Farm to Froyo

At Yotopia, we use only the highest quality ingredients, including REAL premium yogurt, not a powder mix like the big chains. Our yogurt is locally sourced from an Iowa dairy farm, and gluten-free, sugar-free, and dairy-free/vegan options are always available.

Yotopia yogurt contains between 100 and 400 million cultures per gram of beneficial live and active yogurt cultures, exceeding levels set by the National Yogurt Association. None of our yogurt contains high fructose corn syrup. See our menu to learn more about our soft-serve offerings and signature froyo mash-ups! 

A Girl with a Dream

The story of Yotopia begins with a girl and a dream: to have froyo whenever she wanted, however she wanted. Inspired by her love of the light, creamy dessert and her experience of self-serve yogurt shops in other parts of the country, 25-year-old Veronica Tessler decided to bring her own twist on the frozen confection to Iowa City. She opened her shop on the corner of Clinton and College Streets in 2011, and the rest is history. 

As with any small business, new competitors and new challenges (including a global pandemic!) have come and gone, yet Yotopia has continued to thrive. By consistently offering high-quality treats in a warm, friendly atmosphere, and by building strong ties to the local community, Iowa City’s oldest frozen yogurt shop has built a loyal following. 

Today, Veronica and her husband, Ryan Bruner, continue to run the shop while raising their young daughter, who shares her mom’s love of froyo.

Locally Owned, Locally Sourced

Veronica’s dream has always been about more than yogurt. As the great-granddaughter of a dairy farmer, she wanted her business to support local producers. 

“Local food has always been important to me, so it’s been a real joy to put my money where my mouth is,” Veronica says. “I feel a lot better supporting local farms than cutting a check to corporate headquarters.”

Country View Dairy, a family-owned and operated dairy farm in Hawkeye, Iowa, has been providing fresh, locally sourced yogurt to Yotopia since 2013, delivered weekly from farm to store.

We also source as many of our toppings locally as possible when in season. Molly’s Cupcakes, another local Iowa City business, provides the cupcake crumbles known as “Molly’s Middles” on our toppings bar.

Cultivating Community

Yotopia’s success has helped Veronica fulfill another dream: giving back to her community — by mentoring women entrepreneurs and investing in other local start-ups, sponsoring local events and volunteering to help build a thriving downtown, and contributing to causes she cares about. Yotopia partners with the Iowa City Community School District for Dine Out for Education and has supported such local organizations as Shelter House, DVIP, the Iowa Women’s Foundation, the Iowa City Bike Library, local schools and PTA/PTO organizations, and Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County, just to name a few.

To partner with Yotopia through our Froyo for a Cause program, contact us at yotopia.iowa@gmail.com. 

The Future Is Froyo

As Yotopia enters its 13th year, we look forward to expanding our offerings in-store and taking our wholesale operations to new heights, bringing farm-fresh froyo to more Iowa communities — and beyond!