Jamba Juice has a sobering message for entrepreneurs who need to open a franchise: You is perhaps higher off some place else.
In a “particular dangers” part of its 2026 franchise disclosure doc (FDD), the smoothie chain revealed that 130 Jamba Juice franchise agreements haven’t survived the final three years.
Opening a Jamba Juice, the doc bluntly states, “may very well be the next danger funding than a franchise in a system with a decrease turnover price.”
In an uncommon twist, that turnover price has been overwhelmingly pushed by franchise terminations, the doc reveals, with some 116 Jamba Juice franchises being terminated for the reason that starting of 2023.
Over that very same interval, solely 13 franchises have been listed as non-renewals and only one retailer ceased operations for one more motive.
The excessive stage of terminations isn’t typical of Jamba’s aggressive set. By comparability, rival Tropical Smoothie Cafe had solely 28 terminations over the identical three-year interval, regardless of that chain having a a lot bigger footprint. Planet Smoothie, a smaller competitor, had simply 4 terminations.
Jamba Juice is owned by GoTo Meals, a retail conglomerate backed by non-public fairness agency Roark Capital Group, which also owns Cinnabon, Auntie Anne’s, Carvel, and different chains.
What accounts for Jamba’s unusually excessive termination price is unclear. Provisions in its disclosure doc state that Jamba Juice could terminate a franchise in default for varied causes, reminiscent of failing to pay money owed or refusing an inspection.
Franchisees, then again, should not have the grounds to terminate besides in instances permitted by state-level legal guidelines.
Quick Firm reached out to Jamba and GoTo Meals for remark.
What occurred to all these terminated franchises?
Within the quick-service restaurant trade, a franchise termination doesn’t imply that the shop has essentially closed. Generally one other franchisee will take over the shop. And in some instances, the franchise proprietor will purchase it.
Jamba’s disclosure doc doesn’t specify which terminated franchises could have shuttered or which of them could have been scooped up. It lists 126 franchise “transfers” over the three-year interval, largely in California, and it additionally exhibits that franchisees opened 104 further areas.
Nonetheless, Jamba’s general footprint has been shrinking. In accordance with the doc, the smoothie chain had 710 areas as of the tip of final yr, a internet decline of 28 shops for the reason that starting of 2023.
California, the place roughly half of Jamba’s shops are situated, has seen the largest internet decline, with 38 fewer shops over the interval. New Jersey additionally noticed an enormous drop: from 8 shops in 2023 down to only 1 on the finish of final yr.
Different states, like Illinois, Minnesota, New York, and Oregon, gained shops over the three-year interval.
All however one in all Jamba’s areas have been franchise-owned as of the tip of final yr.
Is Jamba nonetheless closing shops in 2026?
The Jamba Juice model has seen a pop-culture resurgence of kinds this yr due to HBO’s critically acclaimed collection DTF St. Louis.
The smoothie chain options prominently within the present, which follows a police investigation right into a love triangle that resulted in a mysterious demise. With out giving an excessive amount of away, a central plot level hinges on two Jamba drinks: the Go Getter and Watermelon Breeze.
Jamba has even posted about its cameo on social media.
Nonetheless, Jamba areas have continued to shut this yr, together with just a few notable examples, just like the longtime store in Downtown Disney, which closed in July.
Jamba has not launched an inventory of shops which have closed. In accordance with our evaluate of on-line media reviews, evaluate platforms, and Jamba’s personal retailer locator software, the next shops have closed this yr:
- 6000 J St Scholar Union, Sacramento, CA 95819
- 6050 Foremost St, American Canyon, CA 94503
- 1570 Disneyland Dr, Anaheim, CA 92802
- 32358 Dyer St, Union Metropolis, CA 94587
- 1497 Adams Ave, El Centro, CA 92243
- 921 Topsy Ln #412, Carson Metropolis, NV 89705
- 6440 N MacArthur Blvd, Irving, TX 75039
- 4502 S Steele St Ste. #381, Tacoma, WA 98409
The above checklist may not be full. We’ve requested Jamba for extra particulars and can replace this story if we be taught of extra areas.
It’s price noting is that Jamba additionally projected it’s going to open 37 new shops this yr, so whether or not it finally ends up with an even bigger or smaller depend when it recordsdata its subsequent FDD stays to be seen.
This story is creating…
