Red Mango makes push into Mexico

Red Mango is making its first foray outside the United States with a franchise agreement in Mexico. The Dallas-based frozen yogurt chain said Thursday it struck a deal with Cinemex, a Mexican movie theater operator with 184 theaters in that country. "This is a major milestone, and I am especially pleased that we are expanding Red Mango internationally from the United States with one of the world's great companies," said Barry M. Barron, Sr., chief executive of Red Mango. "Cinemex brings resources which make them an experienced partner for rapid and high-quality development in Mexico,” he said. “It is a perfect way to launch our efforts to expand the brand internationally." The deal will put Red Mango kiosks immediately in Cinemex’s theaters, along with developing an undisclosed number of freestanding units. "Mexican consumers, in general, and the 65 million customers of Cinemex theatres, in particular, are already familiar with frozen yogurt," said Jaime Rionda, Cinemex commercial director. Red Mango’s first units in Mexico are expected to open in Mexico City in 2012. The chain currently has 140 units in the United States.