The frozen yogurt craze isn’t melting away; in fact, it appears to be growing.

The evidence? Self-serve frozen yogurt chain Menchie’s Group Inc. has been churning out stores around the world for the last six years and shows no signs of slowing down. Last month, the Encino-based chain reached a milestone when it opened its 300th store, a franchise location in Houston. At least 200 franchises opened in the last two years, and the chain expects to add an additional 100 stores before year’s end.

Amit Kleinberger, Menchie’s chief executive, said the goal is to be a global leader in frozen desserts.

“We are looking forward to serve over 50 million cups of yogurt around the world in 2013,” he said.

Aside from one company-owned store on Ventura Boulevard in Encino, the frozen yogurt chain is entirely franchised. Kleinberger said the chain is preparing to introduce Menchie’s stores in China, India, Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates in coming weeks. The chain already has stores in 10 countries outside the United States, including Australia, Israel, Jordan, Puerto Rico, South Africa and the United Kingdom.

Local competitor Pinkberry Inc., headquartered in West Hollywood, has opened at least 220 stores in 18 countries since it introduced frozen yogurt to Los Angeles in 2005.

Kleinberger said he projects Menchie’s, which began operations in 2007, will have as many as 2,000 locations by the end of this decade, with $1 billion in sales.

“We couldn’t be happier with our progress,” he said.

– Bethany Firnhaber