(Clean Juice Co-Founders Landon and Kat Eckles) Just as important, it demonstrates to other entrepreneurs the viability of well-run, USDA certified organic franchise concepts.īecause certified organic restaurants need to become the norm, not the exception. Furthermore, the company has not only survived the last few years where a juice bar shakeout has taken place (the closing of influential juice chains such as Organic Avenue, Juice Served Here and JugoFresh), but the company has thrived and grown faster than any of its competition.Īs Clean Juice continues its torrid expansion, it is a huge win for consumers and the overall organic category. Given that less than 5% of franchising concepts ever get to 100 stores within a 10-year period - a goal the company should reach next February - what Clean Juice has accomplished so far is incredibly impressive. This is all part of an effort to not only satisfy the needs of its customer base but also to hit the company’s internal goal of 500 stores within the next 3-5 years. Catering is a major focus in the year ahead, and all of the 3rd-party delivery apps, such as Uber Eats, Doordash and Postmates, are now online for each franchisee. Wraps are currently being piloted in the Charlotte market and should be rolled out to the rest of the stores in 2020. Lunchtime is the busiest part of the day. Beverages (smoothies, protein smoothies, juices and shots) account for roughly 65% of sales while food items (toasts, acai bowls and Greenoa bowls) make up the remaining 35%.Īs the company is growing, it is also evolving, hoping to even out the beverage/food sales ratio to 50/50 and get more people to come in during breakfast and dinner hours. We have tried to bring a modern, organic and healthy brand to this category,” said Landon Eckles.Īt Clean Juice, all food and cold-pressed juices are made fresh on the premises of each location, and there is no central commissary where food is prepared. “Franchising can have a negative connotation, especially with a lot of cheaper brands. In 2018, Clean Juice was the grand prize winner of the International Franchise Association’s NextGen in Franchising Global Competition and was selected first out of 900 applicants. The industry has also been taking notice. Dillashaw, flocked to the company to open up stores. This proved correct, as potential franchisees, including former UFC Champion T.J. Not only was this never part of their initial plan, but it was an area that they knew nothing about.Īfter researching this option, the husband and wife founders realized that the fastest way to grow their brand was through franchising and that Clean Juice’s major point of differentiation - being a USDA certified organic franchise concept - could serve as a major strategic advantage. When the first few units were up and running - and doing well - they were approached by people who suggested that they look into franchising Clean Juice. To this day, they audit us very frequently,” acknowledged Landon Eckles. “CCOF made us operate for 6-12 months before they would certify us, as they wanted to see a purchase history. That was non-negotiable,” she said.Īfter they developed the initial concept and menu, they embarked on the process of getting USDA organic certification for Clean Juice. What they decided on was a juice bar business, but Kat Eckles was adamant about one thing. And with her husband Landon constantly on the road for his job, the pair sought a different life for themselves and eventually opted to create something together. “We are the first ones to take an organic food concept to scale on a national level,” said Clean Juice CEO Landon Eckles, who founded the company with his wife Kat.Īfter having her first child 13 years ago, Kat Eckles switched to an organic diet and soon got her whole family eating the same way. Yet, no company is doing more to change this than Charlotte-based Clean Juice.įounded in 2014, the company now has 80 stores open and another 60 in development, with locations in 23 states. In much of the U.S., finding a certified organic restaurant is impossible. Getting organic food in the hands of everyone is one of the ultimate goals for our industry.Īnd while we have made great progress with supermarkets throughout the country carrying organic products, the same cannot be said for the ubiquity of organic restaurants. 100% Non-GMO How Clean Juice has Quietly Become a Serious Player in Organic
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