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Thursday, May 1, 2008
Tasti D-Lited Shout Out
Tasti D-Lited was given a shout out today in the official Tasti D-Lite blog. It's quite nice, so many thanks!
Monday, April 28, 2008
Pinkberry's Outing Raises Questions for Tasti
As chains like Tasti D-Lite and Pinkberry have become increasingly popular, there have been concerns about what exactly is in the "yogurt" that makes it taste so good without calories. The drama surrounding the class-action lawsuit continues, now forcing Pinkberry to reveal its exact ingredients, and the results showed why they were so hesitant to do so. Even though Pinkberry markets itself as "all natural," the truth does not lead to that conclusion:
The aftermath to the controversy has had interesting ramifications on Tasti. New York Magazine food blog "Grub Street"'s lede to their post about it has to scare Tasti:
The revelation that Pinkberry is filled with all sorts of gross things has shaded opinion of Tasti as well. Grub Street asked Pinkberry devotees about the news and asked several of them about their opinion of Tasti (none were favorable). The most interesting answer came from Benny Tagliareni, 28, when he was asked if he eats Tasti D-Lite.
It seems clear that a) perception is that Tasti is composed of non-natural ingredients and b) that this Pinkberry law suit is going to shade opinion of Tasti. Tasti's doing its part with its fresh, very natural new image. Additionally, the "flavor + nutrition" page proclaims "Natural Ingredients." "Tasti Science" explains, "We use natural ingredients and just enough real sugar, because it just tastes better that way."
But, thanks to Pinkberry, the folks at Tasti have to reach out even more stringently to ensure customers that there's nothing unhealthy about eating Tasti D-Lite.
The list includes at least five additives defined by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization as emulsifiers (propylene glycol esters, lactoglycerides, sodium acid pyrophosphate, mono- and diglycerides); four acidifiers (magnesium oxide, calcium fumarate, citric acid, sodium citrate); tocopherol, a natural preservative; and two ingredients — starch and maltodextrin — that were characterized as fillers by Dr. Gary A. Reineccius, a professor in the department of food science and nutrition at the University of Minnesota and an expert in food additives.
The aftermath to the controversy has had interesting ramifications on Tasti. New York Magazine food blog "Grub Street"'s lede to their post about it has to scare Tasti:
Back in those heady days when the small-screen Sex and the City reigned over New York, it was all about skinny girlie-girl Miss Charlotte York and her tasteless Tasti D-Lite. Let’s hope that this summer’s big-screen SATC has caught up with the times, because any body fat–phobic New Yorker knows that today it’s all about that tangy frozen yogurt Pinkberry.
The revelation that Pinkberry is filled with all sorts of gross things has shaded opinion of Tasti as well. Grub Street asked Pinkberry devotees about the news and asked several of them about their opinion of Tasti (none were favorable). The most interesting answer came from Benny Tagliareni, 28, when he was asked if he eats Tasti D-Lite.
Uch, no. I don’t eat Tasti D-Lite. It’s all fabricated — disgusting. There’s nothing wholesome about it. You’re ultimately eating garbage. But I don’t expect any fast food to be healthy at all.
It seems clear that a) perception is that Tasti is composed of non-natural ingredients and b) that this Pinkberry law suit is going to shade opinion of Tasti. Tasti's doing its part with its fresh, very natural new image. Additionally, the "flavor + nutrition" page proclaims "Natural Ingredients." "Tasti Science" explains, "We use natural ingredients and just enough real sugar, because it just tastes better that way."
But, thanks to Pinkberry, the folks at Tasti have to reach out even more stringently to ensure customers that there's nothing unhealthy about eating Tasti D-Lite.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Tasti Socially Networks
As Tasti continues to extend its online presence, it comes as little surprise it's trying to get in on the social networking game. This week, Tasti launched a Facebook page. Users can become "fans," get news, see photos, upload photos, have discussions with other fans, etc. It's unclear as of yet how much value it adds, but we'll have to wait to see what Tasti plans to do with it and how fans use it. An interesting experiment, to be sure.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Pinkberry Is Not Frozen Yogurt
We're a little late on this news item, but Pinkberry settled a suit last week, which asserted their product isn't all-natural frozen yogurt as claimed.
It's also worth noting that Pinkberry is also considerably more calories than originally claimed. Of course, this isn't anything Tasti hasn't dealt with in the past. Tasti made the switch from "frozen yogurt" to "frozen dessert" a long time ago, and on last week's press release, the PR team finally found a great spin. They wrote, "Not a frozen yogurt because it doesn't contain yogurt and not enough fat to be ice cream, Tasti D-Lite is a uniquely perfect indulgence with just 70 to 100 calories per four fl. oz. serving." This spin still prevents Tasti from seemly unnatural, while clumping its lack of yogurt with a lack of fat.
