Sponsored By

How California juice franchise Juice It Up is building a profitable business with unique ingredientsHow California juice franchise Juice It Up is building a profitable business with unique ingredients

CEO Susan Taylor and director of R&D Noah Burgess discuss how the company develops distinctive menu items that resonate with guests.

Sam Oches, Editor in Chief

March 7, 2024

 

Customers all over the U.S. are becoming more adventurous with the food and beverages they try, particularly with platforms like TikTok and Instagram putting menu education right in the palms of their hands.

But it’s one thing for a person to try an ingredient because some influencer said it was tasty. It’s a whole other thing for a restaurant to build a profitable business out of that ingredient.

Such is the case for Juice It Up, the Southern California-based franchise that was one of the originators of the juice, smoothie and bowl category that continues to spread across the country. Juice It Up is developing new menu items leveraging superfood and functional ingredients that are unique to the foodservice space, and leaders there are constantly faced with the challenge of developing menu items that are both exciting and distinctive as well as profitable.

CEO Susan Taylor and director of research and development Noah Burgess joined the latest episode of Take-Away with Sam Oches to talk about how they collaborate on this process and how they ensure that the needs of both customers and franchisees are met through Juice It Up’s menu innovation.

In this conversation, you’ll learn more about why:

  • There’s a time and a place for outside the box menu innovation

  • You should watch other categories for innovation opportunities

  • Customers and guests are equally impacted by the innovations on your menu

  • TikTok is introducing the world to new foods and flavors

  • Your most loyal customers are a perfect focus group

Related:D.C. based fast casual restaurant chain Colada Shop thrives with all day café format

Contact Sam Oches at [email protected].

About the Author

Sam Oches

Editor in Chief

Sam Oches is an award-winning Editorial Director with Informa Connect Foodservice and editor in chief of Nation's Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality. A graduate of the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, Sam previously served as Editorial Director of Food News Media, publisher of QSR and FSR magazines. He’s a past president of the International Foodservice Editorial Council (IFEC) and a past board member with the American Society of Business Publication Editors (ASBPE). His foodservice insights have been shared in national media outlets such as the New York Times, USA Today, National Public Radio, and CNBC. He lives in Columbus, Ohio, with his wife and three kids.

Subscribe Nation's Restaurant News Newsletters
Get the latest breaking news in the industry, analysis, research, recipes, consumer trends, the latest products and more.