Jump Juice on the up

Jump Juice was co-founded by managing director Charlie Scanlan and his wife Claire in 2002. They decided to establish a juice bar when they were working in Dublin and found it increasingly difficult to find healthy, ready-to-go food and drink options when they were out and about. 

“We did some research, brought our findings together, and identified juices and smoothies as the place to start,” says Charlie. “We opened our first juice bar in Waterford city centre in 2003, and we knew within weeks that we had responded to a need that wasn’t just our own. In November 2020, we launched our range of bottled juices and smoothies. Juiced in Ireland and cold pressed to maintain its nutritional integrity and clean authentic taste, this vibrant range allows us to reach more of our fans, wherever they live or work.”

When they were launching their cold pressed product on the market back in 2020, the couple started with a range of their signature smoothies (Mango, Strawberry & Berry), juices (Orange Juice, Green Juice, Citrus Twist, Fruity Juice) and wellness shots (Orange & Turmeric, Beetroot & Ginger, Apple & Charcoal). “Our Mango and Berry smoothie has since achieved Blas Na hEireann silver and bronze awards,” says Charlie. “With fortification in mind, we are looking at refreshing and expanding our range and we plan to introduce some new products just before the summer period in 2023. Consumers are continually looking for convenient ways to maximise their vitamin and mineral intake. Juices and smoothies work extremely well as a great tasting carrier for such fortification.”

Plant-based and planet-friendly

There has been a renewed focus on health and wellness in the post-pandemic period. This, coupled with the plant-based nature of the Jump Juice portfolio of products, has generated strong interest in juices and smoothies as a means to deliver a nutritionally dense, plant-based option, either on-the-go or at home. 

Charlie says that sustainability has always been top-of-mind for the company and is reinforced by their decision to produce locally, minimising shipping miles of the final product, and enabling Jump Juice to source local ingredients, where possible. “Our bottled range undergoes the cold pressed high-pressure process, which gives them a shelf life of 45 to 50 days,” he says. “This process helps minimise waste, a key sustainability target, through an extended shelf life without the use of preservatives or pasteurisation, and it helps to maintain the nutrients in our fresh product. This is complemented by a packaging solution that is 100% recyclable.” 

The business opportunity

Charlie says that 2022 was a challenging year for the business, with ingredient cost inflation and availability issues, but he is happy that Jump Juice was able to maintain supply and prices during the year. “As global uncertainty continues into 2023 and growth normalises, we believe that having an Irish production base is a strong advantage, as it enables us to react quickly and positively,” he says. “Jump Juice will be 20 years young this year. We have a large and loyal customer following who have grown up with us, recognise and trust our brand, and understand the quality of our made-to-order juice bar products.

“In 2023, we are looking to take advantage of that loyal customer following and establish a similar following in the retail arena, with our cold pressed juice and smoothie range. Being the market leading juice bar brand in Ireland, we will continue to grow our base of juice bars. We plan to complement that by, initially, being a key player competing in the cold pressed bottled juice and smoothie category, and then we will develop our offering across a number of other complementary health and wellness-focused retail and convenience categories. We have known for some time that many of our fans can’t reach our juice bars every day, so we are energised by the challenge of bringing our brand closer to wherever our customers live and work.”