Fueling the Denver market with nutritious and delicious meal replacement smoothies

October 13, 2010 // Franchising.com // DENVER, CO – The uncertain economy has proven to be no match for the $2 billion smoothie industry. Emerald City Smoothie, best known for helping consumers live healthier lifestyles, is pleased to announce the opening of their first location in Denver.

Located at 760 South Colorado Blvd., the new store will present health conscious appetites with fresh and healthy smoothies along with on-the-go meal alternatives and nutritional supplements. Being committed to providing only the best products available, Emerald City Smoothie offers a large selection of dietary supplements, healthy snacks, proteins, beverages, and bars to support your healthy eating habit.

"With the active lifestyles of consumers in the Denver market, we are thrilled to open the first Emerald City Smoothie, fueling the local appetite with nutritious and delicious meal replacement smoothies," said Adam Peterson, local owner of the Denver store. "Emerald City Smoothies offers an alternative to fast food and helps consumers reinforce any exercise regimen or health goals."

Local entrepreneur and health enthusiast Adam Peterson has spent the past 10 years working in the sports industry and has always been involved in helping people achieve their lifestyle goals. Throughout his career, Peterson has observed the growing demand for products that promote an active and healthy lifestyle for Denver residents. Opening an Emerald City Smoothie in Denver presents Peterson with the ideal opportunity to fulfill his desire of opening his own business while enhancing the everyday lives of their customers.

"When it comes to smoothies, meal alternatives and nutritional supplements, we use fresh fruit and only the highest quality ingredients, each helping you reach a personal health goal, along with enjoying a unique taste sensation," added Peterson.

Unlike most smoothie concepts where smoothies can add up to 1,000 calories, Emerald City Smoothie products have less than 400 calories and four grams of fat. Best known for their uniquely blended smoothies – combining fresh fruit, high quality proteins and nutritional supplements – Emerald City Smoothie is dedicated to helping consumer's lead healthier lifestyles by offering nutritional smoothies without compromising on taste. Each Emerald City Smoothie recipe is designed to help reach a health or lifestyle goal, from boosting immune systems and giving energy, to losing weight and building muscle.

All of Emerald City's Smoothies are created to order from the freshest ingredients. The menu features smoothie favorites such as The Power Fuel, - Energizer, and Tropical Paradise. Customers can also be treated to meal replacement options such as Lean Body, and the Lean Out.

For more information or to contact Emerald City Smoothie of Denver, call Adam Peterson at (303) 757-7557 or visit www.emeraldcitysmoothie.com.
About Emerald City Smoothie

Emerald City Smoothie is a Seattle-based franchise best known for their uniquely blended smoothies that combine fresh fruit, intense flavors and nutritional boosters. Since their launch in 1996, the company has taken steps to ensure that every location provides the same taste, quality, friendly and knowledgeable service for all their customers. Whether looking to lose weight, build muscle, or just picking up a nutritious meal replacement, each smoothie is designed to reach a health goal or a taste sensation. Today, the company boasts more than 60 locations throughout the United States and plans to have more than 100 operating stores by the end of 2017. For more information on Emerald City Smoothie, visit www.emeraldcitysmoothie.com.

Source: Emerald City Smoothie

From http://www.franchising.com/pressreleases/17445/

Emerald City Smoothie Newsletter August 09

Check out our latest newsletter with health, fitness and product information!

http://www.citruspost.com/show_newsletter.php?vf_id_newsletter=247&vf_id_subscriber=19894

Emerald City Smoothie grows by thinking small
Christa Hoyland Editor

10 Jun 2009

Emerald City Smoothie is one quick-service brand that is getting creative as it seeks to expand in a tight credit market. The 63-unit chain, located primarily in the Northwest, is focusing on a variety of tactics to appeal to franchisees, from store design to its franchise marketing efforts.

Julie Vance, vice president of operations for Emerald City Smoothie, said the company had already been developing a kiosk store model before the downturn. But with credit tight, the smaller, less expensive unit has become popular with existing and prospective franchisees.

The kiosk model reduces the buildout cost by about 50 percent, Vance said. Many of the units are being located inside large fitness centers or other complementary businesses to reach the brand's core customers.

The brand's healthy meal replacement smoothies appeal to fitness customers and have helped the company be somewhat recession resistant.

"We continue to see incremental growth, and it's really related to the overall wellness industry and its growth," she said.

