Harvest Kitchen offers heartier meals to complement its sister brand Vitality Bowls’ acai bowls both in person and available via online ordering
While many virtual brands tap into consumers’ indulgent sides with fried and cheese-filled menu items, Harvest Kitchen — the new offshoot from the 145-unit, Danville, Calif.-based acai concept Vitality Bowls — is doing the opposite.
Vitality Bowls is known for its acai bowls and smoothies, while Harvest Kitchen will offer heartier and more savory meals that complement the brand’s healthy and allergy-friendly roots. Harvest Kitchen launched last month as a hybrid virtual brand offshoot in select markets in California, New York, New Jersey, Arizona, Texas, and Nebraska with a menu of sandwiches, salads, protein bowls, and wraps. By July 15, Harvest Kitchen will be rolling out systemwide, and is available both in stores and online.
Founders Roy and Tara Gilad started Vitality Bowls 12 years ago after their daughter was born with severe food allergies. They could not find many healthy, safe options for their daughter, so they started making their own baby food for her. Eventually, that project evolved into the first Vitality Bowls location, which opened in San Ramon, Calif. when their daughter was a toddler. Harvest Kitchen is the next step in the company’s growth plan.
“We wanted to innovate beyond our signature acai bowls and smoothies because we noticed our guests have a growing demand for hearty, nutritious meals that went beyond what we traditionally offered,” Tara Gilad, COO of Vitality Bowls, said. “We’re keeping the same principles like clean food, nutritious ingredients, all-natural proteins, organic superfoods, etc. Harvest Kitchen allows us to introduce a variety of new savory dishes that are designed to cater to different meal occasions and preferences.”
Since launching the virtual brand, Gilad said that two of the most popular items have been the steak protein bowl (grass-fed steak, rice and quinoa, lettuce, tomatoes, pickled onion, chimichurri, pepitas, and a purple hardboiled egg) and the avocado chicken wrap (sous-vide chicken, avocado, lettuce, tomatoes, feta, rice and quinoa, sunflower seeds, pickled red onions, tahini vinaigrette, pesto).
“A lot of virtual brands stay within their wheelhouse of serving unhealthy food, but I think more guests want healthier foods,” Gilad said. “One of the things that sets Harvest Kitchen apart is its accessibility: it’s available both in-store and online. That way all our guests can enjoy our nutritious offerings, whether they’re ordering online or in the store.”
Harvest Kitchen started at Vitality Bowls’ corporate locations first before being rolled out to franchised stores. Vitality Bowls operates the virtual brand independently from within its own stores, without using an outside ghost kitchen company or commissary kitchen. The food is all made from within Vitality Bowls’ kitchens and recipes have been specifically tailored to fit the kitchens’ operational needs without adding too many SKUs or complexity to the back of house.
Moving forward, Gilad said that they want to grow both concepts throughout the U.S., particularly in the South, Midwest, and on the East Coast.
Vitality Bowls, the leading superfood café offering açaí bowls, smoothies, salads, wraps, grain bowls and more, is gearing up to celebrate one incredible year in Oakland County. The West Bloomfield café, owned and operated by local entrepreneurs Dawn and Tristan Moss, has been a community staple since it first opened in 2023.
“Our first anniversary is a significant milestone for our business and community,” said Dawn Moss. “This year has flown by, and we are incredibly grateful to our guests for choosing us as their go-to superfood destination. To show our appreciation, we’re inviting everyone to celebrate with us. Our guests are an integral part of our success, and without their loyalty and support, we wouldn’t be where we are today.”
To celebrate the café’s anniversary, from June 21 to June 23, Vitality Bowls in West Bloomfield is offering special promotions. Guests will receive $5.00 off any one menu item during this period, and each visitor will also get a $5.00 coupon for their next visit. Those looking to snag exclusive promotions can receive them by downloading the Vitality Bowls loyalty app.
“On behalf of the entire team at Vitality Bowls, I am happy to congratulate the West Bloomfield location on its first anniversary,” said Tara Gilad, Co-Founder and President of Vitality Bowls. “We are so proud to have dedicated owners like Dawn and Tristan, whose commitment to our brand has been exemplary. We look forward to seeing how they build upon their success and continue to grow for many years to come.”
