New Yogurt Shop Owner's Secret: Whipped Cream

Since Rebecca Thomson was born on the day that Sputnik 1 launched, she named all of her businesses after the space craft. So, when she decided to open a frozen yogurt shop in Roswell, she named it after Sputnik as well.

Sputnik’s Yogurt opened at the end of the June in the old Menchie’s building on Holcomb Bridge Road.

“It’s going pretty well so far,” Thomson said. “I have a very well-trained staff.”

With three frozen yogurt shops in a one-mile radius, Thomson knew she had to set herself apart, so she stocked a topping that she says other shops don’t offer but that many of her customers had requested – whipped cream.

“It’s expensive, and it doesn’t weigh anything,” Thomson said. “When you sell by weight, it’s a money-loser. They asked for it a lot, and I was taught to say, ‘No’ and to explain that we have marshmallow instead, but it’s not the same thing. The employees told me that the customers were asking for it, so I said, ‘Go buy it.’”

The shop also has 22 dry toppings, 12 fresh toppings, eight nut toppings, hot chocolate, chocolate fudge, hot caramel and cold marshmallow for its 12 yogurt flavors. There is always at least one sorbet and one sugar-free option. The shop’s most popular flavors are chocolate, vanilla, red velvet and Aunt Jewel’s Wedding Cake.

“It’s a very rich vanilla flavor, and it’s been incredibly popular,” Thomson said.

While eating, customers can take in the Sputnik-themed décor, such as lamps and chandeliers. Thomson said she gets a lot of questions about the theme.

“We have a very fun environment,” she said. “We talk about the history of Sputnik with anyone who asks about it.”

Thomson currently has 12 part-time employees and hopes to add to her staff.

“I’m hoping that I can hire people to keep the pace up and that I can just be the marketing arm of the company,” she said.

Sputnik’s Yogurt is open Monday-Thursday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday 11 a.m.-11 p.m.