Top 25 Franchise Marketing Leaders: Brittany Knollmiller — Head of Marketing, Yogurtland

Name: Brittany Knollmiller
Role: Head of Marketing
Brand: Yogurtland
Brand Website: https://www.yogurtland.com/

With over 15 years of experience in the food and beverage industry — including a formative tenure at El Pollo Loco — Brittany Knollmiller brings both operational savvy and creative vision to her role as head of marketing at Yogurtland. Since joining the iconic self-serve frozen yogurt brand in 2020, Knollmiller has focused on turning consumer love into brand loyalty and franchisee success.

“Honestly? I love that no two days are the same,” Knollmiller said. “You’re constantly balancing the big brand picture with the realities on the ground. And there’s something really rewarding about creating marketing that not only looks good, but actually works for our franchisees.”

Now overseeing marketing for more than 220 Yogurtland locations worldwide, Knollmiller is helping the brand tap into its emotional resonance — creating campaigns that connect through nostalgia, cultural relevance, and experience-based value.

Q&A With Brittany Knollmiller, Head of Marketing, Yogurtland

1851 Franchise: What do you love most about franchise marketing? 

Brittany Knollmiller: Honestly? I love that no two days are the same. You’re constantly balancing the big brand picture with the realities on the ground. And there’s something really rewarding about creating marketing that not only looks good, but actually works for our franchisees. When franchisees tell me, “This campaign really worked well,” that’s just everything.

1851: What’s the single most important thing franchise marketers can do to improve unit-level economics?

Knollmiller: Make it simple. Franchisees have enough on their plates and they don’t need overly complicated campaigns or marketing that’s hard to execute. We need to focus on what actually drives traffic and sales, and then give them plug-and-play tools that make it easy to activate. We have to really listen to what’s happening in-store.

1851: What do you see as franchise brands’ largest marketing opportunity today?

Knollmiller: For us at Yogurtland, it’s all about leaning into how much people genuinely love this brand. We hear “I love Yogurtland” all the time and that kind of emotional connection is powerful. Our opportunity is to build on that love through cultural moments, collectability and reasons for people to keep coming back — without relying on constant promos. Personally, I’m not a fan of over-discounting or cheapening the brand. I would rather create value through experience, not markdowns.

1851: What marketing trends are you watching closely for 2025?

Knollmiller: Community-driven content, nostalgia and emotional connection are leading everything right now. Guests want to feel something, not just be sold to. Loyalty surprises, creative drops and fan-forward collabs are how we’re keeping things fresh.

1851: What is one bold prediction you have for what’s next in marketing?

Knollmiller: The best brands will stop marketing like brands. They’ll think more like creators — and if they do it right, their guests will help handle the storytelling for them.

Growing and selling franchises is difficult. No great franchise did it alone. Want to learn more about how 1851 helps franchisors grow their franchises with confidence? Visit www.1851growthclub.com and see what we can do for you.