For over a decade, Vitality Bowls has pioneered healthy food with its dynamic cafés and unique offerings. The menu showcases an extraordinary array of superfoods, delivering not just meals but a commitment to exceptional nutritional value. From signature bowls like the Superfood Bowl—made with acai, pitaya, almond milk, organic granola, cacao nibs and goji berries—to hearty crowd favorites like the Chimichurri Steak Wrap—an enticing blend of super greens, grass-fed sous-vide steak, grains, radishes and more wrapped in a tomato basil tortilla—each item aligns with the brand’s mission help guests feel 100% energized and 100% revitalized.
To celebrate the food holiday on June 21, we’ve rounded up a list of discounts and freebies you’ll want to stick your straw into.
Beyond Juicery and Eatery
Beyond Juicery and Eatery will have $4.99 classic smoothies — available in 12 flavors — on June 21 all day long.
Goode Health
Love to make your own smoothies at home? Goode Health, a brand that sells nutrition blends, is offering TODAY.com readers 20% off between June 21 — 23 using the code SMOOTHIE.
Jamba
Jamba customers can score a small 16-ounce Mango-a-Go-Go or Strawberry Whirl smoothie for $1 on June 21 between 3 — 6 p.m. local time. The offer is only available in store.
Kencko
Instant-smoothie brand Kencko is offering TODAY.com readers 20% off all smoothies through June 27 using the code SMOOTHIEDAY20.
Outshine
Through June 21, smoothie lovers can visit the Outshine Snacks Instagram page to enter for the chance to win a kit that comes with fruit and yogurt smoothie pouches, cocktail glasses, a stirrer and a $25 gift card.
Pita Pit
TODAY.com readers who order a pita in the Pita Pit app on June 21 will get a free fruit smoothie. To order, add a pita and smoothie to your cart and use the code TODAYSMOOTH.
Planet Smoothie
Between 2 — 5 p.m. local time on June 21, Planet Smoothie will be giving away free 20-ounce Lunar Lemonade smoothies, which feature lemon juice, bananas and strawberries.
Playa Bowls
Playa rewards members who buy a smoothie at Playa Bowls on June 21 will get a free reusable color-changing cup while supplies last. The offer is limited to one cup per customer.
Retro Fitness
Retro Fitness is offering customers $2 off all smoothies on June 21.
Robeks
Robeks will be sharing codes for free treats — including free smoothies, buy one, get one free offers and a giveaway for free smoothies for a year — on its Facebook and Instagram accounts starting at 8 a.m. on June 21. Deals will debut at the top of each hour with a limited number of codes available.
Smoothie King
Smoothie King is wrapping up a week of deals and celebrating National Smoothie Day with the following:
June 20: Healthy Rewards members will score 15% off any Healthy Rewards order (no purchase minimum), excluding Dude Perfect smoothies. The one-time offer is valid online, in-store and in-app, and can’t be combined with other deals.
June 21: Healthy Rewards members will earn triple points on all Healthy Rewards orders (online, in-store and in-app) and will be entered into a $5,000 sweepstakes with each purchase. The chain also offers Free Upsize Friday for rewards members, allowing them to upgrade from a 20-ounce smoothie to a 32-ounce smoothie for free while ordering in the app.
Tropical Smoothie Cafe
Tropic Rewards members can score a free 24-ounce smoothie on June 21 at Tropical Smoothie Cafe with a bowl or food purchase. Exclusions may apply.
Vitality Bowls
In honor of National Smoothie Day, Vitality Bowls is giving loyalty members free add-ons with any smoothie.
Setting sail into entrepreneurship at 25, I embarked on a journey of building my own empire. After parting ways with my initial venture in finance staffing, I delved into the domain of health and wellness with the birth of Vitality Bowls in 2011.
This endeavor wasn’t just a strategic business move—it was a fusion of my entrepreneurial drive and my role as a mother, fueled by my daughter’s food allergies.
The idea of Vitality Bowls truly traces back to my upbringing, marked by an unconventional yet health-conscious childhood. I was raised amidst a community of nutritional enthusiasts; my palate was shaped by garden-fresh produce…I mean, how many kids can say their closest thing to dessert was carob or picking fruit from their mother’s garden? Our lifestyle emphasized self-sufficiency, with our sustenance drawn directly from the earth, instilling in me a deep-rooted appreciation for healthy eating.
At 16, my parents’ separation thrust me into a small city housing apartment, igniting within me a fervent desire for a better future. Determined to carve my own path, I pursued higher education through a maze of student loans and financial aid, majoring in organizational communications and a minor in health science with a clear vision of entrepreneurship.
