Better Blend
Better Blend is a privately held fast-casual smoothie and açaí bowl chain founded in 2018 in Florence, Kentucky, operating 17 locations across Kentucky, Ohio, and Florida, targeting health-conscious consumers seeking convenient, macro-balanced nutrition.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersFlorence, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Better Blend does
Better Blend is a privately held fast-casual restaurant chain founded in 2018 in Florence, Kentucky, by college athlete Isaac Hamlin. The company specializes in macro-balanced smoothies and organic açaí, pitaya, and mango bowls formulated to be low in sugar and high in protein, using whey protein isolate as its core protein enrichment ingredient. Its product portfolio extends to protein bowls, smoothies with cold brew, healthy snacks, and a dietitian-approved menu priced under $10 per item. As of April 2026, Better Blend operates 17 storefronts across Kentucky and Ohio, with its first Florida location in Brandon (Tampa Bay) opening on June 6, 2026, and additional Ohio stores (Hyde Park Plaza, Kenwood) listed as coming soon.
The business runs a multi-format distribution model: company-owned and franchise retail storefronts, two BlendMobile food trucks deployed in Tampa Bay, online ordering with delivery/takeout (including a drive-up window at the Lexington Richmond Road location), catering for corporate and private events, and BlendBox — a direct-to-consumer at-home smoothie mix pack sold via the brand's website. Revenue streams span retail storefront sales, catering (with free delivery and volume discounts), franchise fees, a customer rewards/membership program with a mobile app, and BlendBox direct sales. Stores are designed for throughput of up to 50 orders per hour with most orders completed in approximately five minutes.
Better Blend's target customers are health-conscious consumers seeking convenient, macro-balanced nutrition, supplemented by a corporate catering segment and an athletes/fitness community reached through an ambassador program for influencers. The company is bootstrapped/growth-funded, with the only external capital signal being a 2023 relationship with Main Street Ventures, and is independently owned with no parent company. Marketing relies on organic social media, the ambassador network, and the rewards program. The brand received a Forbes 30 Under 30 (Cincinnati) recognition for the founder in 2024.
Better Blend firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Better Blend
- Legal name
- Better Blend
- Website
- https://betterblend.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Better Blend is a privately held fast-casual smoothie and açaí bowl chain founded in 2018 in Florence, Kentucky, operating 17 locations across Kentucky, Ohio, and Florida, targeting health-conscious consumers seeking convenient, macro-balanced nutrition.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Better Blend industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Fast Casual Smoothie and Bowl Restaurants
- NAICS
- Flavoring Syrup and Concentrate Manufacturing (311930), Food Manufacturing (311), All Other Specialty Food Retailers (445298)
- SIC
- Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090), Beverages (2080)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Smoothie & Protein Shake Bars (THAFAKAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Salad & Bowl Concepts (Grain/Protein/Healthy Bowls) (THAFABAF), Health & Wellness / Functional Fast Casual (macro-counted, high-protein, allergen-friendly) (THAFABAO)
Keywords
Where Better Blend is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Florence
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices18 records
Markets served
Better Blend business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Retail Storefront Sales: Revenue from direct customer purchases of smoothies, açaí bowls, protein bowls, cold brew smoothies, and healthy snacks at physical locations. Orders typically completed in around five minutes with prices under $10.
- Catering Services: Bulk smoothie and bowl catering for office lunches, pre-game meals, school events, wedding parties, and other events. Thousands served across Ohio and Kentucky with free delivery and volume discounts offered.
- Franchise Fees: Better Blend offers franchise opportunities for entrepreneurs passionate about healthy food. This represents a growth channel for expansion with consistent brand growth.
- Rewards/Membership Program: Customer loyalty program encouraging repeat purchases through rewards points and member benefits.
- BlendBox Direct Sales: Sale of at-home smoothie mix packs allowing consumers to prepare Better Blend-style smoothies at home.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Individual menu items (smoothies, bowls, snacks) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels4 records
Better Blend product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Better Blend operates a fast-casual restaurant chain centered on nutritious, macro-balanced smoothies and açai bowls made with whey protein isolate, low sugar, and added fiber. The core menu includes smoothies, organic açai/pitaya/mango bowls, protein bowls, cold brew smoothies, and healthy snacks priced under $10 per item, with most orders completed in about five minutes across 17+ storefronts in Kentucky, Ohio, and Florida.
Product overview
Better Blend is a fast-casual restaurant chain centered on smoothies and açaí bowls, founded in 2018 by a college athlete. The core product portfolio includes nutritious low-sugar high-protein smoothies, organic açaí/pitaya/mango bowls, protein bowls, smoothies with cold brew, and healthy snacks—all macro-balanced and dietitian-approved. The brand operates a brick-and-mortar store network (17 locations across Kentucky, Ohio, and Florida) complemented by two 'Blendmobile' food trucks in Tampa Bay. Supplementary offerings include an at-home 'BlendBox' smoothie mix pack, catering services for events, a rewards program/app, an ambassador program for influencers and athletes, and a franchise opportunity for expansion. Stores are capable of producing up to 50 orders per hour with most orders completed in around five minutes at prices under $10.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- BlendBox: At-home healthy smoothie mix pack available for purchase, marketed as 'Better Blend Smoothies At Home'
- BlendMobile
Products and services
- Smoothies Nutritious, low-sugar, high-protein smoothies made with whey protein isolate, available in multiple flavors and macro-balanced options, sold to individual consumers at storefronts for under $10 per item.