Franchisees are opening one or two kiosk stores a month, with the speed of opening dependent upon finding the right location more than obtaining credit, Vance said.

Another new design is an inline store with a much smaller footprint than the chain's traditional 1,000-square-foot units. The smaller units are designed for high-traffic locations and also reduce the buildout costs. That design also is appealing to franchisees because its speeds up the time to open as well as offers a faster return.

"When you're spending half, it's much easier to improve your return on investment," she said.'

Franchise incentives

Emerald City Smoothie also is offering several incentives as it markets to potential franchisees. One is a buy-one-get-one-free offer, which offers a free kiosk location to operators who also open a standalone unit.

Although the $20,000 savings is a good value, Vance said the program has not been as successful as the company had hoped, largely due to fewer franchisees wanting to operate more than one store as well as the tightened credit market.

An incentive program that has drawn interest is the company's master franchisee focus. The intent is to open up new territories and offers franchisees the rights to develop locations in an entire region or state.

Industry growth prospect

Alisa Harrison, spokeswoman for the International Franchise Association, said it's become more common for franchisors like Emerald City Smoothie to adapt their programs to help franchisees obtain the necessary financing. Such flexibility is an example of the entrepreneurial spirit inherent to franchising.

"We still expect that franchising will continue to outpace growth of other businesses," she said. "It's just that many may not be growing as fast as we have seen in the past. But the model of the way of expanding your business and growing your business certainly is true in good times and in bad."

Emerald City Smoothie Opens in Edmonds Harbor Square Athletic Club

By Pat Ratliff
The Beacon

If you have a hankering for a smoothie but also want to be sure you are eating only healthful food, I have a suggestion for you.

Emerald City Smoothie, located at 160 W Dayton St. in Edmonds (that’s right – it’s inside the Harbor Square Athletic Club) has just opened and is available for members and non-members alike. You don’t have to be a member to partake of these world-class smoothies, they are right inside the door.

Emerald City Smoothie offers fresh, healthy smoothies as a meal substitute, a snack or a healthy treat. The smoothies use no syrups as flavors, only fresh fruit, and contain about 30 percent less sugar than similar products. They are being received very well in the community.

“Response from members here in the Harbor Square Athletic Club has been phenomenal,” Ken Park, owner, said. “Everyone has welcomed us with open arms.”

The problem so far is not enough people know it’s there.

“I’m hoping people in the surrounding area can become aware of who and where we are,” Park said. “The concept is there, we just have to get the awareness out. We’re the only ones available whose main focus is on nutrition.”

Because Emerald City Smoothie replaced a coffee bar in the health club, they still serve coffee and espresso drinks but everything else is nutrition related. Power-type bars, baked chips and yogurt and fruit – there’s a lot to choose from.

Owner Ken Park recently opened two Emerald City Smoothie locations, his other one is in Bellevue. The two franchise locations were part of a two-for-one special package offered by the parent company. Park was in the computer business for the last 25 years, working at Microsoft for the last 10 years.

Park welcomes all residents of Edmonds to come down and try his smoothies and “see the difference.”

Emerald City Smoothie rolls out nutrient-enhanced coffee

By Sonya Moore

MERCER ISLAND, Wash. (April 8, 2009) Emerald City Smoothie, a 65-unit chain based here, is rolling out a new weapon in the coffee wars: a cup of joe that not only wakes you up but gives you a burst of energy as well.

Since February, the smoothie chain has introduced its JavaFit coffee line to 18 units, with three stores debuting the nutrient-enhanced coffee product this week. The JavaFit line features four different types of drip-coffee products that are nutrients enhanced, including the Diet, Energy Plus, Immune and Multi-Vitamin coffees.

Before February, Emerald City did not offer coffee on its menu. In March, the chain expanded its hours to better compete with other chains making a run at the breakfast daypart. Jamba Juice earlier this year rolled out a steel-cut oatmeal product, as did Starbucks. In March Seattle-based Starbucks also began offering its “breakfast pairings” value deals for under $4.

A 16-ounce serving of JavaFit coffee is priced at $1.50. Customers can request the coffee with soymilk, or add other protein and nutritional boosters for an additional 75 cents per boost. Guests can also request to blend the coffee with any smoothie on Emerald City’s menu.

