Ed Miller, owner of TCBY on East Paris Avenue, holds bowls of chocolate frozen yogurt on Wednesday, August 7, 2013. TCBY is now offering a dairy-free frozen yogurt made with Silk almond milk. (Emily Zoladz | Mlive.com)

GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- TCBY and Silk are melting the lactose-free barriers in the froyo industry with the nation’s first non-dairy frozen yogurt.

TCBY and Silk launched the first national dairy-free, almond milk-based frozen yogurt, called Silk Chocolate Almond, on Thursday, Aug. 8. The flavor is now available at TCBY locations nationwide, including the only Grand Rapids store at 2675 E. Paris SE.

"This is the very first non-dairy yogurt in the industry," said local TCBY owner Ed Miller. "The reaction I've had from people is 'Where have you been? Or what took you so long?'

“This is huge,” he added. “I hope this brings us to the next level of froyo.”

Miller, who owns the store with his wife, Paula Miller, said having a non-dairy frozen yogurt option, in addition to its seven flavors of the non-dairy sorbet, will give lactose intolerant folks another choice when visiting a TCBY location.

About 75 percent of adults worldwide have lactose intolerance, according to TCBY research and development.

“Whether you’re a young person or an older person, people have suffered with not being able to have dairy products for years,” Ed Miller said. “It will allow us to serve the families who have individuals with lactose intolerance to have a frozen yogurt treat.”

TCBY, which has been around for more than 30 years, has more than 400 franchise locations where Silk’s Chocolate Almond will be offered. About a half-cup serving of the new offering has about 110 calories and is low sodium and low fat, according to Miller. It’s also cholesterol, gluten, and soy free.

You can get a free sampling of the new frozen yogurt from noon to 1 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 9, in front of the MLive/The Grand Rapids Press Hub, 169 Monroe NW, Suite 100, in downtown Grand Rapids.

Silk, which was founded in 1996, makes plant-based products, including Silk Soymilk, Silk PureAlmond, Silk PureCoconut and Silk Fruit and Creamy.

“Silk is committed to providing even more great-tasting plant-based choices to consumers, and further extends that commitment,” Tyler Holm, vice president of Silk marketing, said in a press release. “Partnering with TCBY allows us to reach even more consumers with a delicious dairy-free option.”

Related: Summer of froyo: Frozen yogurt craze finally hits West Michigan

Additional flavors to the non-dairy frozen yogurt line are being discussed, Miller said.

“It’s been the missing product in the Froyo business,” Miller said. “We’re going to fill that need in the industry with one product in one flavor in one store. … I’m not lactose (intolerant) and I’m that excited.”

With the launch of the new non-dairy frozen yogurt, TCBY and Silk are having a “Perfect Match” contest on social media. Consumers can post to social media using the #TCBYPerfectMatch hashtag and enter the “You + Beach = The Perfect Match” sweepstakes for a chance to win a three-night trip for two to a Caribbean destination of your choice, including airfare, and $500.

TCBY on Twitter and Facebook. Silk on Twitter and Facebook.

The contest runs through Aug. 22.

Kyle Moroney covers business, suburban schools and general assignments for MLive/Grand Rapids Press. Email her at kmoroney@mlive.com or follow her on Twitter or Facebook