Juice Bar Franchise vs Smoothie Franchise?
What are juice bar franchises and smoothie franchises?
When consumers hear about something new and exciting, especially around food and beverages, they want to give it a try. That eagerness has given rise to many businesses over the years, including the booming juice bar franchise and smoothie franchise segments of the fast-casual dining market.
With that in mind, it might be easy for an entrepreneur researching brand opportunities to think those two businesses are the same. Far from it! Sure, they have some overlap in customers, but as far as overall operations go, they are very dissimilar.
How they are different
First, take a look at the trajectory of the combined market. According to Statista, the market size was $2.36 billion in 2020, down a bit from the previous year (understandable, given the pandemic shutdowns), and was forecast to reach $2.42 billion in sales by the end of 2021. Those are stout numbers.
Most evaluators of beverage brands tend to lump smoothies and juices together. Consumers, however, do not. A juice bar franchise is likely to pursue very health- and diet-oriented marketing. A smoothie franchise might as well, and it will also target the meal-replacement buying audience, and might also make a whole-family marketing play. A juice bar franchise may struggle to appeal to the same wide markets.
The products
Those different approaches reflect the different products. While a smoothie contains the entire fruit or vegetable, a juice bar squeezes out the juice and usually discards the leftover product. For consumers looking to add fiber to their diet, that can be a difference maker, and it’s one that smoothie franchises have exploited when laying out their differentiators.
Smoothies can also provide a wider opportunity for add-ins, such as protein powder and other supplementals. A juice bar might offer supplemental products, but they are often sold as bars and other consumables vs. blended into the actual juice product. The benefit for a smoothie franchise is that it provides an “all in one” approach vs. asking consumers to buy multiple products to achieve desired benefits.
The popularity
Now let’s revisit popularity. Juice bar franchises are popular, but smoothie franchises can point to growth over the last 20+ years, from niche products to the more than $2 billion industry they are today. They are a mainstream snack, post-workout staple, or meal replacement for millions of people. The demand for them is only increasing, and the Planet Smoothie franchise is taking advantage of that growth opportunity.
Planet Smoothie™ franchise owners benefit from offering a product that consumers continue to demand in strong numbers. Smoothie customers come in for a break while running errands, for an after-school snack, or a meal replacement after the gym or before a show. That means unlike restaurants that have to staff up and down to handle peak and valley business, a Planet Smoothie sees traffic all day long.
Why Planet Smoothie can be the best franchise opportunity
There are many other things that Planet Smoothie brings to the table, all of which can benefit franchise owners. A Planet Smoothie franchise can be customized to fit its surroundings. Many franchise owners start small, with a counter business in a busy mall food court. From there, they grow all the way up to a store that anchors a popular outdoor pedestrian mall or is situated in a busy train station or other transportation hub.
They also benefit from being a part of Kahala Brands™, whose portfolio includes many different types of food brands, all known for their excellent products. That’s non-negotiable for both Kahala and its franchise owners, says Doug Merenda, Director of Franchise Development. That’s why ongoing R&D is front and center at corporate headquarters.
“Kahala is able to bring so much to a Planet Smoothie franchise owner, as well as to those who own our other brands,” Merenda says. “First, they get to tap into well-developed operational systems for day-to-day activity. Then they work with talented and experienced marketing professionals to build local brand awareness. And finally, the research and development arm of Kahala is hugely beneficial. Working with franchise owners, as well as from consumer input, they are tirelessly creating new menu items. It’s a huge advantage, and one that Kahala is always leveraging to benefit franchise owners.
Own a Planet Smoothie franchise today!
Planet Smoothie is a smoothie franchise that sets itself apart by offering great-tasting smoothies that use healthier, natural ingredients. In a side-by-side comparison, our smoothies generally have less sugar and fewer calories — a big competitive advantage as Americans actively seek out healthier options. Planet Smoothie is led by a veteran franchise team and dedicated brand support team as part of the Kahala Brands™ family.
To learn more about Planet Smoothie franchise options, please read the latest news on our blog here, and delve into the options for ownership on our research pages here. If you’re ready to start a conversation about investing in a Planet Smoothie franchise, fill out our inquiry form here. We look forward to hearing from you!