Leading Smoothie, Açaí Bowl and Raw Juice Chain Moves Sales Needle, Expands Development Pipeline and Ends Impressive 2025 Well-Positioned for Next National Growth Phase
Irvine, CA (RestaurantNews.com) Juice It Up!, one of the nation’s leading handcrafted smoothie, raw juice, açaí and superfruit bowl chains, ended its 30th anniversary year with strong systemwide results, including considerable franchise momentum and increasing brand visibility in the highly competitive juice, smoothie and açaí bowl category. Fueled by consistent menu innovation, impactful strategic partnerships and a growing focus on daypart expansion, the brand delivered another year of disciplined, demand-driven growth in 2025. Same-store sales increased 8.6% year over year, while total system sales rose nearly 10% to $54.5 million. Performance gains were broad-based, with the top 20% and top 50% of locations posting average unit volume increases of 4.4%, underscoring the strength of Juice It Up! as it enters its next phase of growth.
“Closing out three decades in business at such an impressive performance level speaks to the fortitude of the Juice It Up! brand and the clarity of our long-term vision,” said Susan Taylor, President and CEO of Juice It Up!. “In 2025, we stayed true to our founding brand DNA while continuing to evolve through best-in-class menu innovation, thoughtful new market entries and a robust development pipeline that positions Juice It Up! for sustainable growth in 2026 as we embark on our next 30 years in business.”
Menu innovation remained central to Juice It Up!’s growth strategy in 2025, reinforcing the brand’s longstanding commitment to delivering functional, flavorful options that fit seamlessly into daily guest routines. From protein-forward Zone Smoothies and customizable waffle offerings in Q1 to the return of fan-favorite specialty smoothies and the debut of the Toasted Favorites lineup in Q2, the brand maintained a cadence of innovative and multifaceted limited-time offerings that balanced performance, indulgence and choice. The summer season heated up for Juice It Up! with the return in Q3 of the Passion Fruit-Orange-Guava Smoothie and Strawberry Lemonade Twist, which accounted for 5% of total sales during the promotion. The brand’s popular Horchata Smoothie returned in Q4 alongside Chia Pudding Parfaits and Spiced Date Toast. These innovations fueled strong category growth, with snacks up 117% year over year, specialty smoothies rising 17% and bowls increasing 8%. The impact of menu diversification and daypart expansion on sustained brand momentum was unmistakable in 2025.
Beyond menu innovation, Juice It Up! continued to strengthen brand relevance and visibility in 2025 through strategic, high-impact partnerships that meet guests where they live, work and play. The brand marked its third consecutive season with the Los Angeles Angels, highlighted by the debut of a new in-stadium concessions location that delivered a nearly 90% increase in açaí bowl sales and introduced the brand to new audiences in a high-energy, lifestyle-driven setting. Juice It Up! also launched two first-time collaborations in 2025 with Dave’s Killer Bread® Organic Bagels and Mike’s Hot Honey® Extra Hot, aligning with trusted, better-for-you and flavor-forward brands known for meeting evolving consumer preferences. These brand extensions once again reinforced Juice It Up!’s leadership in functional, craveable offerings.
“Since acquiring Juice It Up! in 2018, our focus has remained on the thoughtful growth of a brand that can evolve with guests while staying grounded in what made it so successful since being founded 30 years ago,” said Chris Britt, Co-Chairman and Co-Owner of Juice It Up!. “From craveable and functional menu items and brand partnerships full of authenticity, to disciplined growth activities and dedicated support for our valued franchisees, every facet of our business throughout the year strengthened performance and relevance, and as a new year begins, we remain as committed as ever to leading our category with intentionality, consistency and clarity for what’s ahead.”
Complementing the many spikes in brand momentum Juice It Up! experienced in 2025, the acclaimed chain advanced a disciplined growth strategy with seven new restaurant openings across California and Oklahoma. The openings extended the Juice It Up! footprint into new and established communities, including Yukon, Oklahoma; Gardnerville, Nevada; and South Lake Tahoe, California. Juice It Up! also signed 12 franchise agreements, including a four-unit deal to expand the brand’s Texas presence. The new agreements added 24 units to the Juice It Up! development pipeline. With approximately 100 locations open across seven states, Juice It Up! is clearly positioned for further expansion. The brand is targeting 10+ new openings in 2026 and an additional 12 units in development – key components of a comprehensive long-term plan to double the Juice It Up! franchise system over the next four years.
“As we reflect on a milestone year for Juice It Up!, we’re energized by the strength of our franchise network and the growing interest we’re seeing from new and existing operators,” added Ed St. Geme, Co-Chairman and Co-Owner of Juice It Up!. “Our 30th anniversary wasn’t just about celebrating the past; it was about building momentum for what’s next.”
Capping off a banner year, Juice It Up! earned multiple industry accolades in 2025, including recognition as a Fast Casual Top 100 Mover & Shaker (#33), a debut ranking on Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500, and a spot on Franchise Business Review’s Top 200 Franchises, further validating brand performance, culture and franchise opportunities at a national level.
Throughout 2025, Juice It Up! continued to experience a significant uptick in interest among franchise partners in Central and Northern California, and in several states outside of California, including Arizona, Oklahoma, Nevada and Texas. With a proven franchise business model spanning 30 years, plus strong sales, menu innovation and brand momentum, Juice It Up! is expecting 2026 to be marked by even more interest from passionate single, multi-unit and multi-brand franchisees drawn to a highly recognizable, successful and market-leading franchise concept that’s committed to doubling its unit count in the next four years, For more information about the Juice It Up! brand and available franchise opportunities, visit JuiceItUpFranchise.com.
About Juice It Up!
Juice It Up!, one of the nation’s leading açai bowl, handcrafted smoothie and raw juice chains, was founded in 1995 with its Franchise Support Center now located in Irvine, California. Juice It Up!’s menu is designed with flavor and functionality in mind, resulting in products that not only taste great, but also support an active lifestyle. With nearly 130 locations open and under development across California, Arizona, New Mexico, Oregon, Oklahoma and Texas, the company boasts an attractive and modern store design, strong digital ordering technology, a focus on functional products and ingredient transparency and a menu that reflects the brand’s active personality and motto to “Live Life Juiced!” In addition to its existing territories throughout the Western United States, Juice It Up! is seeking expansion in Nevada and Utah. For more information about becoming a Juice It Up! franchise partner, visit JuiceItUpFranchise.com.
Juice It Up! Social Media Pages
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/juiceitup/
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/juiceitup/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/juiceituphq/
Media Contact:
Kristyna Otto
Powerhouse+Co.
kristyna@powerhouseandco.com
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