Acai distribution company Sambazon launched its franchising initiative with Sambazon Açaí Bowls.
Sambazon founder Ryan Black wanted to open an acai franchise the moment he tasted the berry on a beach in Brazil. “I was on a beach in Brazil when I had a bowl of acai,” said Black. “I wanted to launch a franchise, but nobody knew what it was at the time.”
First a distribution company for acai, Sambazon is ready to become the next player in the booming acai bowls segment with the launch of its franchise initiative.
If there was no awareness, Black said, he should create it. So, he founded Sambazon in 2000. The brand is responsible for over half of the acai being distributed to the United States. With the goal to be sustainable, and reflects that in the name: Sustainable Management of the Brazilian Amazon.
Ryan Black, founder and CEO of Sambazon.
It didn’t all go to plan. Black expected it to take about five years for acai to take off across the world. It took double that for Sambazon to open its first retail acai bowl location in 2011. The unanticipated extra time gave the company the chance to develop exactly what it wanted and the opportunity to observe others, Black said.
This included proprietary equipment for processing the acai. Instead of putting the berries in a blender, Sambazon equipment stores the acai already blended at a consistent thickness and temperature, Black said. The lack of blending also means fewer employees and reduced time between order and send out.
Calling other acai bowl concepts “co-op-etition” (cooperative-competition), Black saw them as just another way acai could grow in popularity. If anything, he openly supports other acai concepts, he said.
When awareness of acai in the U.S. grew to over 60 percent, Black took it as a signal to franchise Sambazon.
“All we’ve been planning has come to fruition, if you can forgive the pun,” said Black. “I don’t think we’re late to the party. In fact, we’re right on time.”
Sambazon is unique by being its own distributor, cutting out the middle men in the process and bringing acai directly to retail.
Efforts to prepare for franchising began in 2021, which included creating Sambazon Hospitality Group, the branch in charge of franchising, and hiring key employees. Now, the brand has eight locations.
The initial investment for a Sambazon Acai Bowls ranges from $380,000 to $630,000. Black said the cost can go lower for nontraditional locations.
Black is confident in the brand’s start being the draw for franchisees. As its own distributor, Sambazon doesn’t struggle with the supply chain challenges other brands do. Most Sambazon locations are in high-traffic areas, with more airport units on the way, including Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and Philadelphia International Airport.
“We kind of went backwards,” said Black. “We’re nine out of ten steps in and franchising is the last step.”