To Your Health
The Juice Pod, a popular fast-casual health food concept owned by sisters Danielle Leonhardt and Christine Wyatt, expands its footprint through franchise opportunities near and far.
Being in business with family can sometimes come with its share of challenges, but for Danielle Leonhardt and her younger sister, Christine Wyatt, working together in harmony has always come naturally. As the team behind The Juice Pod—a superfood hub with 15 locations and counting—their skill sets seem to complement one another perfectly, which has helped their brand enjoy tremendous success in just seven years.
At the end of the day, they know their children—each sister is the mother of three daughters—are intently watching the example they are setting.
“Danielle has always been a role model to me,” Wyatt says. “She’s a couple of years older than me, so I’ve always looked up to her. She taught this business model to me and by being able to share it with our children, we’re showing them what women in business can do.”
“We have different strengths and weaknesses,” Leonhardt adds. “We have the same passion for the brand, but she’s better at some things than I am in terms of the organizational skills, technology and marketing. And where she’s weaker, I can be stronger. We’re a good duo.”
Leonhardt founded The Juice Pod in 2016, opening her first store in Avalon, New Jersey. She had long followed a healthy diet herself, and after seeing similar concepts while traveling on the West Coast, the Delaware County native was eager to offer a menu in this region based on locally sourced ingredients and featuring items that were not only delicious, but also good for you.
“Our name is The Juice Pod, but there is such a variety with all of the health food that we offer,” she says. “We have special toast, salads, wraps, acai bowls, chia bowls, paninis. We have a menu that everyone can find something on and feel good about what they’re eating. I want everyone to be happy and healthy, and to make sure everything they’re eating is good for them and will make them feel happy throughout the day. Everything is fresh daily, and that’s really important to me.”
The idea was such a hit that Leonhardt soon expanded to a second store in Sea Isle. Wyatt came on board in 2019 as The Juice Pod opened its first two locations in Pennsylvania—Bryn Mawr and Springfield—and together the sisters have taken the business to another level.
“Our brand has grown organically since the founding through customers and friends, and most importantly because our appealing menu creates loyal customers,” Wyatt says. “We’ve been adaptable and innovative to appeal to what the market wants. We always have seasonal items for the fall, winter, spring, and summer to interchange our menu and make it fun.”
The Juice Pod’s success has enabled Leonhardt and Wyatt to offer franchise opportunities to entrepreneurs who believe in the business and have shared values. The siblings are open-minded to having locations across the country and already have several in the pipeline, with one coming to Sarasota County, Florida, and another to Berks County, Pennsylvania, in the near future.
For anyone interested in being awarded a franchise, Leonhardt and Wyatt will work with them to find an ideal location. In addition, they will personally provide comprehensive training and fully support the launch of each store.
“Ideal candidates would have a passion for health and wellness,” Wyatt says. “We’re looking for people who know and love our brand as well. Each store will be very family-oriented, personalized, and unique.”
This is clearly an exciting time for The Juice Pod, but even as the owners look toward the future, they are also embracing their roots. While they had sold their original Avalon location, they recently reacquired it and are thrilled to be back where it all began.
“I’m just so grateful for the journey that The Juice Pod Avalon has led us on,” Leonhardt says. “That started everything, and it’s just a very special place. Now that we’re expanding, we want to bring back some fan favorites, but also put a twist on things and do something different.”
For more information about The Juice Pod, including details about its multiple area locations, menu offerings, and franchising opportunities, visit thejuicepod.com.
Photo by Jody Robinson
Published (and copyrighted) in Suburban Life, November 2023.
