revival of frozen yogurt demonstrates how data‑driven product innovation can resurrect a stagnant franchise, creating sizable revenue upside for investors and signaling broader opportunities in the post‑pandemic food‑service landscape.

Key Takeaways

• Frozen yogurt servings up 10% YoY in 2025.
• Last quarter shows 32% YoY surge, signaling resurgence.
• 16 Handles projected $28M sales in 2025, up from $20.6M.
• New product lines like edible cookie dough boost same‑store revenue.
• Franchise turnaround achieved via innovation and expanded store footprint.

Summary

The video chronicles Neil’s pivot from a finance career to acquiring 16 Handles, a frozen‑yogurt franchise many deemed a dead‑end. He argues that the sector is on the cusp of a revival, citing recent consumption trends as proof.

Industry data shows frozen‑yogurt servings rose 10% year‑over‑year for the year ending July 2025, with a striking 32% jump in the most recent three‑month window. 16 Handles reported $20.6 million in systemwide sales for 2024, $12.5 million in the first half of 2025, and projects $28 million for the full year—signaling robust growth despite prior stagnation.

Neil emphasizes that the turnaround stemmed from “the right energy, product mix, and innovation.” Introducing edible cookie‑dough toppings and expanding the store count lifted same‑store sales, while new revenue streams diversified the franchise’s earnings.

The resurgence suggests that niche dessert concepts can rebound when paired with product innovation and strategic expansion, offering investors and operators a blueprint for revitalizing seemingly mature categories.

Original Description

In 2024, New York-based frozen yogurt chain 16 Handles brought in $20.6 million in systemwide sales, and in the first six months of 2025, systemwide sales reached $12.5 million, according to documents reviewed by CNBC Make It.

“Everybody thought frozen yogurt was fading … but we revived the category,” 30-year-old CEO and majority owner Neil Hershman says.