When Neil Hershman, the 30-year-old CEO and majority owner of frozen yogurt chain 16 Handles, visits his self-serve dessert shops, he keeps it simple. His go-to order: a plain tart-flavored swirl with strawberries, blueberries, chocolate chips and hazelnut crunch.
And no, he does not eat frozen yogurt every day — just a few times a week, he says.
In 2024, New York-based 16 Handles brought in $20.6 million in systemwide sales, and in the first six months of 2025, systemwide sales reached $12.5 million, according to documents reviewed by CNBC Make It.
Once crowded with brands like TCBY, Yogurtland and Menchie’s, the self-serve frozen yogurt space has been shrinking since 2016, according to data from food service research firm Technomic. However, since taking over the company in 2022, Hershman says there’s been a “surge” in customer demand at 16 Handles.
In-store traffic has been on the rise, people are spending more in stores and same-store sales have increased by over 10% year over year since he took over, he says.