In any case, it's interesting to see Pinkberry go through the same mistakes Tasti ironed out years ago. Maybe it's not the competitor we thought it might be. For more info on the ingredients in Tasti, check out Tasti Science.
In a class-action lawsuit filed last year, Pinkberry — which operates roughly 50 stores in California and New York — was accused of misrepresenting its product as “frozen yogurt” and making bogus health claims, including that the dessert (which comes in three flavors: plain, which is very sour; green tea, which is chalky; and coffee, uncommonly delicious) was “all-natural.”
In a preliminary settlement reached this week, Pinkberry denied any wrongdoing but agreed to pay $750,000 to the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank and Para Los Niños. The plaintiff, Lisa Sutton, who said she suffered injuries and undue loss of money spent on Pinkberry products, will receive legal fees and a $5,000 award for bringing the suit.
Under California law, a product cannot be marketed as frozen yogurt unless it is made from milk that is fermented with certain bacteria, mixed off-site rather than in stores, and sold with its ingredients prominently displayed. In the past, Pinkberry had been secret about its products’ ingredients, but it now lists them on its Web site, and it has begun to mix the product off-site.
It's also worth noting that Pinkberry is also considerably more calories than originally claimed. Of course, this isn't anything Tasti hasn't dealt with in the past. Tasti made the switch from "frozen yogurt" to "frozen dessert" a long time ago, and on last week's press release, the PR team finally found a great spin. They wrote, "Not a frozen yogurt because it doesn't contain yogurt and not enough fat to be ice cream, Tasti D-Lite is a uniquely perfect indulgence with just 70 to 100 calories per four fl. oz. serving." This spin still prevents Tasti from seemly unnatural, while clumping its lack of yogurt with a lack of fat.
In any case, it's interesting to see Pinkberry go through the same mistakes Tasti ironed out years ago. Maybe it's not the competitor we thought it might be. For more info on the ingredients in Tasti, check out Tasti Science.
Tasti D is bloggin', press releasin', diversifyin'
The folks at Tasti sent over some interesting news updates to me this weekend.
1) Through franchising.com, Tasti released a press release, more formally encouraging new franchisers to help them build their 500-center franchise in five years. The release is in line with the franchising strategy previously discussed on Tasti D-Lited. The release focuses on the experience of the managerial team, the devotion of the consumers (like yours truly), and the health benefits. They continue to use "dessert your guilt" as a tagline. The release continues the build up for the flagship store in NYC, which is opening in the next few months. Tasti D-Lited is planning on getting there for opening day, but we'll see how the timing works out. On a more personal note, the new franchising plan has affected me quite greatly--the licensor of the New Haven location still hasn't decided whether or not to renew and thus still hasn't opened.
2) Tasti D-Lited officially isn't the only Tasti D-Lite blog online! Tasti D-Lite has started an official blog, which has minimal unimpressive content so far, but should be utilized more in the future. Interestingly, it's hosted on Xanga rather than on tastidlite.com. I'd imagine they'll make the switch over relatively soon, as they continue to rollout new features on their new website.
3) Speaking of new features on their website, you may notice some updates on tastidlite.com. We previously made fun of some of the silly images rotating on the homepage. The girl with the crazy eyes is still there (thank god!), but they replaced the out-of-place beach frolickers with an image of some whipped cream and a smoothie. Interesting to note the prominent placement of the relatively unpopular smoothies--I've yet to try one, but will now. This new smoothie emphasis is reflected in the updated Tasti Treats section as well. It is now broken into "classic d-lite menu," "smoothie d-lite menu," and "d-lite to go menu." The smoothie menu is the most interesting and includes Asian-inspired names for their smoothies and shakes. Sundaes are also featured.
Tasti appears to be (smartly) diversifying its menu, beginning to take on Jamba Juice with this new menu. The To Go menu focuses on cakes and special treats, which is yet another branch off from the core frozen dessert offering. And, of course, the classic menu is the one we already know and love. In any case, it's increasingly interesting to see Tasti shape its strategy as it begins its quest to expand across the country. This first update is a good sign of things to come.
