Making Healthier Drink Choices

According to the CDC, people who often drink sugary drinks, like sodas are more likely to face health problems, such as weight gain, obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, kidney diseases, non-alcoholic liver disease, cavities, and gout, a type of arthritis. Luckily today there are several healthier beverage choices available. We were able to interview a couple who is offering healthy drink options not only in their community but shipping them national wide.

Manna Juice Bar is the brainchild of owners, Dominick and Kristi Andrew. The idea and principles of Manna Juice Bar were founded in 2016, through their search for healthier options for their family, and to fuel their lifestyles. With hard work, and dedication over the years, they have found what they believe to be the perfect recipes to supply nutrients, in unique yet very delicious combinations.

•Who do you feel is your target customer?

Our target customer is anyone dedicated to making healthier choices, who knows that what you put in your body is fuel to power your mind, body, and lifestyle. Someone who values quality, and is willing make an investment into their health!

•How do you differentiate your business from the competition?

We’re really big on the quality of our products. Not only is our juice fresh, organic, and in its rawest form, it tastes great as well! Most people feel that if something is healthy, it doesn’t have to taste good, we do not subscribe to that notion. Also our juice is diluted with water at all its 100% juice, no additives or preservatives.

•What’s your best selling item?

People LOVE our juice cleanses! Obviously it’s a quick way to drop some pounds, but more importantly, it’s a great way to detox from all of the bad foods we put into our bodies, causing increased energy, metal clarity, and focus. It’s a great way to transition into healthier eating.

•What’s your personal favorite juice flavor?

My favorite juice tends to always change depending on the time of day. But my most consistent favorite is W2O which is just watermelon juice. But it’s the flavor that first introduced me to cold-pressed juice altogether. Its sweet, light, refreshing, and packed with real watermelon FLAVOR, not like the artificial watermelon flavor at all.

•With the warmer months approaching more people will be enjoying frozen treats. Tell us about your soft serve flavors.

We currently have both vanilla and chocolate soft-serve ice cream, that are 100% plant based, and sweetened with dates not sugar. You can top them with vegan sprinkles, cacao nibs, vegan chocolate syrup etc to make for a sweet, healthier option than dairy ice cream!

•What has been your most effective marketing strategy to grow your business?

I think social media has helped us tremendously, in terms of connecting us with our customers and consumer base, as well as opening the door for introductions, relationships, and other business opportunities as well. When we ask people who reach out to us how they found us, 99% of the time they say “I saw your instagram!”

•What's your best piece of advice for aspiring and new entrepreneurs?

Wow! I think I just wish someone would have told me, this will take more than you think it will. Whatever effort you think you need, you need twice that. Whatever sacrifice, money, time, its really going to take twice of whatever your max-out number actually is. But also, you have it. You have it in you, to give more than you thought you could ever give, and its absolutely 100% worth it.

•Who is your business role model? Why?

Carla Harris from Morgan Stanley. Studying her and listening to her speak, helped to teach me how to take up space, and not be denied as a black woman in business.

•National Beverage Day is May 6th. Do you guys have anything special planned for that day? Any deals?

Yes! We will probably have a sale on cleanses and $5 smoothies!

•What do you have planned for the next six months?

We’re currently scouting for our second location! We’re also working on building our vegan ice cream brand into pints to take home and enjoy, it’s going to be a great year of growth for us.

Connect with Manna Juice Bar on Instagram