Pinkberry executives spent the past two years devising a growth plan, and now the frozen yogurt chain is opening stores at a rapid clip.

The L.A. company, which started the frozen yogurt craze more than five years ago with its tart-tasting treats, has already opened 25 stores this year, and is set to open 11 this month and next, including areas where it hasn’t been before, such as Connecticut; Washington, D.C.; and Qatar.

The company expects there to be more than 100 Pinkberrys around the world by the end of this fall.

Ron Graves, Pinkberry chief executive, said the company started focusing on expansion once it had a team of executives in place that could provide enough support to so many new stores, which are mostly owned by franchisees.

“A lot of companies could grow for growth’s sake, and we have had thousands of requests to open stores,” Graves said. “But you need to have discipline, make the right choices, partner with the right people and have the right infrastructure to support them.”

But Pinkberry faces competition amid its expansion efforts. There’s Red Mango, which also offers tart-flavored frozen yogurt, and newer self-serve chains such as Yogurtland and Menchie’s, which have become popular with consumers.

Pinkberry doesn’t focus on the competition, Graves said, only catering to the tastes of its customers – a strategy that he believes has worked.

“There are people who eat Pinkberry parfaits for breakfast,” he said.

Pinkberry has also introduced a 25-ounce container for people who want to take their favorite dessert home with them.

Fashion Fight

After studying the issue, the California Fashion Association is mounting vigorous opposition to a bill that would extend copyright protection to apparel designs. The issue pits New York and its high-fashion houses against Los Angeles and its thousands of quick-turnaround ready-to-wear companies.

The association, a downtown L.A. non-profit that represents the state’s apparel and textile manufacturers, decided formally to oppose the bill earlier this month. Its members approved a list detailing why the bill should not be passed.

What’s more, executives from L.A. apparel companies and representatives for some major retailers are planning to meet with members of Congress to discuss their opposition to the bill.

“We are doing our full-court press on this outrageous piece of legislation,” said Ilse Metchek, executive director of the association. She declined to name the retailers involved in the fight because they didn’t want to be identified.

U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., introduced the bill, called the Innovative Design Protection and Piracy Prevention Act, in August. It would give copyright protection to “new, unique and distinguishable” apparel designs for a three-year period.

The association drafted a statement saying that the bill “causes battle lines to be drawn between premium priced and modestly priced merchandise, and between the design community of the East and West Coast.”

Supporters of the bill have said that fashion designers need protection from those who profit from knockoffs of their work.

Hotel Happenings

Langham Huntington Hotel & Spa is ready to show off its facelift.

The landmark Pasadena hotel is planning to unveil its Royce restaurant and Tap Room bar next month. The hotel also announced the addition of David Féau, formerly of Patina Group, as chef de cuisine.

Martin Nicholson, managing director at Langham, said Royce, named for former hotel owner Stephen Royce, will serve California and French-inspired fare.

“We are going to have very approachable food,” Nicholson said. “Food that I think people will gravitate toward and will set our restaurant at a new level.”

Renovations began soon after Langham Hotels International bought the property, formerly known as the Ritz-Carlton Huntington Hotel & Spa, in 2007. The hotel upgraded its spa, now called Chuan, earlier this year and announced a new director, Chris Sullivan, in August.

In addition to cosmetic changes, Nicholson said the Langham has been targeting new revenue streams, especially in the world of show biz.

“We’ve started to focus on the film business and entertainment aspects – filming on the grounds or keeping entertainers here,” he said.

Staff reporter Alexa Hyland can be reached at [email protected] or at (323) 549-5225, ext. 235.