PLAYA BOWLS OPENS 54 NEW SHOPS AND ACHIEVES DOUBLE-DIGIT INCREASE IN COMPARABLE STORE SALES IN 2023

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Jan 29, 2024, 13:42 ET

Nation's Leading Superfruit Bowl Shop Signs 110 Franchise Commitments and Continues Upward Trajectory into 2024 with Nationwide Growth

BELMAR, N.J., Jan. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Playa Bowls, the nation's leading superfruit bowl shop specializing in acai, pitaya, mango, green and coconut bowls, juices, smoothies, cold brew and more, announced today that 2023 marked a significant year of development success in the brand's history, fueled by new openings, signed franchise commitments, product innovation and executive hires.

Brand Development

In 2023, the fast-growing brand opened 54 new shops and signed 110 franchise commitments, with 60 percent of the commitments signed by existing shop owners. The brand also successfully entered eight new markets, including Washington D.C., Raleigh, Austin, and Orlando.

The brand's significant national expansion is complemented by a 7.2 percent transaction growth in 2023 leading to a double-digit increase in comparable store sales.

"2023 was a momentous year for Playa Bowls. We've substantially increased our national presence, surpassing over 200 locations across the nation," said Dan Harmon, Chief Executive Officer. "The growth isn't slowing down any time soon. Playa Bowls has signed numerous development commitments that have set the brand up for a strong start in 2024. Along with new shops, we're also looking forward to launching new menu items and partnerships this year to continue providing our customers with fresh and exciting superfruit creations."

Leadership Team Investments

To support the accelerated growth of the brand and its operators, Playa Bowls strategically expanded its leadership team in 2023 with the appointments of Dan Harmon as Chief Executive Officer, Nicolle DuBose as Chief Marketing Officer, and Jayson Tipp as interim Chief Development Officer.

Dan Harmon's appointment marked a pivotal moment for the brand in 2023, as Playa Bowls surpassed 200 shops nationwide. Harmon intends to continue to build upon the brand's unique strengths and assume responsibility for accelerating overall growth strategies and performance.

Nicolle DuBose brings over 20 years of industry marketing expertise to the brand, promising an exciting future for Playa Bowls in 2024 and beyond. DuBose stepped in to further enhance Playa Bowls' marketing efforts, including brand strategy, digital marketing, social media and customer engagement initiatives.

Underscoring Playa Bowls' commitment to brand growth, Playa Bowls welcomed Jayson Tipp in September to spearhead franchise development. Tipp's C-level experience in both marketing and development has helped the brand articulate the franchise value proposition, launch multi-unit development and accelerate brand growth.

Product Innovation and Partnerships

To maintain the interest and excitement of its customers, Playa Bowls continued to evolve and innovate its menu in 2023 with the launch of the Playa Pitaya and Playa Mango bases, and seasonal limited-time menu offerings throughout the year.

Additionally, in 2023, Playa Bowls continued and pursued partnerships with other leading brands, including Chobani® and Vital Proteins®, to further enhance its menu with new customer-driven creations. This resulted in both permanent and limited-time items that overall were a success among customers. The brand's dedication to product innovation has helped retain existing customers and attract new fans contributing to transaction growth. In 2023, the brand also accumulated 535,582 Playa Rewards sign-ups.

Industry Accolades

Playa Bowls concluded 2023 with several awards and recognitions. Dan Harmon, Chief Executive Officer, was honored among The Business Report's Top 50 Business Leaders of New Jersey, while Abby Taylor, Co-Founder and Chief Branding Officer, was named by QSR Magazine as a Young Leader to Watch. In August of 2023, QSR Magazine also recognized Playa Bowls in its 50 Contenders for 2023 list, and later, the publication named Playa Bowls as a Top 15 Franchisor to Watch.

Playa Bowls secured the #74 spot as a Top Brand in Fast Casual's Top 100 Movers & Shakers and ranked as #231 in Restaurant Business and Technomic's Top 500. Moreover, the brand ranked as #280 in the Franchise Times Top 400.

About Playa Bowls
Known as New Jersey's original acai bowl shop, Playa Bowls is the nation's leading superfruit bowl shop serving up an extensive and unique menu of over 40 items including the bright flavors of acai, pitaya, mango, green and coconut bowls alongside oatmeal bowls, juices, smoothies, and cold brew made with the freshest, high-quality ingredients. What began as a pair of blenders, a patio table, and a fridge in 2014 has flourished into more than 200 shops nationwide that operate in 22 states, thousands of employees, and a mission to lead communities in healthy, sustainable living. The rapidly growing franchise has received numerous accolades including Forbes 30 Under 30, Fast Casual's Top 100 Movers & Shakers, QSR Young Leaders to Watch, and finalist for Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award. To learn more about Playa Bowls, visit PlayaBowls.com  and follow the superfruit bowl shop on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or TikTok. For more information on franchising, please visit playabowls.com/franchise. 