CHINO HILLS, CA--(Marketwire - June 20, 2007) - Dan Titus, director of The Juice and Smoothie Association (JASA), pontificates about smoothies and the $2.5 billion dollar juice bar industry: A plethora of smoothie product introductions have confused consumers. Smoothies seem to be everywhere, but what are they anyway?
The sound of whining blender. The subtle smell of fresh orange scent. The clean, fast paced atmosphere. Ah, this can't be imitated. You are in a juice and smoothie bar. You are about to experience a definitive culture all its own.
Smoothies, which got their start in the 1960s in the beach communities of Southern California, can now be found as menu items at most causal restaurants. Made-to-order (MTO) smoothie companies, like, Juice It Up!, Robek's Juice, Juice Stop, Jamba Juice and Planet Smoothie, provide consumers with what we define as a platinum and gold smoothie experience, whereby the smoothie is made fresh to order with fresh ingredients. It's 'show time' in the juice bar when a customer orders a smoothie that is custom made to their personal specifications.
Smoothies are getting a lot of press these days. Funny thing, most people still don't know what a smoothie is. Ask five different people what a smoothie is and you will get five different answers. Consumer education needs to improve.
When we published our first smoothie book, Smoothies! The Original Smoothie book, in 1999, there were four smoothie books on the market. If you do a search on Amazon using the word smoothie, you'll get over 4,800 hits! Editors of food magazines, newspaper reporters and authors of cookbook series have added juice and smoothie books as part of their product lines. Therefore, consumers continue to be confused by what these 'experts' portray and even more confused by the plethora of prepackaged products sold in containers, which are typically nectars, purees and/or kefir yogurt/cultured milk combinations.
Founded in 1998, The Juice and Smoothie Association is dedicated to educating consumers about the benefits of juicing and smoothies worldwide. For example, the primary drivers for smoothies are taste, convenience and service; with branding playing a secondary role in purchasing decisions. However, this is changing as brand awareness and consumer education increases.
Have you had your MTO smoothie today?
CHINO HILLS CA--(Marketwire - December 12, 2007) Juice Gallery Multimedia, has announced their annual industry predictions for 2007. "We are beginning our 15th year and growth in the industry remains strong. Three segments that comprise the industry: retail, retail dessert, and mixes, remains strong, currently at $2.18 billion in sales, and we are confident that the industry will grow this year", said Dan Titus, president of Juice Gallery Multimedia, a research company concentrating on the juice and smoothie bar industry.
1) Consumers will continue to benefit from health meal alternatives offered by juice and smoothie bars as evidenced by strong growth in the sector.
2) The retail juice and smoothie bar segment will continue to expand as operators move into mainstream America and around the world.
3) We will see the mix segment continue to expand in foodservice as operators look for a quick easy solution to add smoothies to existing menus.
4) Co-op branding will continue as established brands add name brand smoothies to their offerings.
5) Competition for retail space will remain high as key locations are scoured by operators.
6) Equity investors will eye the industry for potential buyouts/mergers in an effort to capitalize on growth potential.
7) Consumers will become aware of the benefits of made-to-order (MTO) smoothies in relation to ready-to-drink (RTD) products and products made from mixes.
8) Retail space will remain tight as operators jockey for key locations.
9) Distribution will improve as more distributors seek to satisfy the demand for juice and smoothie operators.
10) Major chains will make strategic moves to capitalize on growth and revenue opportunities.
Juice Gallery Multimedia® is a leading provider of training, consulting, and business information for the juice and smoothie bar industry. The firm, concentrates on the business needs of entrepreneurs and business start-ups. Retail restaurant concepts offered combine diversified-menu products to enhance overall customer satisfaction and store profit. Core concepts are: juice and smoothie bars, wraps stores, gourmet coffeehouses, tea, and fusion concepts. The company publishes the industry report: The U.S. Juice and Smoothie Bar Market, which is an annual report detailing the juice and smoothie industry.
