Spoonlickers, a West Michigan-based frozen yogurt company, has announced plans to expand with the addition of three to four shops throughout the state via a partnership with the founder of the private equity firm Blackford Capital. Spoonlickers has restaurants in Ada, Grand Rapids, and Eastown.
“When my family and I started Spoonlickers, we did it with every intention of eventually partnering with someone who could help us grow the business and take it to the next level,” says David Darling, founder and CEO of Spoonlickers.
The new partners say they plan on expanding the brand and its offerings by focusing on corporate and private catering, and growing its line of products in regional grocery stores, supercenters, and restaurants.
“I believe the market for Spoonlickers lies well outside the boundaries of our own local economy,” says Martin Stein, founder and managing director of Grand Rapids-based Blackford Capital. “The story, the brand, and the products have the potential to take the self-serve dessert industry by storm.”
Darling says Spoonlickers is known for its self-serve ice cream that’s made without corn syrup or any artificial flavors or colors. He says its frozen desserts contain real milk, including no processed formulas, mixes, or powders. Flavors include butter cookie, mango, strawberry balsamic, Nutella, and peanut butter and jelly, among others.
