Local owners Chris Britt and Ed St. Geme saw Juice It Up sales rise past its previous $50-million-milestone in 2025 while their Mountain Mike’s Pizza franchise opened a record number of new locations.
The two Irvine-based chains posted last year’s results in January, reporting new records in yearly revenue and store openings.
Britt and St. Geme are still actively seeking to acquire a third franchise.
Menu Innovation Driving Transactions
Juice It Up said it reached $50 million in annual sales for the first time in 2024, after stagnant revenue in prior years.
The juice and smoothie chain surpassed that milestone in 2025 and reported system sales grew 9% to $54.5 million.
Same-store sales increased 8.6% year-over-year—a metric several restaurant companies struggled with last year, with top-performing Juice It Up locations posting average unit volume increases of 4.4%.
Growth was partly driven by positive performances of limited-time menu additions throughout the year, with the snacks category up 117% year over year, specialty smoothies rising 17%, and bowls increasing 8%, according to Juice It Up. Notable dishes included customizable waffle offerings in the first quarter and returning drinks such as the Strawberry Lemonade Twist, which the company said accounted for 5% of total sales during the promotion period. It “really shows that our focus on menu innovation is hitting the mark with our guests, and we’re thrilled with the momentum,” Chief Executive Susan Taylor told the Business Journal.
Juice It Up also captured gains during its third consecutive season partnered with the Los Angeles Angels, driven by a new in-stadium concessions location—at the classic hits stand on the field level, first base side—that delivered a nearly 90% increase in açaí bowl sales in 2025.
The company expanded its restaurant count as well, with seven new openings across California and Oklahoma, bringing its total to approximately 100 stores in 2025. Juice It Up is targeting more than 10 new locations in 2026.
Juice It Up’s long-term plan is to double its unit portfolio over the next four years, based on “a significant uptick in interest among franchise partners” and recent brand momentum.
Banner Year for Pizza
Mountain Mike’s Pizza, ranked No. 10 among Orange County’s largest restaurant chains, opened a total of 24 new restaurants in 2025—marking the most annual openings since its founding in 1978.
The pizza chain marked its 300th restaurant opening last year in Las Vegas. Mountain Mike’s entered six new markets as well and still has more than 100 locations under development.
In 2026, the company is targeting 25 new openings as it chases a nationwide footprint.
Last December, Mountain Mike’s appointed Sumi Ghosh as its new chief operating officer and president to help with its long-term expansion goals. He succeeded the previous COO, Steven Adyani.
Ghosh arrives at the pizza franchise with more than 30 years of experience in the restaurant industry, including over 12 years at Starbucks in leadership roles such as CEO of Starbucks India and additional executive roles at Nike, Dutch Bros and Yum Brands Inc.
Mountain Mike’s reported 2025 net sales of $310 million.
“2025 was a banner year for Mountain Mike’s Pizza that reinforced the strength of our franchise system, the durability of our brand and the effectiveness of our growth strategy,” Chief Executive Jim Metevier said. “Surpassing 300 restaurants, entering new markets and continuing to attract experienced operators speaks to the attractiveness of what we deliver.”
