Movita Juice Bar Blends Wellness and Family Values in a Healthy Food Franchise
Jorge Campos had always strived for a healthy lifestyle through exercise and diet. But good health was never more important than when his young daughter was diagnosed with a brain tumor.
Elisa, then about 4, underwent a complicated surgery, chemotherapy and difficult recovery. Doctors told Campos and his wife, Brenda, that good nutrition – lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, nothing canned or processed, and no refined sugar – would aid in their daughter’s recovery and overall health. Campos heard that message loud and clear. “I became a big proponent of good nutrition and a healthy diet. Rather than reacting after a health crisis, I wanted to be proactive in preventing health problems as much as possible for myself and my family,” he says.
Some years later, Campos seized the opportunity to expand his healthful mission to reach others, partnering with friend and business associate Raul Rodriguez to launch Movita Juice Bar. Their vision was to offer organic, made-to-order, functional beverages including juices, smoothies and juice shots, as well as açai bowls and healthy toasts. Nothing would be frozen or pasteurized. The name Movita derived simply from “mo,” for more, and “vita,” which is Latin for life. More life.
Campos, whose background was in real estate and finance, and Rodriguez (below left), a restaurant consultant, combined their professional experience and acumen to make sure the business model was as healthy as its products.
Healthful, Thriving Juice Bar Franchise
Their first Movita Juice Bar opened in 2015 in Downey, Calif., southeast of Los Angeles. “With a first store, you never know if it’s going to kill it, or if it’s going to kill the business concept and your dreams. But we saw that people really liked the concept, and I was super happy because I could see that our vision to really grow this company could become a reality,” Campos says.
Movita Juice Bar’s popular concept tapped into the growing demand for healthy foods and beverages, evidenced by a global market size valued at $653 billion in 2023 and expected to soar at a 10% combined annual growth rate by 2030, according to Grand View Research.
Campos and Rodriguez opened nine more Movita locations, while optimizing systems and training, before deciding to franchise in 2023. Today, they have 11 corporate stores, with nine franchise locations open and another 10 scheduled to open this year, plus others signed and in the pipeline.
Campos credits Rodriguez with creating a healthy food franchise that is also affordable, which sets Movita Juice Bar franchises apart from competitors. He acknowledges that healthy, organic ingredients can be costly, and consumers today are health- and value-conscious. “But if you’re going to pay $10 or $11 for a smoothie that’s only a refreshment beverage, you’re going to want more, especially in this economy. You’re going to want more value, something that’s going to improve your health.”
Family at the Heart of Franchising
Campos has discovered that many Movita franchisees and prospective franchise owners are motivated by family. Franchisees include families who have previous franchising experience as multi-unit owners. Others are first-time business owners who are instilling entrepreneurial values in young children. Some are seeking franchising as a means to create strong financial futures for themselves and their children. Campos also has met with prospective franchisees interested in investing in the healthy food franchise to help their adult children become financially independent – and for those, he advises, “We have very, very good trainers, and the sky’s the limit for Movita franchise owners because there’s not a lot of things that they have to worry about other than operating the stores.”
Campos is grateful that the Movita Juice Bar franchise has positively impacted the lives of customers, who have commented online about the healthful benefits they have experienced including being able to forgo processed foods and sugar without limiting their enjoyment. He’s also heartened by the success of franchise owners achieving their goals through their investment in the brand.
Campos also feels pride and fulfillment in knowing his family has benefited from this journey. His oldest, Jorge Jr. and Daisy, are pursuing health-related career paths. Jorge Jr. is a medical student graduating next year from New York University, and Daisy will graduate in December from Western University on her way to becoming a veterinarian. Alejandro is a 17-year-old high school student. And Elisa, who had the brain tumor, is now 28, healthy, working for a company and planning a career as an entrepreneur – as a Movita Juice Bar owner as of 2027.
To learn more about franchising opportunities, visit the Movita Juice Bar website.
