Yolé

About Yolé

Founded in 2014 in Spain, Yolé is a low-fat and low-sugar ice cream brand using natural ingredients, located in shops, kiosks, supermarkets and airports. Based in nine countries around the world, it has six UK sites, all of which opened late in 2021 and in 2022. The brand was initially franchised here by Milad Nawaz and Salman Qureshi. The former Subway franchises, who became Wok & Go master franchisees in 2019, opened a store in Shoreditch in September 2022 that is half Wok & Go and half Yolé. Nawaz said: “We’re very proud of how we’ve been able to open five stores in our first year, despite the continued uncertainty in the hospitality sector due to covid. Each new opening has gotten a great response from the locals, and we look forward to expanding outside of London to take our brand all across the UK. Our plan initially was to open one store to see if the brand would work in this country. To our surprise, despite the challenges that the hospitality industry has faced we were able to open five stores in our first year. Now we want to roll it out across the UK, and to do that we need franchises. We started in London as we felt if we could successfully launch the brand here, then it could be something we could take across the country.” In March 2024, Yolé hired a new UK head of franchise, Lorraine Ellis, ahead of an “ambitious expansion plan” here. “I have exciting news to share with you all! Yolé, the trailblazer in the dessert industry, is now embarking on an ambitious expansion plan in the UK,” said Yolé chief executive Marta Diaz. “After the tremendous success of Yolé in 15 countries, with more than 80 stores, we are excited to continuing our innovative and health-conscious concept in the UK market. We are actively seeking dynamic individuals interested in joining the Yolé family and becoming a part of the zero dairy, zero sugar added revolution. Together, we will disrupt the dessert market and create a lasting impact on the way people indulge in sweet treats.” In July 2024, Ellis told Propel Yolé is targeting 150 UK sites over the next few years and is aiming to open a flagship store and first new franchise location this year. “There’s been lots of openings in the rest of the world, but the focus is firmly on the UK now,” Ellis told Propel. “It’s our business case for this part of the world - we want to be successful in the UK first and then expand further into Europe and, of course, the US. We have big ambitions for the UK and can see up to 150 sites here over the next few years. We’re hoping to have a flagship store open in London by the end of the year - which will be a hub and a training centre, and somewhere we can roll out our new format stores. We’re recruiting franchisees and we’re open to everything - owner-operators, multi-unit franchisees - and having an ambitious target means they must be passionate about the brand. We’re hoping to open several by the end of this year. We expected that we’d begin in London and grow out from there, but we’ve had enquiries from all over the country, and a lot of interest from Scotland. We think that in the coming years, we’ll eventually be opening one store a week globally.”

Why franchise with Yolé

• ✓Yolé products are retailed internationally through territory franchisees via high-profit kiosks and stores. The company claims it a has low initial investment thanks to the development of sustainable concepts that do not need a large initial investment, while franchisees can recover their investment in less than a year and reach a high net profit. Kiosks require low investment cost and increased profitability and speed of cost recovery. They can be relocated easily and fast and are customisable to every need, available space and predicted food traffic. Stores are adaptable in design, able to accommodate high turnover of customers and have a minimal kitchen area to maximise seating space. Food trucks are available in different sizes, can be placed in many locations and have minimal set-up. Training and continuous follow up are offered. Total investment is €35,000 and franchise fee €8,500, with a 6% royalty fee. Contract periods are for five years. The business is looking for franchisees to take on at least three sites each, as it targets expanding into every major UK city. A company spokesman said: “Yolé’s business model is centred around a franchise system that supports rapid expansion and consistency across all locations, leveraging advanced technology and comprehensive franchisee support to ensure business success. This approach has propelled Yolé to international acclaim, with strong and consistent sales figures, and a presence in over 16 countries, making it a compelling opportunity for entrepreneurs looking to invest in a health-first and environmentally conscious brand.”