Yasso

Yasso is an American frozen-yogurt brand focused on snack-sized frozen desserts made with Greek yogurt. The brand was founded in Boston in 2011 by childhood friends Amanda Klane and Drew Harrington, who were both in their twenties at the time. Their concept centered on presenting frozen yogurt as a convenient, indulgent-feeling snack with a lighter nutritional profile than many conventional frozen desserts. Bars became the brand's most recognizable format and helped establish Yasso in the U.S. frozen-dessert aisle. The company's proposition combines familiar dessert flavors with portion control and yogurt-based formulation. Rather than positioning itself solely as a traditional yogurt company, Yasso has operated at the intersection of better-for-you snacking and frozen confectionery. Its products are designed for consumers seeking a sweet treat while paying attention to calories and, in many cases, protein and dairy-based ingredients. The brand's identity has therefore been tied to accessible frozen snacks rather than premium restaurant-style desserts or a broad portfolio of refrigerated yogurt products. Yasso expanded rapidly after its launch. By 2016, its revenue was projected to exceed $50 million, reflecting growing distribution and consumer interest in Greek-yogurt frozen snacks. In 2018, Yasso entered an agreement involving private-equity firms Breakaway Ventures and Castanea Partners. Castanea became the brand's majority investor, supporting the next phase of its development. Before the transition in executive leadership, Klane and Harrington served as co-chief executives. Craig Shiesley was appointed chief executive officer in 2019. Unilever acquired Yasso in 2023. The transaction placed the brand within Unilever's global ice-cream and frozen-dessert portfolio alongside brands including Ben & Jerry's, Magnum, and Talenti. Yasso remains identified with the U.S. frozen-yogurt and better-for-you snack segment, while its ownership by a multinational consumer-goods company gives it access to a larger corporate platform. Public reference material does not establish a separate stock listing, independent financial reporting, or a detailed international operating footprint for Yasso. The brand's principal documented market is the United States.

Yasso was established in Boston in 2011 by childhood friends Amanda Klane and Drew Harrington. Both founders were in their twenties and had grown up together before entering the frozen-dessert business. The company developed a concept around frozen Greek yogurt served in convenient, individually portioned formats. Its products were intended to offer a dessert experience while appealing to consumers interested in lower-calorie snacks and yogurt-based ingredients. The early brand strategy focused on frozen-yogurt bars. This format gave Yasso a clear point of difference from large tubs of conventional ice cream and connected the product with the broader growth of portable, portion-controlled snacking. Greek yogurt provided the brand's central product identity, while dessert flavors and handheld packaging made the products suitable for the frozen-snack aisle rather than only the traditional yogurt section. Yasso grew quickly during the first half of the 2010s. By 2016, the brand was projected to generate more than $50 million in revenue, although this figure was a projection rather than a publicly reported current financial result. Its expansion reflected increasing consumer awareness of Greek-yogurt frozen desserts and the appeal of products marketed as lighter alternatives within the ice-cream category. In 2018, Yasso entered an agreement involving Breakaway Ventures and Castanea Partners. Castanea became the majority investor. The investment marked a shift from a founder-led start-up toward ownership and governance supported by private-equity capital. Klane and Harrington had previously served as the company's co-CEOs. In 2019, Craig Shiesley became chief executive officer, representing a further transition in the company's leadership structure. Unilever acquired Yasso in 2023. The acquisition brought the brand into one of the world's largest consumer-goods companies and aligned it with Unilever's existing frozen-dessert interests, including Ben & Jerry's, Magnum, and Talenti. Yasso's documented identity remains centered on frozen Greek-yogurt snacks, especially bars, and on a lower-calorie or better-for-you proposition within frozen desserts. Available reference material does not provide a complete account of its current product catalog, headquarters operations beyond its Boston origin, international distribution, post-acquisition management, or standalone financial performance. Those details should be verified against current company and retail sources.

