Irvine, Calif. — Juice It Up!, one of the nation’s leading handcrafted smoothie, açaí bowl and raw juice chains, has appointed Carlo Verdugo as director of operations and business development. An industry veteran with nearly two decades of franchise experience, Verdugo has served in various leadership roles for national chains including Jack in the Box and nearly a decade with Jamba, where he served as the senior director of global growth. As Juice It Up!’s director of operations and business development, Verdugo will lead a variety of initiatives supporting Juice It Up!’s strategic growth strategy.
“We are thrilled to add Carlo to our talented leadership team and are confident he will bring an additional level of efficiency to our proven franchise business model,” says Susan Taylor, Juice It Up! CEO. “I had the pleasure of working with Carlo during our time together at Jamba and saw firsthand his many contributions to the brand and its franchisees. He is a passionate, enthusiastic and savvy professional who I know will help take Juice It Up! to new heights.”
Throughout his career, Verdugo has honed his skills as an operational leader and gained invaluable experience in many areas of the franchise and restaurant industries. At Juice It Up!, Verdugo will oversee all aspects of operations including franchise development, real estate, training, store design and construction. Verdugo is also responsible for structuring well-balanced teams and coaching personnel to help them reach their respective goals.
The brand’s leadership team has identified trade areas markets in California and the Western U.S. ideally suited for an established concept like Juice It Up! For more information, visit www.juiceitupfranchise.com.
Juice It Up! was founded in 1995 with headquarters in Irvine, Calif. With over 100 locations open or under development across California, New Mexico, Oregon and Texas, the company is showcasing a new restaurant design, a heavier focus on functional products and ingredient transparency, and a menu refresh.
SOURCE: Juice It Up!