Smoothie bar: keys to succeed in the industry

Consumers are increasingly concerned about how to make healthier food choices. Therefore, businesses such as the juice and smoothie bar industry are projected to grow in the near future. Discover the key trends that drive the industry and learn how to succeed within it.

Essentials of the smoothie bar industry

A smoothie is a thick drink made of pureed fruits or vegetables. Usually, it is composed of a liquid base made of water, fruit juice, animal milk, vegetable milk, and natural or fruit yogurt. It may also include ingredients such as sweeteners, nuts, seeds, or nutritional supplements (IMARC Group, 2023).

These products are generally distributed in supermarkets, online, through home food delivery companies, or in a smoothie bar. Their market has grown in recent years due to changes in consumer preferences, now directed towards health care. Thus, lifestyles intended to improve their nutrition are driving the performance of the market and its businesses (Mordor Intelligence, 2023). For example, juice and smoothie bar in the U.S. are estimated to grow over the next five years (IBISWorld, 2023).

So, what are the main trends to consider in the sector?

Functionality and convenience

Consumers often see smoothies as a leading meal replacement or snacking option. These products are not just a product to be consumed for pleasure but with a specific functionality.

In the same way, consumers tend to favor shakes with nutrition-related properties. Thus, they adopt dietary supplements. To this end, producers add ingredients such as protein, seeds, and superfruits that represent an important nutritional contribution.

Convenience foods

In addition to satisfying multiple needs, on-trend smoothies are convenient. This means they are easy to consume, as well as portable (Mordor Intelligence, 2023).

Smoothie bar include excellent fruit and vegetable content

Smoothies usually have large portions of fruits and vegetables. Therefore, they can be part of a complete diet, especially if they are low in sugar. Producers use various mechanisms to achieve this, such as sugar replacements or natural substances like honey (Mordor Intelligence, 2023).

In this scenario, fruit purees stand out. These do not only replace artificial sweeteners, but also improve the color, flavor, and texture of foods. They also impart nutritional content from the fruit. All with great practicality for the manufacturer, as they are easier to transport, store, and preserve than fruits as such (Persistence Market Research, 2023).

The appeal of fruits and vegetables in this market is undeniable. In the United States, consumers consider that healthy foods tend to be fresh and low in sugar. They also associate products containing fruits and vegetables with better consumption choices (Persistence Market Research, 2023).

As you can see, smoothie bar is successfully tapping into consumer preferences with functional, convenient products and fresh, natural ingredients.

Bibliographic References

• IBISWorld (2023, September). Juice & Smoothie Bars in the US - Market Size, Industry Analysis, Trends and Forecasts (2023-2028). IBISWorld
• IMARC Group (2023). Smoothies Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2023-2028.
• Mordor Intelligence (2023). Smoothies market size & share analysis - growth trends & forecasts (2023 - 2028). Mordor Intelligence 
• Persistence Market Research (2023). Fruit puree market. Persistence Market Research