Smoothie shops hit Bradenton
By BRIAN NEILL
bneill@bradenton.com

BRADENTON --
Kim Bavecki, of Palmetto, sat Friday outside Jamba Juice in the Best Buy shopping center off Cortez Road, enjoying a cool smoothie with a friend. The concoction of fresh blended fruit not only tastes good, but Bavecki believes it's healthy too.

"I look at the whole thing as, I'm getting nutrition and I'm getting the fruits that you're supposed to get (daily)," said Bavecki, who enjoys the "Peach Perfection" smoothie Jamba Juice makes. "It's super refreshing and supposed to be good for you."

Apparently, a lot of people feel the same way. Smoothie businesses are popping up locally and throughout the country. The niche stores have been blending up profits. The California-based Juice and Smoothie Association estimates there are about 5,000 juice and smoothie bars throughout the country serving up roughly $2.5 billion in annual sales.

Jamba Juice, a company that went public last year, opened its Bradenton location at 1526 Cortez Road W. about three months ago, said General Manager Frank Sainato.

Smoothie King, a nationally franchised business, opened its store at 3553 53rd Ave. W. in Bradenton a little over a month ago, said store Manager Brandie Collis.

Destin-based Tropical Smoothie Cafe is another smoothie operator with a location in Bradenton. However, the local store on Cortez Road is currently changing franchise owners and undergoing a remodeling, a company official said Friday.

Inside Smoothie King, blenders whir and hip music plays. Protein powders and supplements line one wall and there are a variety of low-fat snacks.

Smoothie King's menu board offers flavors like "Muscle Punch," "Peanut Power" and "Grape Expectations."

The focus is on health at both Jamba Juice and Smoothie King. Each has detailed nutritional information on its products. Each also offers "enhancements" like gingko biloba and caffeine for energy, as well as vitamin and protein boosts that customers can add to their smoothies.

But smoothies are also meant to taste good and they can range from 120 calories on the lighter side to in excess of 1,000 calories for the more sinful selections.

"There are a few smoothies that have ice cream if you just want to indulge," Collis said. "Then if you want to build muscles, we have smoothies that are engaged in muscle building."

The drinks aren't cheap.

Smoothie King's smoothies range from $3.99 for a 20-ounce small to as much as $8.99 for a 40-ounce large, depending on the type.

Jamba Juice's smoothies typically range from $3.65 to $5.45 but can easily move upward in price as more ingredients and enhancers are added, Sainato said.

"You could make a $10 smoothie if you wanted to," he said.

But Collis and Sainato said people are getting a lot for their money in terms of healthful ingredients.

"Too, these smoothies can be thought of as a meal replacement," Collis said. "So you'd be paying $4.29 for a meal at Wendy's or somewhere else."

One Jamba Juice smoothie can provide three and a half servings of fruit, Sainato said. Add in items like wheat grass and anti-oxidant-packed macha green tea and the health benefits climb, he said.

Jamba Juice had total revenues of $179 million for the 28-week period ending July 24, according to documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company has more than 640 stores throughout the country.

Smoothie King expects to have 475 locations by the end of this year.

The stores have been well received locally, Collis and Sainato said. "We're doing very well," Sainato said. "We have a lot of high school kids. We have all age groups and it benefits all age groups."

Bavecki sees another reason aside from the supposed health benefits to fuel return business.

"It's Florida," she said. "It's hot out." The California-based Juice and Smoothie Association estimates there are about 5,000 juice and smoothie bars throughout the country serving up roughly $2.5 billion in annual sales.

• Jamba Juice had total revenues of $179 million for the 28-week period ending July 24, according to documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company has more than 640 stores throughout the country.

• Smoothie King expects to have 475 locations by the end of this year.