Fuzzy Peach fro-yo headed to Charlotte area

A Wilmington-based frozen yogurt company is wading into the area's region's crowded desert marketplace, with three stores near Charlotte and more to come.

The Fuzzy Peach said it has signed agreements to bring franchises to Rock Hill, Fort Mill and Lake Wylie. The self-serve fro-yo company said it also has plans to open two new stores in Shallote and Jacksonville, N.C.

The company was founded by UNC-Wilmington roommates Rocco Quaranto, Wells Struble and Jason Nista. From their About Us: "With business degrees in hand, a couple years in the corporate field and some money saved, the three came together again . The young entrepreneurs opened the doors to The Fuzzy Peach two years after graduation and brought to Wilmington a new sensation in frozen desserts."

The company is now focused on expanding into Raleigh, Fayetteville, Charlotte, Winston Salem and Greensboro, as well as South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.

Charlotte has seen a slew of new self-serve fro-yo locations open over the past few years. The Fuzzy Peach will be joining a market that includes stores by TCBY, Tasty Yo Menchie's, Freshberry, The Frozen Isle and Pinkberry.

The Fuzzy Peach currently has five locations in and around Wilmington, where my colleague Andrew Dunn, who used to work there (Wilmington, not The Fuzzy Peach) told me they were very popular.