• 2023

  Unilever acquires Yasso

  [1]Yasso (frozen yogurt)en.wikipedia.org

  Unilever acquires Yasso and places it within its broader frozen-dessert portfolio.

• 2019

  Craig Shiesley becomes CEO

  [1]Yasso (frozen yogurt)en.wikipedia.org

  Craig Shiesley is named chief executive officer following the founders' period as co-CEOs.

• 2018

  Castanea Partners becomes majority investor

  [1]Yasso (frozen yogurt)en.wikipedia.org

  Yasso enters an agreement involving Breakaway Ventures and Castanea Partners, with Castanea becoming the majority investor.

• 2016

  Projected revenue exceeds $50 million

  [1]Yasso (frozen yogurt)en.wikipedia.org

  Reference material reported that Yasso was projected to earn more than $50 million in revenue, indicating rapid growth by the middle of the decade.

• 2011

  Yasso is founded in Boston

  [1]Yasso (frozen yogurt)en.wikipedia.org

  Childhood friends Amanda Klane and Drew Harrington establish Yasso as a frozen-yogurt brand focused on Greek-yogurt snacks.

Better-for-you frozen snacking that combines dessert-style flavors and convenience with Greek-yogurt formulation, portion control, and a comparatively lower-calorie profile.

• Frozen yogurt snack bars

  Yasso frozen Greek-yogurt bars

  Yasso's best-known product format consists of individually portioned frozen bars made around Greek yogurt. The bars combine dessert-oriented flavors with the brand's better-for-you positioning and are intended to be eaten as convenient handheld frozen snacks. Their format distinguishes them from family-size ice-cream containers and supports Yasso's emphasis on portion control, lower-calorie indulgence, and yogurt-based formulation. The available reference material identifies bars as the brand's principal specialty but does not provide a complete flavor list or current nutritional specifications.

• Frozen desserts

  Yasso frozen-yogurt snacks

  Yasso's broader range is described as low-calorie frozen snacks, particularly products based on frozen Greek yogurt. The category sits between conventional ice cream and yogurt-oriented better-for-you foods, using familiar sweet flavors and single-serve convenience to make frozen dessert more compatible with everyday snacking. Publicly supplied material does not establish the full current range beyond the bar format.

• 2023

  Join Unilever's frozen-dessert portfolioM&A

  Background

  Yasso had established a position in frozen Greek-yogurt snacks and had previously been majority-backed by Castanea Partners.

  Action taken

  Unilever acquired Yasso.

  Aftermath

  Yasso became part of Unilever's frozen-dessert portfolio alongside Ben & Jerry's, Magnum, and Talenti.

  Source

• 2019

  Move from founder co-CEO leadership to professional CEO leadershipStrategy

  Background

  Amanda Klane and Drew Harrington had previously led Yasso together as co-CEOs.

  Action taken

  Craig Shiesley was appointed chief executive officer.

  Aftermath

  The appointment marked a leadership transition as Yasso continued developing as a scaled frozen-dessert business.

  Source

• 2018

  Accept investment from Breakaway Ventures and Castanea PartnersM&A

  Background

  Yasso had grown from a founder-led frozen-yogurt start-up into a rapidly expanding consumer brand.

  Action taken

  The company entered an agreement involving Breakaway Ventures and Castanea Partners, with Castanea becoming the majority investor.

  Aftermath

  The transaction shifted Yasso toward private-equity-backed ownership and preceded a change in executive leadership.

  Source

• 2021.09.07

  Reported2021.09.07

  Yasso launches Birthday Cake frozen yogurt bars[2]Yasso推出生日蛋糕口味冷冻酸奶棒prnewswire.com

  Yasso announced the launch of its Birthday Cake flavor, a new core bar flavor. The bars were available for purchase online at the time of the announcement and were planned to become available at select Target locations in October.

Read more

1. 1Yasso (frozen yogurt)en.wikipedia.org
2. 2Yasso推出生日蛋糕口味冷冻酸奶棒prnewswire.com