“In cafes across the country, the Tropical Smoothie Cafe family is working tirelessly to support our local communities, which are currently facing unprecedented hardship,” said Charles Watson, CEO of Tropical Smoothie Cafe, LLC. “Our safety is dependent upon the selfless, hard work of our local healthcare workers and first responders and we want to help them in any way we can. The 100K smoothie giveaway is a simple, but impactful example of one way we can show our gratitude and bring a smile to their face – one sip at a time.”

To reach the goal of 100,000 smoothies, Watson added, each cafe has been challenged to donate at least 100 smoothies. In the first days of the campaign, several franchisees jumped on board to donate more than 600 smoothies each. As of March 27, Tropical Smoothie Cafe has delivered approximately 20,000 smoothies across over 20 states and over 30 markets. The brand’s focus has been on supporting all local communities, the same communities where our franchise owners and the cafe employees live and work.

“As a small business owner, I was grateful for the opportunity to show our local first responders and healthcare workers who go above and beyond for us every day,” said Nick Crouch, a multi-unit franchisee with Tropical Smoothie Cafe and the CEO of DYNE Hospitality Group. “Even if it is just in a small way, we want them to know we appreciate their hard work that we’re all in this together!”

Consumers can follow the #InItTogether campaign by visiting Tropical Smoothie Cafe on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. To learn more about Tropical Smoothie Cafe and the #InItTogether campaign, visit the brand’s website.

Source: Tropical Smoothie Cafe

The eagerly anticipated arrival of a NEW ‘hero’ cherry super juice, trumpets the arrival of Coldpress’s stunning 9-strong on-the-go (250ml) portfolio, including NEW super smoothies Survive & Thrive and Mend & Defend and welcome return of Coldpress classics, including Mango Passionfruit & Pineapple Banana Coconut and single varietals Pink Lady & Valencian Orange.

According to Coldpress founder, Andrew Gibb, ‘A rejuvenated chilled juice category is certainly dependent on ‘disruptor’ super juices like Coldpress re-establishing their supermarket credentials as a credible alternative to Big Soda heavyweights Innocent (Coke) & Tropicana (Pepsi) whilst making significant inroads into increasingly health conscious food arenas such as gyms, independent health food stores, delis, next generation garage forecourts and a resurgent foodservice sector.  

Yes there’s been a lot of change at Coldpress over the last 6-9 months, including the creation of a state-of-the-art Spanish ‘pressery’ and establishing Europe’s 1^st fortified HPP juice and smoothie portfolio, however knowing winks to past remain including the  NEW  250ml on-the-hoof bottles remaining unmistakably hexagonal, albeit today’s on- the-go bottles are slim and elegant not short & squat.’

Coldpress has long craved a headline cherry to give extra impetus to the overall range, a nutrient-rich fruit (packed with fibre, potassium, calcium, folic acid and Vitamin C) with a decadent yet delicate flavour that has been historically subdued & suppressed by traditional heat-based pasteurisation.

With new listings already secured in Ocado, NISA and a number of the UK’s leading healthier living wholesalers the future looks ripe for the UK’s original HPP poster boy.

Source: ColdPress

The first NERDS-flavored Slurpee^® drink has hit 7-Eleven^® stores. The limited-time flavor is a mashup of two of its most iconic flavors – Strawberry and Grape. 7-Eleven collaborated with Ferrara Candy Company maker of the popular tiny, tangy crunchy candy to create the exclusive flavor described as “delicious, tangy Grape and Strawberry that taste just like your favorite NERDS candy.”

Two Slurpee trucks, cleverly disguised as yellow school buses full of the whimsical NERDS characters, will visit college campuses and sporting events to hand out free cups of the new grape strawberry NERDS-flavored Slurpee and packages of NERDS candy. The NERDS Slurpee 2019 College Tour will make stops in Texas and Midwest states throughout the fall. For more information about the Slurpee NERDS “bus” stop dates and locations, look for Slurpee social media posts on Instagram and Twitter. The colorful Slurpee truck offers a bright backdrop for post-worthy pictures of samplers’ NERDS experience.

“Slurpee customers, particularly younger ones, love to create fun frozen treats by mixing their favorite candy and Slurpee flavors,” said Jacob Barnes, 7-Eleven proprietary beverages product director. “When we started hearing social media chatter that people were suggesting we come out with a NERDS Slurpee, we thought it was a great idea. And, if Slurpee fans want to mix their NERDS Slurpee drinks with NERDS candy, even better. NERDS candy is one of the best-selling non-chocolate candy brands in our stores.”

