Fast Casual: Juice It Up Outpaces Rest of Industry

Unlike most of the rest of the restaurant industry, Juice It Up had a strong Q4 and year overall in 2016. According to a recent Fast Casual article, the company has reported an increase of 7 percent for its same-store sales and an increase of 4 percent for its average unit volume.

The brand is pointing to the return of its Pumpkin Pleaser Smoothie, the addition of the Pumpkin Pleaser Smoothie Bowl to the menu, as well as a system-wide gift card campaign benefitting No Kid Hungry for why Juice It Up saw such success in the final quarter of this year.

The seven new franchised locations that opened in 2016 were also cited to contribute to the strong financials. The chain now has 88 units operating in four states.

"Today's consumers are skeptical of fad diets and quick fixes, and are more interested in healthy choices that can easily be incorporated into their everyday lives," said Juice it Up CEO, Frank Easterbrook. "For us, raw juicing was never just a trend, and our consistent growth along with today's thriving segment proves that millions of Americans feel the same way. We love that both our guests and franchise partners are hugely benefiting as consumers invest in living healthier lifestyles."