Whatever it is that frozen yogurt lovers crave, they want more of it. Even if it’s just a little more.

Robeks Corp., a Manhattan Beach chain of juice and yogurt shops, discovered that during the process of launching its Smoothie Bowls – a hybrid of a fruit-juice smoothie drink and a frozen yogurt dessert – earlier this month.

Smoothie Bowls were created last spring at a San Diego franchise.

The company gave the franchise owner permission to sell not only the new product as a test, but to offer customers the option of getting it in the larger bowls. The chain’s yogurt servings come in 12-ounce cups; the bowls are 14 ounces plus toppings. (All of the chain’s 125 stores are owned by franchisees, who are encouraged to develop new products. The San Diego franchisee came up with the idea after experimenting in his kitchen.)

When sales figures showed promise for the new product in a bowl, Robeks corporate officials paid for market research to see if it could sell on a wider scale. So far, sales have met goals.

Steve Davidson, chief executive at Robeks, said focus groups confirmed that consumers particularly liked the concept of a “yogurt meal.”

“When given the option to buy yogurt in a bowl rather than a cup, 80 percent said they wanted to purchase the bowl product,” Davidson said.