NERDS candy first hit the U.S. market in 1983 and in 1985, the National Candy Wholesalers Association awarded NERDS “Candy of the Year” honors. The Single Dual Chamber box has two compartments each filled with a separate flavor. Grape & Strawberry is the original dual flavor combination, which is still available today along with many other NERDS offerings.

“NERDS is excited to be collaborating with 7-Eleven to deliver an interactive and a one-of-a-kind Slurpee experience,” said Katie Duffy, senior director of Marketing, Ferrara Candy Company. “Fans will be able to ‘nerd out’ with 7-Eleven and NERDS candy this fall.”

Source: Eleven

The 50th open store at Five Points-Nashville, owned and operated by Allen and Dawn Tyndall, will host a grand opening event at their store at 962 Woodland Street in the revitalized and trendy East side community.  The event will feature exclusive grand opening discounts, free product sampling, attendance by several neighboring business, door prizes and more.  The event will also feature a visit from “Iron” Michael Chandler Jr., a three-time Bellator Lightweight World Champion mixed martial arts fighter and owner of Training Camp Nashville.

“We are truly humbled and grateful for the opportunity to serve our guests in communities like Nashville with a high-quality, healthy and delicious organic product,” said Landon Eckles, Co-founder of Clean Juice along with his wife, Kat. “We are equally grateful for the entrepreneurial-spirited and dedicated franchise partners like the Tyndalls, for helping us grow and deliver products with a speed, a smile and a servant’s heart.”

Clean Juice continues its journey in becoming the world’s most plentiful juice bar by providing USDA-certified organic food and beverages to on-the-go guests while building meaningful relationships.  The company sources only the highest quality, premium organic ingredients for its organic cold-pressed juices, smoothies, açaí bowls and some bites like Avocado Toast.  Clean Juice aims to provide the perfect nutrition that comes only from organic food.  When and if there is a sourced or seasonal product that cannot be found organically, each franchise location notifies guest through its “transparency board” in the front of all stores.

“Our company takes our ten foundational core values very seriously and each of them are equally important,” said Kat Eckles, co-owner and spouse to Landon, who also serves as Chief Branding Officer.  “We believe that everything we do is for God and the key to success is building trust through transparency” she said.

Source: Clean Juice

Soylent Drink provides 20% of your daily nutritional requirements and 400 kcal. in each 14-oz. bottle. It has a truly original taste that has been adapted into three delicious flavours: Original, Cacao, and Nectar.

The drink is packed into a plastic bottle with black letters on a white background. A clear message is conveyed with a note on the front: “Ready-to-drink meal! Low glycaemic index, plant-based, 20% of daily nutrition.” These are the most important facts about the drink itself.

After opening the bottle, you can feel the not too intense, yet sweet aroma reminding of wheat flour or grain. The colour of the drink is white and milky, as is the turbidity. A simple taste provides a heavier-than-milk mouthfeel. It is very smooth while drinking, but  leaves a very slight grainy feel after swallowing.

The taste is slightly sweet, neutral with delicate notes of nuts or cereal. A whole bottle contains 20 g of plant protein, 9 g of sugars, 37 g of carbohydrates, 21 g of fat and of course 400 kcal. All of it is fortified with a list of essential vitamins and minerals.

Trying out this growing category of beverages is definitely worth it. If you are in a hurry and do not have time to have a healthy snack or meal, it is better to grab Soylent than to have junk food.

For more information visit Soylent website.

Founded by former NFL captain Gerome Sapp, Health Binge was created on a foundation of nutritional convenience, to provide customers with fresh, portion-controlled, healthy gourmet meals at the ease of a fast food establishment. Sapp is currently working with KME Architects, known for their work with Starbucks and Port of Subs, to build out brand-consistent locations within 14 existing EOS Fitness clubs in Arizona and Nevada.

Health Binge expects to launch the foodservice markets inside EOS Fitness by March 1, and plans to grow with the company as it expands with new club locations in multiple markets throughout the Southwest. In addition, Health Binge plans to open more independent retail locations across Southern Nevada over the next year.

“We are extremely excited about this new partnership with Health Binge,” said Rich Drengberg, CEO of EOS Fitness.

“Health Binge’s unique brand of nutritious, gourmet ready-to-go meals are the perfect fit for the high quality level of amenities we offer our members, who we feel will greatly benefit from this additional service.”

