Red Mango is billed as the premier provider of original all-natural frozen yogurt or, as people who like to abbreviate would call it, fro-yo. The fro-yo and smoothie franchise was founded December 2002, by Korean-American entrepreneur Daniel J. Kim. The establishment is present in places like Los Angeles, New York, Seoul, Bangkok, Singapore, and Manila. It also reached Cebu to make our local yogurt lovers happy.

Red Mango caters mainly to young, style-conscious, trendsetting people in their teens, twenties, or thirties who lead active lifestyles and aspire for a premium experience of life. In January 2012, Red Mango Ayala – Cebu served as the venue for Everything Cebu’s interview with the fabulously regal winner of the 2011 Queen of Cebu pageant, Bee Urgello.

The frozen yogurt at Red Mango is produced in the way that real, authentic yogurt should be made. This is the reason why Red Mango is proud to say that its delectable yogurt provides numerous health benefits like aiding your digestive system (by making it stronger), improving the immune system, and increasing the body’s ability to absorb calcium. You can easily see why Red Mango’s slogan is “treat yourself well.”

Probiotics, or the good live bacteria found in natural yogurt, help boost the immune system when you ingest them. Red Mango frozen yogurt is pure and wholesome because it contains no artificial flavoring, no preservatives, and no gluten. It’s also delightfully fat free, and it has protein along with those live and active cultures that are good for the body. Incidentally, Red Mango is a member of the International Probiotics Association (IPA). As an organization equally split between industry and academia, the IPA aims to provide a forum for exchange of research and the latest breakthroughs in probiotic technology and new product development.

Did you know that Red Mango founder Dan Kim provided one of his company’s frozen yogurt machines for the office of actor Leonardo di Caprio? The first Red Mango store in the United States opened near the UCLA campus in Los Angeles, California, in 2007. However, the very first Red Mango store was opened in Seoul in 2003, and was started by Premium Retail Brands, which is wholly owned by Relay International Ltd.

In an interview published in Smart Business November 2009, Dan Kim said that his objectives for the company are to

1. get people to try the product,
2. get them to know it’s good for them and
3. give them a great in-store experience.

These form a part of what he called the Mangofesto, which is a two-page manifesto outlining what the company stands for, its values, objectives, and goals.

When you enter Red Mango Ayala – Cebu, you could probably notice right away its streamlined yet highly attractive modernist decor. The opening of the sleek mall space that this Red Mango store occupies was sometime in 2011. When you’re standing in front of the store’s counter, waiting for your turn to order, you can peer through the glass sneeze-guard and consider your choices from the yummy yogurt and toppings displayed in the refrigerated containers and ready to be served, which is what musician Rico Blanco did when he paid a visit to the store last year.

An upholstered bench is dominant along much of one side of the store, with tables and swivel chairs ranged on the other side of the long bench. These tables and chairs look faintly influenced by the mod style of 1960s British youth culture. The stools for the counter seating near the front door also look as though they could fit nicely into a somewhat restrained mod retro decorating scheme. The wall lighting is muted but bright enough to see by, if you happen to be at the store in the evening.

The team at Red Mango Cebu – Ayala is a youthful and dynamic group. They know how to make you feel like the store is really your guilt-free haven where you can enjoy delicious yogurt in good company.

The next time you crave for some calorie-packed ice cream, maybe you should think about having Red Mango frozen yogurt instead. You might still have to take it easy with the sweet toppings though, if you happen to have a sweet tooth. Although the Red Mango franchise is primarily frozen yogurt and smoothies, the main menu also has waffles, coffee and tea.

As for its frozen yogurt served on shaved ice (with three toppings), Red Mango featured the following delicious combinations:

• mango-berry crush = original yogurt + mango + blueberry + crushed graham crackers
• peach-berry special = original yogurt + peach + blueberry + Special K
• tropical crunch = original yogurt + kiwi + peach + sliced almonds
• Asian invasion = green tea yogurt + mochi + muesli + red bean
• kiwizato chips = green tea yogurt + kiwi + mochi + chocolate chips

Another fascinating yogurt flavor you could try at Red Mango Cebu – Ayala is strawberry, though this one seems to be a seasonal item for Valentine’s. Yogurt smoothie flavors offered at Red Mango are banana, kiwi, and (let’s not forget) mango. If you were in the Indian subcontinent, a term that could be used to mean a yogurt smoothie is lassi, which is what Indians call their popular and traditional drink in which yogurt is blended with water and a variety of natural flavors. Lassis are enjoyed as refreshment during hot weather and commonly taken with lunch.

When you go to Red Mango, you can feel like you’re saying hello to swirly bliss. If you are a person who particularly loves your fro-yo, Red Mango had a loyalty card promotion. You receive a stamp for every purchase worth at least a certain amount, and when you have filled up the loyalty card by collecting sixteen stamps, you would get an exclusive, limited-edition Red Mango gift card.

Formerly in Ayala Center Cebu Level 3, the Red Mango store has moved to Level 4, beside Onstage. An entrance is also available from The Terraces. For more on Red Mango, you can check out Red Mango Cebu – Ayala’s Facebook page or call the telephone number (032)417-1748.