CEO, PRESIDENT, JUICE IT UP, NEWPORT BEACH
Smoothie, bowl and juice chain making big strides. Counts 83 locations and growing.
THEN: Taylor joined Juice it Up in 2019 as its vice president of operations, after serving Atlanta-based Jamba Juice for 14 years as senior director of franchise operations. A year later she was promoted to the president and CEO role at the Newport Beach restaurant operator, which is backed by same owners as Mountain Mike’s Pizza.
NOW: The company posted a record $41M in sales last year, thanks in large part to expanding digital sales and a well-received mobile app. Along with tracking its loyalty members, which increased 57%, digital orders in 2021 grew by more than 70% to account for 19% of all orders—nearly twice the rate in 2020. Firm ranked No. 28 among OC-based restaurant chains this year by systemwide sales.
FUTURE: Going through a store design refresh, which debuted at its flagship location along 17th Street in Costa Mesa in 2020. “We are continuing to make the brand fresh, so it doesn’t look like a 27-year old brand,” Taylor said.
The refresh includes a menu redesign, following a customer shift towards specialty smoothies, which saw 45% year-over-year growth, and an increased demand for açaà bowls that jumped 38% in units sold. The chain has plans to introduce its first drive-thru this year.