- Acai, Pitaya and Mango Bowls Organic açai, pitaya, and mango bowls marketed as dietician-approved, macro-balanced, healthy alternatives to conventional desserts and snacks, sold to individual consumers at storefronts.
- Protein Bowls Protein-rich bowls designed to support fitness and health goals, complementing the smoothie and açai bowl offerings at Better Blend storefronts.
- Cold Brew Smoothies Smoothies that incorporate cold brew coffee as an ingredient, combining caffeine with Better Blend's protein-rich smoothie base for individual consumers.
- Healthy Snacks and Vegan Smoothies Vegan smoothies and healthy snack options that complement Better Blend's main smoothie and bowl menu for health-conscious consumers.
- BlendBox At-Home Smoothie Mix At-home smoothie mix packs (sub-brand BlendBox) allowing consumers to prepare Better Blend-style smoothies at home, sold direct-to-consumer through the brand's website.
- Catering Services Bulk healthy catering for corporate offices, schools, pre-game meals, and wedding parties, including free delivery and volume discounts across Ohio and Kentucky.
- Franchise Program Franchise opportunity for entrepreneurs to open and operate Better Blend smoothie and bowl locations under the company's brand and operating model.
Quantifiable outcome
- Stores capable of producing up to 50 orders per hour
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Better Blend
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Better Blend technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature3 records
Better Blend partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators7 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Better Blend competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Tropical Smoothie Cafe: Franchised fast-casual chain offering smoothies, wraps, sandwiches, and bowls with a strong health-forward positioning. Direct franchise model and smoothie-led menu closely mirror Better Blend's go-to-market.
- Smoothie King: Large smoothie franchise chain emphasizing fitness, nutrition, and 'Clean Blends' with protein-forward menu items. Overlaps directly with Better Blend's macro-balanced, high-protein positioning.
- Playa Bowls: Fast-growing açai, pitaya, and smoothie bowl franchise expanding across the U.S. Closely matches Better Blend's bowl and smoothie combo offering and franchise expansion playbook.
- Nékter Juice Bar: Franchised juice and smoothie bowl concept with a strong wellness and clean-ingredient positioning. Directly comparable in product mix (smoothies, bowls, health-forward branding) and franchise model.
- Frutta Bowls: Smoothie and bowl franchise with a similar açai, pitaya, and protein bowl menu. Comparable franchise structure and health-conscious consumer target.
- Jamba: Established smoothie and bowl chain with a wide U.S. footprint. Comparable core menu (smoothies, bowls, boosters) and on-the-go health positioning.
- Robeks: Smoothie and juice franchise with a focus on fresh fruit, protein blends, and health-forward menu. Comparable in menu philosophy and franchise-led store model.
- Vitality Bowls: Specialty café chain focused on açai bowls, smoothies, and superfood-driven menu. Directly comparable bowl/smoothie product mix and health-forward positioning.
Broad incumbents
- Clean Juice: Certified-organic juice, smoothie, and bowl franchise. Overlaps in healthy fast-casual positioning and franchise model, though broader organic-only positioning differs from Better Blend's macro focus.
- Sweetgreen: Public health-forward fast-casual chain focused on bowls and salads. Comparable in the 'healthy fast-casual' category and macro-conscious consumer base, though primarily a salad-led concept.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Better Blend social profiles
Digital presenceBetter Blend financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Better Blend leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Better Blend funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Better Blend M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Better Blend
What does Better Blend do?
Better Blend operates a fast-casual restaurant chain centered on nutritious, macro-balanced smoothies and açai bowls made with whey protein isolate, low sugar, and added fiber. The core menu includes smoothies, organic açai/pitaya/mango bowls, protein bowls, cold brew smoothies, and healthy snacks priced under $10 per item, with most orders completed in about five minutes across 17+ storefronts in Kentucky, Ohio, and Florida.
Is Better Blend a public or private company?
Better Blend is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Better Blend founded?
Better Blend was founded in 2018. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Better Blend based?
Better Blend is headquartered in Florence, United States, in the North America region.
How does Better Blend make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Retail Storefront Sales are the primary driver. The others are catering Services, franchise Fees, rewards/Membership Program and blendBox Direct Sales.
Who are Better Blend's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Tropical Smoothie Cafe, Smoothie King, Playa Bowls, Nékter Juice Bar, Frutta Bowls, Jamba, Robeks and Vitality Bowls. Broad incumbents are Clean Juice and Sweetgreen.
Does Better Blend have an API?
No public API is recorded for Better Blend.
What industry is Better Blend in?
Better Blend's product category is Fast Casual Smoothie and Bowl Restaurants. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAFAKAB, Smoothie & Protein Shake Bars, with a secondary code of THAFABAF, Salad & Bowl Concepts (Grain/Protein/Healthy Bowls). Its NAICS code is 311930 and its SIC code is 2090.