“I am thrilled to be aligning with EOS Fitness, one of the fastest growing health club brands in the western U.S.,” said Health Binge founder, Gerome Sapp. “EOS and Health Binge are perfectly matched in our mission to focus on bridging healthy lifestyle with convenience for our clients. We look forward to growing together with EOS in expanding nutritional convenience to markets across the West Coast.”

Source: Health Binge

New Supergreen Caesar and four Powerpacked Smoothies

Tropical Smoothie Café is helping guests eat better and feel better in the New Year with six menu items packed with both flavor and nutrition. Starting Monday, December 26, 2016, cafes will launch the NEW Supergreen Caesar – available as a salad or wrap – and a lineup of four powerpacked smoothies – Detox Island Green, Chia Blueberry Max, Health Nut, and Immune Blast. All will be available at participating Tropical Smoothie Café locations.

“We know that health and wellness take center stage after the New Year,” said JoAnn Herold, spokesperson for Tropical Smoothie Café. “We are pleased to be the solution that consumers are looking for with better-for-you options without compromising taste, not only during this season but all year long.”

Eating Your Greens

The Supergreen Caesar lineup is a more healthful take on your traditional Caesar profile with superfood greens such as spinach and kale. The Supergreen Caesar Wrap features grilled chicken with a blend of Romaine lettuce, kale and spinach. The wrap also includes Parmesan cheese, diced tomatoes, Parmesan crisps, and Caesar dressing, in a toasted flour tortilla. The Supergreen Caesar Salad takes all the goodness of the wrap served up in a bowl. Guests looking for a protein boost will be pleased to know that both entrees have the option to be “Supercharged” with double protein.

Nutrition In a Cup

To fuel up on-the-go, Tropical Smoothie Café is offering a lineup of four Powerpacked Smoothies each with a variety of unique nutritional, health and fitness benefits.

The Detox Island Green features a combination of fresh spinach, kale, mango, pineapple, banana and fresh ginger. A NEW product, the Chia Blueberry Max packs a protein and antioxidant punch with roasted banana, chia seeds, blueberries, peanut butter, almonds, dates, coconut, cinnamon, whole grain oats and whey protein.

The Health Nut Smoothie blends blueberries, mango, banana, almonds and your choice of protein, thereby offering great taste with an added boost of fiber and protein.

Lastly, is the Immune Blast. With flu season still in full swing, the smoothie provides a Vitamin C-packed immunity boost with a refreshing combination of banana, orange, apple, and orange juice.

The Chia Blueberry Max and Immune Blast will be available for a limited time.

Source: Tropical Smoothie Cafe

Source: Planet Smoothie

Planet Smoothie announces almond milk as its first ever non-dairy milk option, which can be found in three new limited time only, vegan smoothies: Pineapple Tropi-Kale Twist, Salted Peanut Butter Cup, and Strawberry Chia Chiller, available September 5, 2016.

In order to cater to a growing consumer demand for non-dairy items, almond milk is now an option for Planet Smoothie lovers. The three new smoothies offer customers a chance to give it a try and taste for themselves. Each non-dairy smoothie was developed with health and allergen sensitivity in mind and is blended with almond milk to provide the same sweet and creamy taste as traditional smoothies.

“Almond milk is a fantastic option for consumers seeking dairy-free alternatives and it’s so good you can’t even taste the difference,” said Nicole Butcher, national marketing manager for Planet Smoothie.

Source: Planet Smoothie

“Planet Smoothie is excited to launch almond milk as an option in stores and continue to satisfy all of our customers with delicious tasting products that cater to specific dietary needs.”

These new, vegan smoothies come in three delicious flavors and are available September 5, 2016, through January 1, 2017. Almond milk will continue to be available after that date.

•     Pineapple Tropi-Kale Twist – Almond Milk, Leafy Greens, Passion Fruit and Pineapple
•     Salted Peanut Butter Cup – Almond Milk, Cocoa, All-Natural Peanut Butter, Bananas, Vanilla and Sea Salt
•     Strawberry Chia Chiller – Almond Milk, Strawberries, Bananas, Orange Juice and Chia Seeds

The first Planet Smoothie store opened in Atlanta in 1995 using real fruits and vegetables, as well as its own line of supplements and Leanleaf sweetener in its smoothies that are blended fresh-to-order.  Most of Planet Smoothie’s Energy Smoothies are made with a special proprietary Energy Blast mix that includes guarana, ginger and white willow bark, along with a blend of minerals and supplements.

