Froyo with a ’tini twist: Entrepreneur collaboration serves alcoholic frozen yogurt in KC

August 23, 2023  |  Cienna Romines

Isaac Collins, Yogurtini, and James Thomas, Brain Freeze Mobile Daiquiri, at Yogurtini's Overland Park store; photo by Nikki Overfelt Chifalu

Kansas City is excited by the new flavor combinations popping up as two entrepreneurs give customers a taste of collaboration, said Isaac Collins, teasing a line of alcoholic frozen yogurt that’s already hitting cups in the metro.

James Thomas, Brain Freeze Mobile Daiquiri, and Isaac Collins, Yogurtini

Through a partnership with KC-based Brain Freeze Mobile Daiquiri, Collins’ Yogurtini locations have begun a series of happy hour events to showcase the new offering — allowing people throughout the metro an opportunity to sample, whether they’re in the Northland, Plaza area or South Johnson County.

“Each time we’ve done this, I’ve had a lot of people text me saying ‘I’m rooting you guys on,’” said Collins, the owner of multiple Yogurtini stores across the city. “Every time we post something on Instagram, I get a ton of messages like, ‘Oh my gosh, I want this!’ There’s a lot of excitement and curiosity.”

“They’re curious because it’s like ice cream, it’s like a daiquiri, it’s alcoholic,” added James Thomas, owner of Brain Freeze Mobile Daiquiri. “With an interesting concept like this, everyone wants to try it out — to see what it really tastes like.”

Collins is a veteran entrepreneur who has owned eight businesses in the past 11 years. In addition to Yogurtini, he currently operates a business coaching venture and a yoga business.

From the archives: Don’t let ‘buy local’ be a fad; we’re investing it all in our businesses, says serial entrepreneur

Recently, he’d been wanting to expand his Yogurtini business by incorporating alcohol, he said. 

“One thing that was very obvious by our name ‘Yogurtini’ is people think the ‘tini’ part is mixed with some sort of alcohol, like a martini or something like that,” Collins explained. “Unfortunately we had to say no. ” 

Until now. 

“Obviously our brand is largely for kids,” Collins continued, “but what if we could give adults their favorite flavor with that alcohol component as well?”

That’s where fellow entrepreneur Thomas came in.

Collins and Thomas met at an event earlier this year, and discovered a shared passion to create the perfect combination of alcohol and froyo. 

James Thomas, Brain Freeze Mobile Daiquiri; photo by Cienna Romines

Thomas has owned Brain Freeze Mobile Daiquiri for just over a year, and also was looking to expand his business.

RELATED: Brain Freeze Mobile Daiquiri among PHKC prize winners; It’s amazing when someone understands your vision, founder says 

“First we had to test to see how much of my product and his product could go together to create that perfect combination,” Thomas said in mid-August.

Their solution: just the right amount of Brain Freeze daiquiri — available in two flavors — atop a cup of Yogurtini frozen yogurt; allowing the brand to preserve options for children and adults alike.

Thomas and Collins plan to co-partner on pop-up events and other vendor opportunities this summer and fall. Customers can get their favorite frozen yogurtini, a daiquiri, or a mixture of the two, the duo said.

Startland News reporter Nikki Overfelt Chifalu contributed to this report.

startland-tip-jar

TIP JAR

Did you enjoy this post? Show your support by becoming a member or buying us a coffee.

Tagged , , ,
Featured Business
    Featured Founder

      2023 Startups to Watch

        stats here

        Related Posts on Startland News

        Wonder lofts, Exact Architects

        Wonder developers eye emerging businesses and creatives for Troost

        By Tommy Felts | October 18, 2017

        Business is brewing at the former Wonder Bread bakery. With a flurry of activity at 30th and Troost, the historic site is undergoing a transformation: from yet another vacant space on the corridor to an anchor for residential and commercial life on Troost. “They’ve gutted the inside and they’ve done a ton of work,” said…

        Original Troost Coalition members

        You don’t have to pick a side, neighbor-led Troost Coalition says

        By Tommy Felts | October 18, 2017

        It’s about bringing residents back to Troost Avenue, Cathryn Simmons said. And that means challenging the status quo. “This used to be a free-for-all. Troost was the Wild Wild West of Kansas City,” she said. “You could come over here and do anything you wanted. Legally.” A founding member of the Troost Coalition, Simmons helped…

        Video: Nonprofit wants to bring coworking, craft fairs and farmers markets to Troost

        By Tommy Felts | October 18, 2017

        Nonprofit group Troost Market Collective hopes to revitalize a section of Troost Avenue — from 31st to Linwood — bringing a coworking space, art collective and maker spaces, as well as regular festivals and farmers markets. While other developers are busy building residential and retail space along the Troost corridor, Troost Market Collective co-founders Katie Mabry…

        Ilan Salzberg and Caleb Buland, Wonder lofts on Troost

        Troost revival: Can a brewpub, retail and 670 housing units mend racial divide?

        By Tommy Felts | October 18, 2017

        No turning back now, Ilan Salzberg said. “This is real,” the Wonder lofts developer laughed, gesturing at the freshly installed kitchen cabinetry and hardware in a model apartment unit at 30th Street and Troost Avenue. Wonder is expected to be the first of three major residential developments to open between 27th Street and Armour Boulevard…