Acai bowl establishments have seemingly popped up overnight and continue to be a growing national sensation. Native to Brazil, acai berries are served mashed up in a bowl with other healthy additions such as granola, fruit, sorbet, yogurt or peanut butter. The acai bowl trend began in the surf culture scene in Hawaii and Southern California in the early 2000s, and then gained acceptance within the health and fitness crowd along the West Coast. When famous celebrities with a large following — such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Kim Kardashian and Oprah Winfrey — began extolling the virtues of acai bowls, public fascination with these berry-based meals really began to spread throughout the country. Look for regions that currently lack adequate health food options to be especially targeted for growth.
The acai bowl diet appeals to health-oriented Gen Z-ers, as well as the fitness and/or diet-minded millennials, Gen X-ers and even baby boomers. These tenants attract day-to-night customers multiple times a week and can occupy smaller retail spaces, generally between 500 and 2,500 s.f. Preferred locations can run the gamut from urban retail street-front sites to suburban power centers or strip malls. There have been a few breakout fast-casual brands in this category that are well positioned for continued national growth, especially as the acai bowl trend continues to chase the population surges into untapped areas of the nation. Be on the lookout for Playa Bowls, Everbowl, OAKBERRY, Rush Bowls and Vitality Bowls to all be expanding their reach in the immediate future.
The New Jersey-based Playa Bowls expects to open up to 60 new units per year over the next one to two years, followed by a goal of opening between 75 and 100 new units per year by 2025. New areas targeted for growth that are on its radar include all markets in Alabama and the metros in Florida that are still underpenetrated, such as Orlando and Jacksonville. Playa Bowls will also continue to open in markets where it already has a small presence, such as in Raleigh, N.C., Washington, D.C., New Orleans and Phoenix. The brand’s long-term plan is to ultimately continue expanding into the Midwest and eventually into the still untapped West Coast markets.
Ideal space for Playa Bowls is an end cap or inline unit in the 1,000- to 2,500-s.f. range, in suburban and urban metros within strip centers, ground-floor spots of residential mixed-use developments, retail street fronts, community retail centers and neighborhood centers. Sites in airports, tourist locations and college towns are also prioritized. Preferred co-tenants can include fitness brands such as F45, errand stores such as Rite Aid, and non-competing treat-oriented eateries such as Insomnia Cookies. In preparation for its massive national growth, Playa Bowls recently hired the former president of the Smoothie King franchise to become its CEO. Playa Bowls, which also sells specialty coffees, offers bowls, smoothies and juices featuring acai, pitaya, mango, coconut and more.
The Southern California-based Everbowl anticipates opening between 50 and 60 new units per year over the next three years with a focus on interior Western states such as Colorado and Idaho, as well as regions in the Midwest and the South. Look for all markets in Texas, Iowa and North Carolina to be eyed for growth, in addition to the suburban areas of Chicago, Birmingham, Ala., Charleston, S.C., Memphis, Tenn., Cleveland and Cincinnati. Everbowl is also actively seeking new franchisees in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Virginia and Michigan.
End caps between 700 and 1,200 s.f., in strip centers, grocery-anchored centers and neighborhood shopping centers within affluent suburban communities are desired. Close proximity to multifamily developments, high schools and business parks is also sought after.
Ideal co-tenants include healthy organic-oriented grocers such as Sprouts Farmers Market or Trader Joe’s, and daily errand brands such as The UPS Store. In March, former New Orleans Saints Quarterback Drew Brees agreed to open 65 more Everbowl franchise locations throughout the Midwest, the South and the Southeast, adding to the 85 other locations he previously committed to. Everbowl has also signed an additional 250 franchisees, guaranteeing further growth for years to come. Everbowl sells not just acai bowls with fruit and other toppings, but also bowls with such bases as pitaya, cacao and chia pudding.
The second half of this article will be posted on September 25, 2023.
