By Roy Gilad, Founder and CEO, Vitality Bowls – It is safe to say that the past year has been a whirlwind for all of us, and over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have all faced a great deal of doubt, uncertainty and disbelief.
As franchise industry professionals, we have learned to cope, adapt and redirect our efforts toward solutions that keep our businesses going, and through it all, we have learned that teamwork and goodwill can bring people together to generate hope for the future in times of need.
At Vitality Bowls, we quickly pivoted as soon as the pandemic hit to implement methods of engaging customers and helping our franchise owners make an impact in their communities.
Our franchisees began making frequent food donations to hospitals, emergency centers and city organizations, providing them with healthy meals to keep them energized throughout the day as they fought on the frontlines. The initiative was so well received that one of our locations quickly reached a milestone of donating over 250 smoothies and 50 bagged meals to area hospitals.
Through the donations, local residents and frontline workers realized that Vitality Bowls is more than just a neighborhood café – we are a trusted partner of the community. As a brand, we also implemented a number of operational practices to shift our focus towards off premise dining strategies and reinventing customer experiences. With the help of our franchise system, many of our local Vitality Bowls stores were able to operate with curbside pickup models to encourage off-premise dining. We also provided staff with personal protective equipment, and installed signage displays and floor markers in our cafés for employees and guests to follow social distancing and safety protocols more effectively, taking extra precautions to keep everyone safe.
Not only were we able to make a difference in our local communities as a united front through these efforts, but our tactics also made us stronger as a franchise. The pandemic strategies eventually resulted in an increased average ticket price, the addition of 60,000 members to our existing Loyalty Program, and over 1.8 million açaí bowls sold.
While there is no way to guarantee what the future holds as we continue to navigate the outcomes of COVID-19, we are certain that together as a system, we can better our chances of generating hope and persevering through the challenges to make great things happen.
Attention to all my DFW foodies, go check out @vitalitybowlsfrisco ♥️ they have an AMAZING selection of healthy foods!
Here’s some AMAZING benefits of @vitalitybowlsfrisco – no added sugars – no preservatives – made fresh to order – allergy safe (gluten free options!) – locally owned & operated – dairy free
Make sure to mark your calendars for APRIL 6!!! @vitalitybowls will be offering buy one medium or large size açaí bowl, get one FREE!! (Nutty Bowl, Tropical Bowl or Vitality Bowl!)”
From @foodie_sob, Foodie Straight Outta Brooklyn: “Get ready because National Açaí Bowl Day is coming soon! I’m celebrating the day with Vitality Bowls in Alpharetta and here’s your chance to score a BOGO deal on Tuesday, April 6th!!!
Who’s ready to celebrate clean and healthy eating with @vitalitybowlsalpharetta / @vitalitybowls / and @foodie_SOB…Checkout the variety of bowls you can indulge in: Vitality Bowl (organic açaí, strawberries, honey, etc.) Tropical Bowl (organic açaí, coconut milk, pineapple Dragon Bowl (organic pitaya, coconut milk, bananas, etc.) Green Bowl (organic graviola, spirulina, hemp seeds, etc.) Nutty Bowl (organic açaí, almond milk, peanut butter, etc.)
Which bowl will you select and who will you share your BOGO with?
Pics of my favorite bowls: ***Tropical Bowl w/ kiwi added (pic 1-5) ***BOGO Promo (pic 6) ***Warrior Açaí Bowl w/ peanut butter added (pic 7) ***The Love Bowl (pic 8)
No. of units: 76 open; 146 total open and in development
What attracted you to franchising? Our first few locations were well-received and we wanted to bring our healthy food to more communities. We felt everyone should have access to nutritious and delicious superfoods with a focus on allergy safety.
What was your first job in franchising? I worked at a Round Table Pizza in college.
What do you attribute your success to? Identifying a healthy menu that is also delicious, along with having talented and dedicated team members.
What challenges and obstacles have you overcome in your career? Being a female in a male-dominated industry as well as going through a pregnancy and raising two children while growing an expanding business. It was also challenging to find a work/life balance when we started. In the last couple of years, as we’ve grown and been able to bring on more team members, I’ve finally achieved this.
Describe your journey to your current position: I started creating recipes in my kitchen before we opened our first location in 2011. We opened our second location 5 months later, and our third a year later. We began franchising in 2014 and today have 146 locations either open or in development.
What are your future career goals? To maintain my current role as president and continue to expand the company and bring healthy foods to all communities. Since fewer than 10% of brands ever launch more than 100 open stores, it has been a personal goal for me to try to achieve this by 2022.
Advice to young female executives in franchising: Find something you are passionate about and give it all you have! Be willing to stay flexible, focused, and driven.
From @nicolelockwood – “I ate this too fast . . . Tomorrow add FREE granola to your already fab acai bowl! Thank you @vitalitybowlsplainview & @scuderi35 for feeding me. I’ll be back real soon”
From QSRMagazine.com | INDUSTRY NEWS | MARCH 19, 2021 – Vitality Bowls is joining forces with Nature’s Path Organic Foods to offer superfood café customers extra granola on any Vitality Bowls menu item for free.
Offered only on Saturday, March 20, Vitality Bowls customers will be able to add extra Nature’s Path Organic Hemp granola to their favorite smoothie or açaí bowl all day long. Made with whole grain rolled oats, flax seeds and hemp seeds, Nature’s Path Organic Hemp granola is certified organic, non-GMO and free of artificial preservatives or additives.
“Our rich açaí bowls and smoothies, fresh fruit and superfood toppings pair perfectly with the crunch of Nature’s Path granola—it really is one of our most popular add-ons,” says Tara Gilad, president and co-founder of Vitality Bowls. “We are excited to share the love of extra granola with dedicated Vitality Bowls enthusiasts on March 20 and encourage new fans to try it, too.”
Customers can redeem the free granola add-on at their nearest participating Vitality Bowls location on March 20 with the purchase of a bowl or smoothie.
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