A prominent superfruit bowl concept with 250 outlets nationwide, Playa Bowls, has been brought by New York-based private equity company Sycamore Partners. With around $10 billion in committed money collected since 2011, Sycamore’s portfolio, which focuses on consumer, distribution, and retail-related investments, has undergone a substantial shift with this acquisition.
Since its establishment in 2014, Playa Bowls, which was previously supported by Tamariz Equity Partners and several investors, has expanded quickly. With just two blenders, a patio table, and a refrigerator at first, the company has grown to include 22 states, thousands of workers, and a loyal following of clients.
CEO Dan Harmon expressed enthusiasm for the partnership with Sycamore Partners, stating, “We are excited to be partnering with Sycamore as we take this next step in the Playa Bowls journey,” He added, “After a decade of hard work building a strong foundation, we believe Sycamore’s support and resources, as well as their expertise in managing multi-unit-franchise organizations, will help us accelerate our growth as we continue to support our franchisees and delight our guests.”
Playa Bowls saw tremendous growth under Tamarix’s management, establishing over 150 franchised units and optimizing its platform for further expansion. The chain has over 40 menu choices, including oatmeal bowls, juices, smoothies, cold brew, and bowls of acai, pitaya, mango, green, and coconut. Playa Bowls inked nine single-unit franchise agreements and fourteen multi-unit franchise deals in the first quarter of 2024 alone. These represent 63 additional stores in strategic areas, including Manhattan, Sarasota, Phoenix, and Miami. They also intend to sign over 100 franchise agreements this year and open 75 additional stores.
“Playa Bowls has built a unique category leadership position with passionate customers, a loyal franchise base, and a great brand, which has allowed the company to scale rapidly in its first decade since inception,” said Stefan Kaluzny, Managing Director of Sycamore Partners. “We are confident Playa Bowls has continued runway for growth, and we look forward to partnering with Dan and his talented team to implement their strategy to reach more customers around the country.”
With warm, cozy autumn tastes of apple and pumpkin spice, Playa Bowls’ much-awaited seasonal fall menu for 2024 is being unveiled at the same time as the purchase. The new limited-edition products will satisfy customers’ cravings for seasonal delicacies from September 4 through November 13.
Among the new menu items are several fan favorites, including the Apple Turn Up Acai Bowl (a Playa Acai base topped with blueberry flax granola, banana, apple slices, apple butter, chopped peanuts, and cinnamon), the Jack-O’-Lantern Acai Bowl (featuring a Playa Acai base topped with pumpkin flax granola, banana, pumpkin butter, and pumpkin spice), and the Pumpkin Pie Smoothie (made with banana, pumpkin butter, vanilla protein, pumpkin flax granola, pumpkin spice, and oat milk). Other seasonal delights include the Pumpkin Sweet Cream Cold Brew (chicory coffee concentrate with pumpkin sweet cream and oat milk) and the Pumpkin Protein Bites (pumpkin flax granola, peanut butter, honey, chia seeds, vanilla whey protein, pumpkin butter, and pumpkin spice).
Our superfruit bowls and smoothies are crafted for year-round enjoyment, and with the launch of our fall menu, guests can count on Playa Bowls to deliver those classic seasonal flavors we all crave,” said Nicolle DuBose, Chief Marketing Officer at Playa Bowls. “Acai bowls and superfruit smoothies aren’t just a summertime treat. Our apple and pumpkin spice creations are the perfect way to embrace the season and stay Playa fresh throughout the fall.”
Playa Bowls is still growing, with more than 200 locations around the country. Renowned for its dedication to premium, fresh ingredients, the business has received several honors, such as inclusion in Fast Casual’s “Top 100 Movers & Shakers,” Forbes’ “30 Under 30,” and a spot as a finalist for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award.
