Jamba

Jamba — formerly known as Jamba Juice — is a Roark Capital-affiliated, Focus Brands-owned fast-casual smoothie and juice chain known for its juice blends and healthy sandwiches and food items.

The 700+-unit restaurant chain was founded in 1990 as a college project by California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and was originally called Juice Club. In 2006, Jamba Juice was purchased by Services Acquisition Corp. International, and their corporate name was changed to Jamba, Inc. In 2009, the company expanded outside of nutritious smoothies and drinks to healthy foods.

Focus Brands acquired the company in 2018, and dropped the “Juice” from its name to become Jamba in 2019. As part of the name change, Jamba also began a brand transformation and emphasized its roots of offering smoothies, juices and bowls. The company has also been shifting toward non-traditional store units, like drive-thrus, since 2017.

Since the company’s acquisition by Focus Brands, Jamba has also shifted more toward digital transactions, with the launch of their loyalty program in 2019, and a long-term strategy of a menu evolution, including a partnership with Impossible Foods to create plant-based sausage shandwiches in 2021.

Key Data: Jamba

Headquarters: Atlanta, Ga.

Segment: Fast Casual

Restaurant Segment: LSR Salad/Healthful

Number of US locations: 714

2020 Sales: $501.3 million

Annual Growth:

Source: Datassential Firefly 500

CEO: David A. Pace

Parent: Focus Brands