Source: Planet Smoothie

(Photo: Getty Images/Paul Gilham)

Robeks Fresh Juices & Smoothies is bringing a taste of Brazil to its stores, just in time for the 2016 Rio Olympics. Flavors like acai, watermelon, banana and peanut butter combine to make healthy, delicious treats in our new limited-time-only Brazil’s Flavor Destination offerings, available through Oct. 2.

Brazil’s Flavor Destination gives every Robeks customer a taste of this year’s Olympics host with a mix of healthy and fresh ingredients that make you feel like you’re relaxing on the sunny beaches of Rio, no matter where you are. The refreshing and flavorful Brazilian Berry Smoothie is packed with fresh watermelon, açaí juice, frozen yogurt, pineapple and mango, along with fresh mint leaves to add a refreshing touch.

Source: Robeks

Made with Zola açaí and fresh watermelon, the Amazonia Bowl is packed with pineapple and strawberry and topped with shredded coconut, banana chips, mango, chocolate-covered coconut, bee pollen and raw honey. Finally, we have the Nutty Rio Bowl, also made with Zola açaí and fresh watermelon with a flavor that is interestingly enhanced by natural peanut butter, banana and strawberry. It is then covered with dried banana chips, granola, natural peanut butter, chocolate-covered coconut, bee pollen and raw honey.

Açaí has traveled beyond the borders of Brazil and become a household name known for its abundant antioxidants and other nutrients. Robeks prides itself on helping people eat healthier and was one of the first smoothie purveyors to use the açaí berry in its products.

“The acai berry has only grown in popularity as people recognize the great taste and health benefits. Combined with a refreshing and nutrient rich summer fruit like watermelon, we’ve come up with some great recipes that we’re really excited to have people try,” said Robeks Director of Marketing Matt Furman.

Source: Robeks

At Robeks, menu items feature premium ingredients — naturally ripened fruits and vegetables that retain nutrients, live enzymes and natural flavor. They are always made fresh-to-order while the customer watches.

To learn more about the menu or to find the closest location, visit Robeks website.

Source: Robeks

Source: LALA Foods

LALA, a Borden Dairy brand, today announced its expansion with the debut of two new products to their signature line of creamy, on-the-go yogurt smoothies—including the first ever portable hunger-curbing yogurt smoothie as well as a 100 calorie yogurt smoothie variety.

LALA Healthies Curb is the first of the brand’s new Healthies line, which will focus on better-for-you varieties while still offering the great taste and convenience of LALA’s signature Yogurt Smoothies. LALA has plans to expand upon this launch with other healthful yogurt smoothie varieties in the coming year.

LALA 100 Calorie is a delicious portion-controlled yogurt smoothie great for those watching calories without sacrificing taste. While 100 calorie spoonable yogurts have been on the market and performing well for some time, consumers have not had the luxury of a portion controlled, on-the-go drinkable yogurt.

LALA Healthies Curb and LALA 100 Calorie join LALA’s signature line of Greek and Core Yogurt Smoothies. All LALA Yogurt Smoothies contain no high fructose corn syrup, no artificial colors or flavors and are made with real fruit.

“LALA yogurt smoothies are loved by consumers for the taste, convenience and quality ingredients. We know that 59% of yogurt drinkers consume them as a meal, so we wanted to provide options for people who regularly eat on the run, but don’t want to sacrifice flavor or nutrition,” said Desiree Johnson, director of marketing at Borden Dairy.

“We are continuously looking to provide our customers with added benefits and new LALA Healthies Curb and LALA 100 Calorie are a great way to do so.”

LALA Healthies Curb Yogurt Smoothies

The first of its kind, LALA Healthies Curb combines grains and proteins for a nutritious beverage that fights hunger while on the go. With 10g of protein, 8g of whole grains plus a healthy amount of fiber in every drink, LALA Healthies Curb helps keep cravings at bay and sustain energy throughout the day. LALA Healthies Curb comes in three delicious flavors including Wild Strawberry, Toasted Pecan and Orange Pineapple.

LALA Healthies Curb will be available at grocery stores and retailers nationwide beginning July 2016 in four-packs of 6.7 oz. bottles.

LALA 100 Calorie Yogurt Smoothies

LALA 100 Calorie Yogurt Smoothies start with the flavor and protein of wholesome yogurt. And, because many are watching what they eat, LALA has packaged their on-the-go smoothies to make counting calories easy – only 100 in every serving of LALA 100 Calorie. The flavors include Wild Strawberry, Mountain Blueberry and Cherry Vanilla.

LALA 100 Calorie will be available at grocery stores and retailers nationwide beginning July 2016 in four-packs of 7 oz. bottles.

For more information visit LALA Foods.