Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory – RMCF – To acquire Yogurtini, U-Swirl

Yogurtini (YHI, Inc), the popular national self-serve frozen yogurt franchise created by two sisters and based in Tempe, Arizona, announces that it has entered into a definitive acquisition by Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Inc. (NASDAQ: RMCF) headquartered in Durango, CO, for an undisclosed amount. In addition, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory will be purchasing a controlling equity interest in U-Swirl, Inc., headquartered in Henderson, NV.

“Yogurtini has always been touted for its upscale design, unparalleled creativity, superior product and reflections of an active and healthy lifestyle. Personally it was always about the fun of the self-serve experience and the pleasure of working with our team to develop an incredible franchise system that so many of our franchisees have benefited from,” said Natasha Nelson, co-founder and President of Yogurtini, Inc. “The growth strategy proposed by Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory and U-Swirl was an obvious choice to generate sustained growth and drive significant long-term value in a highly competitive market. I am confident that with Yogurtini under the superior reputation and leadership of Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory Yogurtini will flourish for years to come,” she continued.

“Through the combination of three self-serve frozen yogurt chains there will be over 75 retail stores under one umbrella. The entire executive team believes this acquisition strategy will offer our current and future Yogurtini franchisees potential in increased savings through volume purchasing discounts, greater distribution and special offerings to our stores that could only be provided by a company such as Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory,” said Chelsey Nelson, co-founder and Vice President of Yogurtini.

About Yogurtini

Created by Tempe, AZ natives and sisters, Natasha Nelson and Chelsey Nelson, Yogurtini® Self-Serve offers up to 16 rotating healthy and fat-free frozen yogurt flavors and over 70 toppings. Yogurtini only serves real yogurt that contains live and active cultures approved by the National Yogurt Association. The popularity of Yogurtini and the brand has been recognized consistently by customers and the press in its native Arizona, where readers recently voted Yogurtini as “Favorite Place to Chill” in 944 Magazine and “Best Sweet Spot” in College Affair Magazine. Natasha Nelson and Chelsey Nelson were both named in the “Top 35 Entrepreneurs Under 35″ in The Arizona Republic and Arizona Magazine. The Yogurtini concept and franchise has been touted by the national press including The Wall Street Journal, Fox News, Inc. Magazine, CBS News and Business Week including many others.

About Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory – RMCF

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Inc. (RMCF) is an international franchisor and confectionery manufacturer. RMCF is engaged in the manufacture of a range of chocolate candies and other confectionery products. As of March 31, 2010, there were 11 Company-owned, 29 franchisee/licensee-owned and 305 franchised RMCF stores operating in 36 states, Canada, and the United Arab Emirates. As of February 28, 2010, the Company was selling its products in a select number of specialty markets, including wholesaling, fundraising, corporate sales, mail order and Internet sales.

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Post Written By: Ed Liston Ed Liston is a senior contributing editor at TheStockMarketWatch.com. An active market watcher and investor, Ed guides an independent team of experienced analysts and writes for multiple stock trader publications. He is widely quoted in various financial publications on the Internet. When Ed is not writing about stocks, investing in stocks, talking about stocks, or otherwise doing something stock related, he likes to go sailing and fishing in his yacht.