1) Through franchising.com, Tasti released a press release, more formally encouraging new franchisers to help them build their 500-center franchise in five years. The release is in line with the franchising strategy previously discussed on Tasti D-Lited. The release focuses on the experience of the managerial team, the devotion of the consumers (like yours truly), and the health benefits. They continue to use "dessert your guilt" as a tagline. The release continues the build up for the flagship store in NYC, which is opening in the next few months. Tasti D-Lited is planning on getting there for opening day, but we'll see how the timing works out. On a more personal note, the new franchising plan has affected me quite greatly--the licensor of the New Haven location still hasn't decided whether or not to renew and thus still hasn't opened.
2) Tasti D-Lited officially isn't the only Tasti D-Lite blog online! Tasti D-Lite has started an official blog, which has minimal unimpressive content so far, but should be utilized more in the future. Interestingly, it's hosted on Xanga rather than on tastidlite.com. I'd imagine they'll make the switch over relatively soon, as they continue to rollout new features on their new website.
3) Speaking of new features on their website, you may notice some updates on tastidlite.com. We previously made fun of some of the silly images rotating on the homepage. The girl with the crazy eyes is still there (thank god!), but they replaced the out-of-place beach frolickers with an image of some whipped cream and a smoothie. Interesting to note the prominent placement of the relatively unpopular smoothies--I've yet to try one, but will now. This new smoothie emphasis is reflected in the updated Tasti Treats section as well. It is now broken into "classic d-lite menu," "smoothie d-lite menu," and "d-lite to go menu." The smoothie menu is the most interesting and includes Asian-inspired names for their smoothies and shakes. Sundaes are also featured.
Tasti appears to be (smartly) diversifying its menu, beginning to take on Jamba Juice with this new menu. The To Go menu focuses on cakes and special treats, which is yet another branch off from the core frozen dessert offering. And, of course, the classic menu is the one we already know and love. In any case, it's increasingly interesting to see Tasti shape its strategy as it begins its quest to expand across the country. This first update is a good sign of things to come.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Tasti's #1, says Food Experts
There has been quite a dearth of posts on Tasti D-Lited lately, as our local store still hasn't reopened (it's been five months!!?? That is not a "season," folks!), but there's good news! We'll be in New York this summer and will certainly be making up for lost time.
And, in case you forgot just how good Tasti really is, food authors and HuffPo bloggers Jodi Lipper and Cerina Vincent ranked Tasti D-Lite as the best Frozen Yogurt (err... "frozen dessert") in the country. Tasti was followed at #2 by rival Pinkberry.
Of Tasti, they write:
And, in case you forgot just how good Tasti really is, food authors and HuffPo bloggers Jodi Lipper and Cerina Vincent ranked Tasti D-Lite as the best Frozen Yogurt (err... "frozen dessert") in the country. Tasti was followed at #2 by rival Pinkberry.
Of Tasti, they write:
Tasti D is pretty much our favorite place on earth, but unfortunately it's only available in certain parts of the country right now. (However, more of these gems will be popping up around the country soon, so stay tuned.) This stuff is incredibly delicious, has only 20 calories per ounce for most flavors, and is all natural! That means no crazy chemicals, so you can feel good about indulging in this stuff. Plus, it comes in literally hundreds of unique flavors like fluffernutter, cake batter, mudpie, cinnamon crunch, etc. We've found that Tasti D makes a great lunch when you add healthy toppings like almonds or granola, or a perfect snack when swirled on a cone with a few sprinkles. Just be careful about licking your cone while walking down the street - a few construction guys may notice.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
NEW IMAGE: Don't Feel Guilty. Please. Seriously.
The biggest change between the old, ugly website and the shiny, new one is the image Tasti is projecting. Cover up the ice cream scoop in the top left corner, and it's quite hard to tell if the site is for an ice cream change or a health-conscious spa and resort.
The central photo rotates between a determined woman stretching before a liberating work-o
ut, two happy women laughing at a joke, and a young couple barefoot on the beach. All happy, all skinny, all young, all pretty. In addition to the (rather clever) tagline "dessert your guilt," the site features "refresh revive renew," "for your active lifestyle," and "your very own guiltless pleasure." The stock banner that runs throughout the site features kiwis, oranges, and blueberries. It's clear Tasti is branding itself as the place the trendy soccer mom stops between pilates and sushi. Is this necessarily the niche Tasti best fills? Perhaps--but it also might alienate a large portion of its potential base--namely, the entire male gender.
This new image (no matter how you look at it, an improvement on the scattered and shoddy feel Tasti formerly projecting) coupled with the expansion plans places Tasti in the Starbucks/Whole Foods type of brand--the chain that expands and expands, while still desperately holding on to the fresh, high quality feel so important to its customer base.
Be sure to check out the new site in its entirety.
