Designing for the Future: Jamba’s Scalable Store Concept
Jamba introduces its new "Hello Sunshine" prototype, a design that aims to enhance the customer experience.
“We wanted to ensure that we built something that could scale up or down based on the needs of the business,” said Nathan Louer, Chief Brand Officer at Jamba. “With real estate selection becoming more difficult in prime locations, adaptability is key. That means adjusting the format, footprint, and even the menu when needed.”
Kiosks at the Core: Driving Efficiency and Accuracy
Technology takes center stage in the Hello Sunshine prototype, with kiosks playing a pivotal role. Jamba began scaling up kiosk deployment about a year ago, and today they are featured prominently in one-third of its 780+ locations in 34 states. Jamba was founded in 1990 in San Luis Obsipo, California, has 389 locations, or about half of all U.S. locations are in the Golden State. With labor issues, including increasing wages, the kiosks help the brand reallocate labor to guest-facing and production roles. According to Louer, the results have been impressive.
“We’ve seen great results from kiosks—not just in terms of labor reallocation but also in check increases and order accuracy,” Louer explained. By automating order-taking, kiosks free up staff to focus on guest-facing roles and food preparation, improving overall efficiency.
The kiosks are fully integrated into Jamba’s loyalty program, allowing customers to earn and redeem rewards seamlessly. “Whether guests order at a kiosk, through our mobile app, or at the counter, their loyalty experience is consistent,” Louer said. “That end-to-end digital experience is critical for driving adoption.”
The layout features strategically placed “pause points” that encourage customers to engage with products and brand messaging, ultimately driving average check through add on items and helping drive overall sales.
Balancing Technology with Human Connection
While technology plays a significant role in Jamba’s new design, Louer emphasized that it doesn’t replace human interaction—it enhances it. “We certainly don’t want to take away that human connection,” he said. “As guests move through our stores, there must always be a human touch at the handoff point with our products. That’s essential to who we are.”
This philosophy is reflected in how staff interact with customers during order pickups. Employees are encouraged to engage with guests to ensure they are satisfied with their orders before leaving the store.
Streamlined Design for On-the-Go Customers
The Hello Sunshine prototype also addresses the growing demand for convenience. With most Jamba customers opting for takeout orders, the new design includes grab-and-go cold wells where smoothies and bowls are stored before pickup. These cold wells not only maintain product freshness but also improve visibility into the prep area.
“Cold storage is an important part of our design,” Louer said. “It’s functional but also aesthetically pleasing, ensuring that guests feel confident their order is fresh and ready.”
A Scalable Solution for Franchisees
Flexibility was a key consideration in designing the Hello Sunshine prototype. Jamba operates across various formats—inline stores, freestanding locations, drive-thrus, mall kiosks, and co-branded spaces with its sister brands at Auntie Anne’s, Carvel, and Cinnabon—and needed a design that could adapt to these diverse environments.
“With this prototype, we’ve created something that works across all formats while maintaining consistency in branding and operations,” Louer said. “It’s about giving franchisees a solution that fits their specific needs while still delivering on our promise of quality and convenience.”
Loyalty Integration Across Brands
Jamba is also making strides in integrating its loyalty program across the GoTo family of brands (which includes Auntie Anne’s and Cinnabon). Customers can now earn and redeem rewards more easily than ever before.
“You can earn and burn points seamlessly through the Jamba app,” Louer explained. “In-store functionality has improved significantly as well—you can use your rewards across both brands (at a co-branded location) during a single visit. It’s a much better user experience today.”
Looking Ahead: What’s Next for Jamba?
Jamba and Auntie Anne’s are opening a co-branded store with drive-thru later this month in in San Diego, followed by openings in Hawaii and Minnesota. As Jamba continues to refine its technology stack and operational model, it remains focused on balancing innovation with guest satisfaction.
“Our valued franchisees are the cornerstone of Jamba’s success,” Louer said. “With Hello Sunshine, we’re investing not just in technology but also in creating memorable experiences for every guest who walks through our doors.”
Founded in 1990, Jamba is a leading global lifestyle brand that specializes in serving freshly blended fruit and vegetable smoothies, made-to-order bowls, fresh-squeezed juices and shots, as well as boosts and bites for those on the go.