“We are a company that was founded out of the Seattle, Washington, market; we’re obviously in the neighborhood of many well-known coffee locations so many of our customers look for coffee,” said Julie Vance, Emerald City’s vice president of operations. “We’re also in an environment where the weather fluctuates, not everyone wants a smoothie in the dense Seattle weather.”

The chain also is offering 2.5-ounce packs of ground JavaFit coffee as a retail item available in stores for $3.50. Emerald City also launched last November a protein-based oatmeal product aligned with cereal brand Kashi Co.

Vance said that the JavaFit items are being introduced to Emerald City locations where such products make sense, such as freestanding units and those found within gyms.

“You get that audience and they need something to give themselves energy that’s healthy — those were natural picks,” Vance said.

Vance said that Emerald City already has seen an increase in morning traffic at locations that offer the coffee products. “We’ve seen a trend of people coming in, grabbing coffee in the morning and visiting lunchtime for a smoothie, which is a perfect scenario,” she said.

Emerald City two months ago also introduced a loyalty program and the chain is exploring the introduction of such new products as healthful sandwiches and wraps by the end of the year.

January Newsletter

New Year New You!

Our goal is to help you reach your goals. Whether you want to slim down, lean out, bulk up or just get healthy we have something to fit your needs and keep you looking great! Visit any of our 63 locations in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah and Arizona to find a smoothie that works for you.

Health and Fitness
The Power of Antioxidants: Staying healthy and energized
The flavanoid quercetin, found in citrus fruits, berries, red grapes and onions, is shown to be a powerful antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and has positive effects in helping prevent heart disease, cataracts and respiratory diseases.

According to a study out of Queensland, Australia mice that were given quercetin were less likely to contract the flu virus when exposed. Also, reaching stressful levels of exercise increases the risk of becoming ill; however, quercetin reversed these affects.

Visit your local Emerald City Smoothie for your daily does of quercetin in the all natural energy drink FRS®.[i]

Log onto our website at (enter site link here) to enter to win a case of FRS!

What’s in a name?

FRS stands for Free Radical Scavenger. This is the scientific term for powerful antioxidants such as quercetin.

Are you getting enough Vitamin D?

Vitamin D was one of the top ten medical breakthroughs of 2007 as listed in Time Magazine. However, since then we have discovered much more. Researchers have long known that the “sunshine vitamin” boosts bone strength by encouraging the body to absorb calcium. Many new studies published in 2007 and 2008 suggest that the vitamin has a lot of other benefits such as, warding off diabetes, gum disease and multiple sclerosis – and maybe even cancer. Among infants, children and teens it is a matter of preventing rickets, a bone softening disease that can lead to fractures and bowed legs.

Doctors encourage us to add between 1,000 and 2,000 I.U.’s of vitamin D to our daily diet. Why? We’re sun deprived! The simplest way to boost levels of vitamin D is by soaking up ultraviolet rays, prompting the skin to manufacture D, but in gray northern climates, Boston, Seattle or Milwaukee, for instance, the sun is too weak from November through February to trigger vitamin synthesis. Even if you live in sun rich California, SPF-8 is enough to inhibit the vitamin’s production.

What are the effects you ask? A shortage of D could lead to a rough flu season. Among the benefits of supplementing with vitamin D, it also helps strengthen our immune systems and defenses in the lungs.

So where do we get vitamin D from? The sun is the most common source, but if you live in the northwest where the sun is weak, you should try adding more vitamin D rich foods to your diet including: fortified milk and cereal, salmon, tuna, sardines, or eggs. Try our Quick Start smoothie with 100% Egg Protein, High Performance Fitness Liquid Multi-Vitamin, or the all natural energy drink with quercetin FRS.[ii]

Did You Know

Potassium

Did you know that 90% of American men are deficient in potassium that promotes muscle and bone health?!

Make sure to stop by any Emerald City Smoothie today and order the potassium packed Nutty Banana. If you are not a fan of bananas you can also consume orange juice or wheat germ, both found in the Quick Start smoothie.

Recession Hits Health Too
With record highs in unemployment and our economy in a recession history has shown illness becomes a concern.

Emerald City Smoothie is here to make sure you stay healthy. It’s as easy as adding a boost to your smoothie or purchasing one from our selection to take at home.