The State of the Tasti:
1. New Website Reveals Big Plans
2. Expansion: Certainly Bigger, Possibly Better
3. New Image: Don't Feel Guilty. Please. Seriously.
The central photo rotates between a determined woman stretching before a liberating work-o
ut, two happy women laughing at a joke, and a young couple barefoot on the beach. All happy, all skinny, all young, all pretty. In addition to the (rather clever) tagline "dessert your guilt," the site features "refresh revive renew," "for your active lifestyle," and "your very own guiltless pleasure." The stock banner that runs throughout the site features kiwis, oranges, and blueberries. It's clear Tasti is branding itself as the place the trendy soccer mom stops between pilates and sushi. Is this necessarily the niche Tasti best fills? Perhaps--but it also might alienate a large portion of its potential base--namely, the entire male gender.
This new image (no matter how you look at it, an improvement on the scattered and shoddy feel Tasti formerly projecting) coupled with the expansion plans places Tasti in the Starbucks/Whole Foods type of brand--the chain that expands and expands, while still desperately holding on to the fresh, high quality feel so important to its customer base.
Be sure to check out the new site in its entirety.
The State of the Tasti:
1. New Website Reveals Big Plans
2. Expansion: Certainly Bigger, Possibly Better
3. New Image: Don't Feel Guilty. Please. Seriously.
Monday, March 10, 2008
EXPANSION: Certainly Bigger, Possibly Better
As the first report in a series about The State of the Tasti, Tasti D-Lited takes a look at Tasti's massive expansion and franchising plans.
What It Is
Tasti D-Lited likes to herald its small-town roots as the brainchild of one typical "New York Woman." But the company has taken a decidedly corporate turn (not that there's necessarily anything wrong with that). Last year, the company incorporated as Tasti D-Lite LLC after being acquired by a New York private equity firm, Snow Phipps Group, LLC. Jim Amos took over as CEO with his goal (which is proclaimed "a good one" in the updated History section of the website) to help Tasti extend its reach across the world as the number one "good-for-you" frozen dessert in the world. Amos recently published "The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Franchising" (Penguin)--but he does have good taste in Tasti--his favorite flavor is Peanut Butter.
Over the next five years, Tasti plans to open 500 "centers" mostly in the United States. The expansion will be headlined by two new "flagship" stores opening in Manhattan this year (Tasti D-Lited will try to cover these stores soon, obviously). Tasti is looking for owners to run all these new franchises, as "Own a Center" receives its own tab and a prominent location on the minimalist homepage. The tab introduces four options for potential owners: single-unit franchises, multiple-unit franchises, area developer franchises, and most intriguingly, international master franchises.
As for the investment for new owners, the request for information asks, "The initial investment for a single Tasti D-Lite center ranges from $229,670 to $433,350. Are you prepared to make an investment in this range?"
To give some perspective on the expansion, 500 shops would put Tasti right in line with the number of locations operated by Ben and Jerry's, make it bigger than Coldstone, but (way) smaller than TCBY.
What It Means
Essentially, this expansion is good for customers and bad for franchisers. On the most functional level, Tasti will be available in many more places, covering more states and streets. Not to mention, the increase in revenue theoretically means more funding for R&D and tasteology (as they call it) and thus a better product.
Current franchisers have been somewhat up in arms about the transition. This e-mail has been making the rounds among franchisers, bringing some of Amos' past transgressions into light. Apparently he's ruffled a few feathers in his past franchising and expansion endeavors, leading to lawsuits and alleged fraud. Not to mention that franchisers, who were used to dealing with small-time owners and individual attention, will have to get used to sharing Tasti's resources much more broadly. Of course, for aspiring franchisers, opening a Tasti location is now easier than ever. It will be interesting to see if this uprising of current franchisers manifests itself in any meaningful ways. E-mail tastidlited@gmail.com with info.
What this expansion really means to us is still in doubt. All of us love the personalized and un-corporate feel of Tasti shops and certainly don't want it to turn into Starbucks. On the other hand, it's easy to understand that bringing Tasti to the masses requires more funding and more established management. Will these new flagship stores maintain the Tasti feel and environment? Or will it more mirror the new website--which maintains a Tasti feel, while making massive improvements--being more functional, easier-to-navigate, and slightly more professional looking. Only time will tell, but it is a risk most likely worth taking.
As always, we'll be keeping this angle in mind as the franchising plans develop.
