Yogurt retailer Red Mango raises corporate flag in Mission Valley.

In January, local frozen yogurt lovers welcomed Red Mango, a retail chain founded in South Korea in 2002 and headed domestically by President and Chief Executive Officer Dan Kim at the Westfield Mission Valley mall.

"We cater to a predominantly female customer between the ages of 18 and 40, who is health-conscious, so we will likely attract some of the 24 Hour Fitness crowd, for example, at the Mission Valley location," Kim said. "Natural frozen yogurt is popular now, I believe, because consumer demands have shifted toward affordable luxury and higher quality ingredients."

Red Mango peddles only two flavors, original and green tea, with topping choices such as fresh pineapple and granola for added flavor.

"We offer real yogurt in frozen form, with no additives or artificial flavors. We offer the green tea flavor because it promotes our goal of healthy, natural ingredients with a function benefit and taste benefit," said Kim.

Red Mango was the first retailer of natural frozen yogurt to receive the association's Live and Active Culture Seal from the National Yogurt Association. The seal is given to manufacturers with products that have live and active culture counts in amounts that researchers say have health benefits.

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While the Mission Valley store is company-owned, one quarter of the other stores are franchises.

Franchisees pay a fee of $35,000 per unit and additional operation costs ranging between $250,000 and $400,000, according to Kim.

A Red Mango store in Westwood is one of the company's strongest stores in sales, said Kim, generating $600,000 in sales from July to December, despite two nearby competitors.

Kim said two more stores are due to open in San Diego this year in Little Italy and Cardiff-by-the-Sea. He said 16 units are operating nationwide.