Operations

Clean Juice reports 'best fourth quarter ever'

provided

February 22, 2022

Despite the ongoing global pandemic and seasonality impact, North Carolina-based Clean Juice reported its best fourth quarter ever, including a cumulative same-store sales growth of over 20% and guest count growth of 23%. For the full year of 2021, Clean Juice had a total SSS growth of over 16% and served more than 3.3 million total guests in 2021, up 41% from the previous year.

"We are quite proud of our growth trajectory, especially when compared to similar quick service juice bars or 'healthy' restaurants that have been in operation for 25 years or more," Landon Eckles, founder and CEO of Clean Juice, said in a company press release. "Going into the year, and in particular Q4, we launched several company-wide initiatives under the 'Year of the Guest' theme to mitigate pandemic-related guest concerns and the normal seasonality trends we've seen in the past. It's pretty clear that our team's ability to read the market, understand guest buying patterns, and our grinding franchise partners' ability to quickly pivot and lead with a servant's heart helped us surge in 2021 for all four quarters."

Eckles credited the success to the chain's investment in menu innovations as well as technologies to help reach guests more conveniently through a first-party app, which improved the brand's guest count by 18% in December and 41% year-over- year.

"By staying true to our mission of providing the best quality, fully organic food and beverages in the industry, and continually expanding our menu offerings with exciting, all-natural organic ingredients and center-of-plate items, we've continued to grow and strengthen our brand in joyfully serving more than 3.3 million guests," Eckles said. "And guess what, we're not stopping here. We're just getting started," referring to one of the company's ten core values.

Other Notable Highlights from Fiscal Fourth Quarter and 2021 include:

• Brand ambassador partnership with Tim Tebow and the Tim Tebow Foundation.
• Launch of its first-ever national advertising campaign.
• Named to the Inc. 5000 for the third consecutive year.
• Ended the year with 118 open units (and over 67 in development) in our fifth year of franchising.
• Q4 franchise openings in four new states: Connecticut, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Montana.
• Ushered in the launch of the Cleanse Club, a customized, subscription-based program in partnership with Lunchbox.