The State of the Tasti:
1. New Website Reveals Big Plans
2. Expansion: Certainly Bigger, Possibly Better
What It Is
Tasti D-Lited likes to herald its small-town roots as the brainchild of one typical "New York Woman." But the company has taken a decidedly corporate turn (not that there's necessarily anything wrong with that). Last year, the company incorporated as Tasti D-Lite LLC after being acquired by a New York private equity firm, Snow Phipps Group, LLC. Jim Amos took over as CEO with his goal (which is proclaimed "a good one" in the updated History section of the website) to help Tasti extend its reach across the world as the number one "good-for-you" frozen dessert in the world. Amos recently published "The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Franchising" (Penguin)--but he does have good taste in Tasti--his favorite flavor is Peanut Butter.
Over the next five years, Tasti plans to open 500 "centers" mostly in the United States. The expansion will be headlined by two new "flagship" stores opening in Manhattan this year (Tasti D-Lited will try to cover these stores soon, obviously). Tasti is looking for owners to run all these new franchises, as "Own a Center" receives its own tab and a prominent location on the minimalist homepage. The tab introduces four options for potential owners: single-unit franchises, multiple-unit franchises, area developer franchises, and most intriguingly, international master franchises.
As for the investment for new owners, the request for information asks, "The initial investment for a single Tasti D-Lite center ranges from $229,670 to $433,350. Are you prepared to make an investment in this range?"
To give some perspective on the expansion, 500 shops would put Tasti right in line with the number of locations operated by Ben and Jerry's, make it bigger than Coldstone, but (way) smaller than TCBY.
What It Means
Essentially, this expansion is good for customers and bad for franchisers. On the most functional level, Tasti will be available in many more places, covering more states and streets. Not to mention, the increase in revenue theoretically means more funding for R&D and tasteology (as they call it) and thus a better product.
Current franchisers have been somewhat up in arms about the transition. This e-mail has been making the rounds among franchisers, bringing some of Amos' past transgressions into light. Apparently he's ruffled a few feathers in his past franchising and expansion endeavors, leading to lawsuits and alleged fraud. Not to mention that franchisers, who were used to dealing with small-time owners and individual attention, will have to get used to sharing Tasti's resources much more broadly. Of course, for aspiring franchisers, opening a Tasti location is now easier than ever. It will be interesting to see if this uprising of current franchisers manifests itself in any meaningful ways. E-mail tastidlited@gmail.com with info.
What this expansion really means to us is still in doubt. All of us love the personalized and un-corporate feel of Tasti shops and certainly don't want it to turn into Starbucks. On the other hand, it's easy to understand that bringing Tasti to the masses requires more funding and more established management. Will these new flagship stores maintain the Tasti feel and environment? Or will it more mirror the new website--which maintains a Tasti feel, while making massive improvements--being more functional, easier-to-navigate, and slightly more professional looking. Only time will tell, but it is a risk most likely worth taking.
As always, we'll be keeping this angle in mind as the franchising plans develop.
The State of the Tasti:
1. New Website Reveals Big Plans
2. Expansion: Certainly Bigger, Possibly Better
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Tasti Launches New Website
Well, it was bound to happen eventually. As Tasti D-Lite prepares to embark on their quite extensive expansion plan, the stone-age website has been replaced by a sparkly, brand-spanking-new one. The update is much needed and a huge improvement. The new site includes a really sweet new favicon, a whole new layout, a new brand logo, a new tagline, and tons of new information. Not surprisingly, "own a franchise" is prominently located on the homepage. In any case, over the next week, we'll take a look at a lot of the new information more in-depth. We'll analyze the new brand image, the massive expansion plans, the history and nutrition. So keep checking back here over the next few weeks for The State of the Tasti series.
The main photo rotates between three options, but this was the clear one to screen cap. Look how crazy the girl on the left looks! No one wants to look like that! It looks like the magic Tasti chemicals finally got to her brain. Or a gun is being pointed at her head, and she's being told she'll be shot if she doesn't smile enthusiastically. Or she just has some mental issues...
The main photo rotates between three options, but this was the clear one to screen cap. Look how crazy the girl on the left looks! No one wants to look like that! It looks like the magic Tasti chemicals finally got to her brain. Or a gun is being pointed at her head, and she's being told she'll be shot if she doesn't smile enthusiastically. Or she just has some mental issues...
Friday, January 11, 2008
Stealing from the Best
Cold and Tasti-free in Massachusetts today, some friends and I descended upon an original and high-brow establishment--"Truly Yogurt" in Wellesley. I was appalled to see the list of "soft serve" flavors--there's truly nothing delightful about this wannabe yogurt. Get your own fun, yet nonsensical abbreviation!
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