Irvine-based juice and smoothie chain Juice It Up has introduced a new ingredient that it says marks the first time the item has been made available at a major smoothie and bowl chain.
The new ingredient—acerola—is said to be packed with more than 10 times vitamin C than an orange and aid in digestion, as well as eye and heart health.
It will be available until Aug. 30 as part of its new Superfruit Sunrise smoothie and bowl item, which is made of acerola, ginger, orange juice, banana, passion fruit juice, and pineapple.
Chief Executive Chris Braun said in a statement the fruit, which looks like a cherry, joins its “growing lineup of superfruits, alongside açaà and pitaya, allowing guests to further customize their bowls and smoothies with their personal health levels and wellness goals in mind.”
Superfruits Campaign
Adding acerola is part of the chain’s “Superfruits of the Amazon” campaign, which kicked off earlier this year to celebrate the superfruits offered by Juice It Up.
“We’re proud to be the first chain of our size to offer guests this unique superfruit that is jam packed with vitamins and antioxidants,” Braun said.
Juice It Up has more than 80 locations and ranks No. 34 on the Business Journal’s list of local restaurant chains. It was sold last year to SJB Brands LLC, a partnership of Newport Beach-based investors Dover Shores Capital LLC, Britt Private Capital LLC and Jupiter Holdings LLC.
At the time, former Juice it Up owner and Chief Executive Frank Easterbrook stepped down and was replaced by Braun, formerly of Dover Shores Capital.