Tips for Stacking

For a MASS BUILDING stack try:
-30 minutes prior to workouts: 20 grams whey, 3-5g creatine and 1-2 grams amino acid
- 30 minutes post workout: 20-30 grams whey protein, 10-20 grams casein protein, 305 grams creatine and 1-2 grams amino acids

For a METABOLIC stack try:
-250-500 milligrams green tea extract, 100-400 milligrams caffeine two to three times daily before meals and 3.4 grams CLA with meals three times daily

For Building STRENGTH try this:
-30 minutes pre-workout take 1000-1500 milligrams Betaine, 1-3 milligrams Taurine and ½ cup wheat germ in pre-workout protein smoothie
-30 minutes post workout 1000-1500 milligrams Betaine and 1-3 grams Taurine to post workout protein smoothieEmerald City Smoothie is competitive in price and offers high quality vitamins and supplements.

If you prefer to reap the benefits from a smoothie without adding boosters, try our Zone Zinger or Re-juvenator for a vitamin-dense smoothie that will give your immune system a jump start. Both are packed with Vitamins A, C, Calcium and Iron to keep you going strong.

Supplement Health
When it comes to sports supplements it is very difficult to figure out what to take if you don’t know what you are looking at. One of the most important ways to making sure you get the most out of your supplements is stacking.

Stacking supplements is combining two or more products to enhance results. Certain supplements work better when paired together and aid in lean muscle growth, fat burning and strength building. Here are a few stacks to try for achieving muscle mass growth, losing weight by boosting your metabolism and building strength.

Building Muscle Mass - Whey Protein, Casein, Amino Acids and Creatine are the most effective supplements to stack when trying to gain muscle mass. Whey protein is a dairy based protein which boosts blood flow and aids in building muscle. Casein is another type of milk protein which digests slower and increases protein synthesis (muscle growth). Amino Acids help repair muscle tissue, and when combined with Creatine, which helps boost muscle size, boosts the effects of creatine.

Increasing Metabolism - Green Tea Extract, Caffeine and CLA are three keys to boosting weight loss and fat storage by boosting your metabolism. Green tea boosts metabolism naturally, while caffeine helps remove stored fat by putting it into circulation where it can transfer to your muscles and be used as energy. CLA (Conjugated Linolic Acid), a naturally occurring fatty acid found in meat and dairy, also helps process stored fat and blocks little fat cells from growing bigger, however, at a slower rate (one to two months before noticing results).

Strength Building Stack – Betaine, Taurine and Wheat Germ will aid in building strong muscle and muscle mass. Betaine inhibits the production of the amino acid homocysteine, which is associated with the risk of cardio vascular disease. Taurine is an amino acid that helps boost muscle strength and endurance. Wheat germ is the inner layer of the wheat kernel which stores protein, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals. This is a slow digesting carbohydrate that boosts both muscle strength and endurance, and enhances reaction time in athletes. Wheat germ offers many other health benefits as well.


[i] Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (2007). Quercetin, March 15, 2007, p. 272-275, retrieved from http://www.pharmpress.com/shop/samples/diet_supp_3E_sample.pdf

[ii] Guthrie, C. (2007). Top 10 Medical Breakthroughs of 2007. Retrieved February 2, 2009, from Time Magazine
Web site: http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/top10/article/0,30583,1686204_1686252_1690393,00.html

Tom & Angela
Nap ier
Emerald City Smoothie franchisee
Mercer Island & Redmond Ridge
Tom Napier, along with his wife, Angela,
opened two Emerald City Smoothie stores last
year on Mercer Island and in Redmond Ridge.

One of the areas Tom Napier investigated
before joining Emerald City was the background
of the company’s ownership. It turns
out that Jim Baskett, Emerald City’s president
and CEO, bought the health drink enterprise
in 2005 after being a loyal customer for many
years. Baskett also used to be an executive
with local timeshare company, Trendwest Resorts,
which was sold to homebuilding giant,
Cendant, for nearly $900 million in 2002.

That track record and level of personal
attachment to the franchise convinced Napier
that he was in good managerial hands. The
smoothie shops cost around $200,000 to
open, including franchise fees.

Napier also ran the business plan for his
franchises by his Smith Barney financial advisor
and his attorney before signing up. Tom and
Angela intend to open two additional Emerald
City stores—one this year and another in 2008.

The best advice Tom got while talking with
other existing franchisees, he says, was to take
only “A” locations. He says franchisees also
verified company claims that 60 percent of
customers stop in four times a week or more.

“I was amazed at the amount of repeat
customers,” he says. —C.T.