Between 2007 and 2012, smoothie consumption grew 80 percent. At the same time, IBISWorld research also found the U.S. Juice and Smoothie Bar market grew 2.8 percent annually between 2011 and 2016.
Currently, the U.S. has the largest market for the smoothie industry on a global scale with 45.7 percent market share. However, the Asia-Pacific region is expected to be the fastest-growing market in the coming years. In fact, it’s anticipated to grow at a 9.1 percent compound annual growth rate by 2022.
While this is clearly positive news for Smoothie King owners, it’s important to understand what’s driving these statistics.
What Do Consumers Value?
When consumers make food and beverage purchasing decisions, health and wellness are often key considerations. They tend to concentrate on products that:
- Have better-for-you ingredients
- Are portable
- Balance smart choices and convenience
- Provide sufficient nutritional value to act as a meal replacement
- Provide a convenient way to get their daily fruit and vegetable intake
Among consumers’ list of priorities when thinking about their health and wellness, getting fit and managing weight continue to be the top goals. Energy has also become increasingly important for consumers over the past few years. Food, especially when considering meal replacements, must have the nutritional value that supports consumers’ energy needs over the course of the day.
Consumers are searching for, and buying, innovative products that fulfill the aforementioned criteria.
What Consumer Habits Illustrate
Smoothies have gone from being a somewhat rare treat to an everyday food. Sarah Nassauer, a food business reporter for the Wall Street Journal, explained in an interview with NPR that frozen fruit sales rose above $1 billion in 2014. And out of that massive amount of frozen fruit purchased by consumers, it is estimate
d that 60 percent went into smoothies. By comparison, only 21 percent of consumer-purchased frozen fruit eventually became a smoothie in 2006.
Transparency and customization both play into overall health and wellness trends. It’s increasingly important for consumers to know what they’re putting into their bodies—as they choose the specific ingredients they want in their orders.
Health and Wellness Attitudes Have Evolved
In many ways, dieting in the traditional sense – counting calories, carbs and fat content – has evolved into a qualitative approach to managing food intake. So, instead, consumers are looking at the positive outcomes that a variety of foods can have on their lifestyles. This may include foods that are less processed and higher quality.
In a sense, this is a cultural transformation as well. Health and wellness is no longer fueled by deprivation and fear. Instead, consumers are looking for nutrition that complements an overall healthy and active lifestyle—they’re following a purpose-driven attitude toward consumption habits.
How Smoothie King Franchisees Benefit
Research from Global Industry Analysts anticipates the global smoothie industry to grow to $15.8 billion by 2022, suggesting a potentially fertile market for investment.
The rise of nutrition balanced with convenience fits perfectly within Smoothie King’s singular focus on providing guests with smoothies that inspire them to live a healthy and active lifestyle. The format of the Smoothie King menu helps enable consumers to take control of what they put in their bodies and progress toward their daily fitness goals through their product choices.
Learn more about Smoothie King’s purpose-centered approach to business ownership and product development.
