Beverage retailer Jamba Juice has entered into a master franchise development agreement with Mexico-based Casa Operadora de Franquicias to establish 80 Jamba Juice stores in Mexico over the next decade.
Mario Conzuelo Betancourt of Casa Operadora will be the chief executive officer of the newly formed venture.
Manuel Saba Ades will serve as chairman and CEO of Grupo Casa Saba, a distributor of pharma, health, beauty and consumer goods, general merchandise and publications in Mexico and South America.
As part of the agreement, Casa Operadora plans to open the first Jamba Juice store in late 2013.
The move is line with Jamba Juice's expectations to open more than 1000 outlets internationally and the current deal allows it to open around 400 stores in South Korea, Canada, the Philippines and Mexico.
Jamba Juice international senior vice president Thibault de Chatellus said, "The experience and reputation of this group within the beverage and consumer goods industries provides considerable advantage in rapidly developing Jamba Juice in the highly coveted Mexican market, a market we feel is a natural expansion to consumers who are already familiar with the product offering and our brand."
Betancourt said: "The beverage market is growing and Mexican consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of healthy eating habits. Jamba Juice will fill a gap in the market by providing great tasting and nutritious food and beverages."
Jamba Juice offers whole fruit smoothies, fresh squeezed juices and juice blends, hot coffee and teas.
