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

        Digital Sandbox KC recipients: Jaqwan Sirls, PageMaster; Aishah Augusta-Parham, SEPOW; Brandon Fuhr and Joel Stephens, XReps; David Roberson, AZELLA; Eliot Arnold, MoodSpark; and Nikil Ragav, InventXYZ

        Just funded: Digital Sandbox KC starts new year with six new startups on its roster

        By Tommy Felts | January 4, 2022

        Digital Sandbox KC’s latest round of startup funding reflects the emergence of more Kansas City-built, scalable tech in the new year, said Jill Meyer, announcing the fourth-quarter roster of companies bringing innovative ideas to life in the region. “These six companies demonstrate the creativity and diversity of our region’s technology founders and problem solvers,” said…

        Merger alert: ‘Shark Tank’ star teams with Gary Fish, Fishtech to form new cybersecurity powerhouse

        By Tommy Felts | December 30, 2021

        A merger announced today between award-winning cybersecurity solutions providers Fishtech Group  and Herjavec Group will unite the companies as a single entity under a new brand to be announced in early 2022.  The deal — backed by funds advised by Apax Partners LLP (The Apax Funds), which will hold a majority stake in the new…

        Olive Cooke, Sylvia Metta, and Kim Conyers Cauldron Collective

        Vegan spell falls over West Bottoms restaurant as this trio’s plant-based potions ring in a new year

        By Tommy Felts | December 29, 2021

        Every witch needs a coven, said Olive Cooke, Sylvia Metta and Kim Conyers; so they conjured a community in the West Bottoms to serve their vegan bites.  Cauldron Collective — a plant-based, comfort food venture co-founded by self-proclaimed “cooking witches” Cooke, Metta and Conyers in January 2021 — made its mark in Kansas City through…

        Michael Odupitan, Omni Circle Group; photo by @BriJoRaePusch-Zuniga

        Topeka is building its own startup hub; a new group is pushing those left out from survival mode to creation

        By Tommy Felts | December 29, 2021

        Startland News’ Startup Road Trip series explores innovative and uncommon ideas finding success in rural America and Midwestern startup hubs outside the Kansas City metro. This series is possible thanks to the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, which leads a collaborative, nationwide effort to identify and remove large and small barriers to new business creation. The…