Steiner Ranch couple serves up sweet treats

Elisa and Kurt Pederson opened their first Pinkberry on Bee Cave Road in West Lake Hills in April 2013. The entrepreneurial couple quickly plunged into Westlake life—cheering at Westlake High School Chaparrals games; serving yogurt during lunch at Westlake High School; and partnering with Eanes ISD schools, the Eanes Education Foundation and other local nonprofits in their fundraising efforts and special events.

After successfully launching their Westlake location, Elisa and Kurt began preparing to open a second location in Barton Creek Square Mall. Elisa said the couple is excited to introduce Pinkberry to a whole new segment of the Austin population.

Residents of Steiner Ranch, Elisa and Kurt moved from California by way of Connecticut, where Kurt owned and operated a series of Jiffy Lube service centers. A few years into their Connecticut life, the Pedersons began searching for new business ideas and a new city in which to raise their children.

"We were looking for a business that our kids would be excited about and something that would make people happy," Elisa said. "We're foodie people," added Elisa—making the food industry a natural choice.

On a family trip to Manhattan, the Pedersons stopped at a Pinkberry and were wowed by the yogurt's fresh, light flavor and clean finish, she said.

Already fans of Austin, the Pedersons decided the city would be an ideal place to introduce Pinkberry's consciously crafted take on frozen yogurt.

The original Pinkberry launched in West Hollywood, California, in 2005. Nine years later Pinkberry has more than 250 stores worldwide in 19 countries, including Japan, Egypt and India.

Elisa attributes the success of Pinkberry to its tart, refreshing taste; its gourmet toppings; and its focus on healthy ingredients.

The yogurt is made with nonfat milk with live cultures, Elisa said. Almost all of its toppings are 100 percent free of trans fats, hydrogenated oils and high-fructose corn syrup. The fruit toppings are also always fresh and never frozen or doused in syrup, according to the Pinkberry website.

"Pinkberry is fanatical about quality," Elisa said.

Elisa's personal favorites are original flavor with fresh fruit, and a holiday combination of peppermint- and chocolate-swirled yogurt topped with dark and white chocolate peppermint bark, she said.

In addition to frozen yogurt, Pinkberry offers an all-natural Greek yogurt as well as customizable shakes and smoothies.

Pinkberry's growing catering business can accommodate a crowd of up to 1,000 people. The Pedersons can cater a variety of events, including meetings, holiday parties and weddings.

"Our yogurt is a great alternative to a groom's cake, and it's a light and refreshing treat to go along with dancing," Elisa said.

Now swirling at Pinkberry

The flavors at the frozen yogurt shop are inspired by European gelaterias and yogurterias.

• Chocolate hazelnut


• Original


• Peach


• Pomegranate


• Pumpkin


• Salted caramel


• Strawberry


• Vanilla

A sampling of toppings

The shop offers seasonal fruit and toppings that are mostly 100 percent free of trans fat, hydrogenated oils and high-fructose corn syrup.

• Fruit: mango, kiwi, raspberries


• Dry: toasted almonds, organic fruity bears, coconut, strawberry popping Boba,


• Liquid: pomegranate juice, caramel, honey, grapefruit basil puree

Additional locations

The Pedersons plan to open additional Pinkberry stores in the Austin area in the future.

The Barton Creek Square Mall location, 2901 S. Capital of Texas Hwy., is slated to open during the upcoming holiday season, Elisa Pederson said. It will be the second location for the yogurt-based business owned by the Pedersons.

Pinkberry Westlake, 3300 Bee Caves Road, Ste. 640, Pinkberry West Lake Hills, 512-330-9994, www.pinkberry.com/westlake

• Sun.–Thu. 11 a.m.–10 p.m.


• Fri.–Sat. 11 a.m.–11 p.m.