Several years later, after my husband Roy and I had children, we discovered our daughter was born with severe food allergies. As she continued to grow up, the absence of a convenient place to dine out, especially with a busy schedule, became increasingly
Children mold us in many ways. Tara Gilad’s daughter inspired a new business model than includes 70 Vitality Bowl restaurants all across the country.
Setting sail into entrepreneurship at 25, I embarked on a journey of building my own empire. After parting ways with my initial venture in finance staffing, I delved into the domain of health and wellness with the birth of Vitality Bowls in 2011.
This endeavor wasn’t just a strategic business move—it was a fusion of my entrepreneurial drive and my role as a mother, fueled by my daughter’s food allergies.
The idea of Vitality Bowls truly traces back to my upbringing, marked by an unconventional yet health-conscious childhood. I was raised amidst a community of nutritional enthusiasts; my palate was shaped by garden-fresh produce…I mean, how many kids can say their closest thing to dessert was carob or picking fruit from their mother’s garden? Our lifestyle emphasized self-sufficiency, with our sustenance drawn directly from the earth, instilling in me a deep-rooted appreciation for healthy eating.
At 16, my parents’ separation thrust me into a small city housing apartment, igniting within me a fervent desire for a better future. Determined to carve my own path, I pursued higher education through a maze of student loans and financial aid, majoring in organizational communications and a minor in health science with a clear vision of entrepreneurship.
Several years later, after my husband Roy and I had children, we discovered our daughter was born with severe food allergies. As she continued to grow up, the absence of a convenient place to dine out, especially with a busy schedule, became increasingly apparent. We needed a destination with food and service we trusted and realized we had to take it upon ourselves to do so.
From Christopher Correa at The Turlock Journal on June 5, 2024:
Vitality Bowls, a Northern California restaurant brand that expects to open in Turlock by the end of the year, specializes in açaí bowls, smoothies, wraps, salads and more.
Vitality Bowls, a Northern California restaurant brand that specializes in açaí bowls, smoothies, wraps, salads and more, has announced a signed agreement with local husband-and-wife entrepreneur duo, Tianna and Lizandro Barragan, to open a new location in Turlock.
The couple plans to have the restaurant, which they’ve described as “health-focused superfood café,” to open by the end of 2024. The location has not yet been announced.
“This is more than just a business venture to us—it’s about bringing our passion for healthy living to our community,” said Tianna Barragan. “Turlock’s small-town charm and close-knit community made it the perfect fit for us to act upon our long-term goals. We’ve seen firsthand the need for more nutritious options in the Central Valley, and we’re excited to fill that gap. Joining forces with Vitality Bowls allows us to be part of something bigger, expanding its reach while satisfying cravings with a variety of healthy superfood options.”
There are currently 30 Vitality Bowls locations in California, including one on Oakdale Road in Modesto.
The menu features signature bowls like the Superfood Bowl, made with acai, pitaya, almond milk, organic granola, cacao nibs and goji berries, and the Chimichurri Steak Wrap — a blend of super greens, grass-fed sous-vide steak, grains, radishes and more wrapped in a tomato basil tortilla. Each meal is packed with antioxidants, the company said in a release.
“Tianna and Lizando are exactly the right entrepreneurs to grow the brand in Turlock,” said Tara Gilad, co-founder and President of Vitality Bowls. “Given Lizando’s background as a health professional and Tianna’s business expertise, they truly embody the Vitality Bowls values and share our mission of bringing delicious and healthy food options to the community.”
Roy and Tara Gilad founded Vitality Bowls in 2011 in San Ramon, California. The duo started the superfood café concept as a result of discovering their daughter’s severe food allergies and wanting to find safe, healthy food alternatives.
Since franchising began in 2014, the brand has grown to more than 145 cafés open and in development. Between 2019 and 2020, Vitality Bowls earned the “Best Franchise to Buy”— New Ethnic Eats Category Zor Award, was named in Entrepreneur’s Top Food Franchise and Top New Franchises list, Franchise Times’s Top 200+ list, Entrepreneur’s Top Growth Franchise list, Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies, Restaurant Business’s Future 50 and Fast Casual’s Top 100 Movers and Shakers. In 2022, it was named a Top Food Franchise in Entrepreneur Magazine, claiming one of the top five spots in the “Açaí Bowl” category. Additionally, in 2023 it was named a top emerging brand in Franchise Journal.
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