Ice cream still cold treat king as yogurt shops sprout up

The proliferation of frozen yogurt shops hasn't taken a bite out of the ice cream business, at least not yet, industry officials say.

"We haven't seen any effect because some of the ice cream retailers are adding frozen yogurt to their product mix," said Lynda Utterback, executive director of the Illinois-based National Ice Cream Retailers Association.

She said ice cream sales melted a little nationally during the spring but not because of competition from the fresh wave of frozen yogurt shops.

"It was a cold and wet spring," she said. "The weather affects the ice cream industry more than anything."

Ice cream store owner Rod Lapin agreed that sales haven't changed at the Ye Ole Fashioned Ice Cream and Sandwich shop that's been in operation for 40 years on Savannah Highway. He even offers a rotating flavor of frozen yogurt at his shop and has for many years.

"Our sales are totally unaffected by the yogurt shops," he said. "They are going to attract a different animal from my clientele."

Yogurt shops are clustered downtown near the College of Charleston and mostly in shopping centers in Mount Pleasant and West Ashley.

"It's a younger movement toward that particular product," Lapin said.

Utterback said the rise in frozen yogurt shops is the latest upswing for the industry that's seen its share of licks over the years.

"It started back in the early '80s and then fell off -- a lot," she said. "Now it's coming back. It's the Diet Coke and french fries attitude. They order a Diet Coke because they think it makes up for the french fries."

The move toward healthier menu options, especially for children and the obesity epidemic, is driving part of the renewed interest in frozen yogurt sales, but Lapin wonders how one-item shops will do once cold weather sets in.

"Right now, yogurt shops are the hot business to have, but I don't quite get it," he said. "Without being diversified, it's not going to be a successful year-round business. The hot summer months are the highest for ice cream sales. Once cold weather sets in, those sales will drop off. It's good to diversify with soups, salads and other food."