By Olivia Robinson

Published June 28 2018

Local residents and cottagers will soon be able to indulge in low-fat and dairy-free frozen treats. A Yogen Früz kiosk is slated to open in Minden’s Up River Trading Co. by the Canada Day weekend.

With the purchase of the building next-door Up River Trading Co. now extends to the corner of Bobcaygeon Road and Newcastle Street. Up River Trading Co.’s co-branding with Yogen Früz means that the frozen yogurt kiosk will have a separate street entrance but will connect to the rest of the store.

According to Up River Trading Co.’s owner Mike McKeon the Yogen Früz kiosk will be open by the afternoon of June 29.

Despite dipping into the frozen yogurt business at one end of its store McKeon said it will still proudly serve Kawartha Dairy ice cream in the café.

“We’ll have three yogurt options: low-fat vanilla low-fat chocolate and a sherbert” said McKeon of the Yogen Früz flavours.

“With those three yogurts you can create anything you want. We’ll have nine different fruit that is mixed with any of those three base yogurts and a multitude of toppings.”

McKeon said that the new space will be a kind of “foodie” area – home not only to the Yogen Früz stand but sauces jams and other unique food finds.

Earlier this spring Up River Trading Co. enclosed half of its patio to make room for more home décor and furniture accessories. The addition of a flat roof enabled McKeon to build a rooftop patio – without losing any valuable seating – and complete with a pergola to shield customers from the sun.

“We just needed more retail space and comfortable seating. We felt like we were hemmed in. We needed to breathe out.”

Up River Trading Co. will also be introducing sandwiches and salads from AM/PM Outdoor Gourmet to their weekend café menu.

“We are first and foremost a gift and home décor store” said McKeon of the new changes. “But come in and enjoy the experience with a specialty beverage or a Yogen Früz.”