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Is Jamba Private Equity Owned?
🔴 PRIVATE EQUITY OWNED
Jamba
Includes Jamba Juice
fast-casual · Atlanta, GA
“They dropped 'Juice' from the name. Turns out that wasn't the only thing they squeezed out.”
The PE Playbook
- •Roark's Focus Brands acquired Jamba Juice for $200 million in 2018 — a fire-sale price for a chain that once had 800+ locations
- •Immediately rebranded to just 'Jamba' in 2019, dropping 'Juice' from the name in a corporate identity overhaul
- •Net loss of stores every year: finished 2024 with 727 U.S. locations, down from 800+ despite opening 49 new stores — closures outpace growth
- •Absorbed into the GoTo Foods co-branding machine alongside Auntie Anne's, Cinnabon, and Carvel
Since the Acquisition
- ▸Your standalone neighborhood Jamba is disappearing — increasingly co-located with Auntie Anne's and Cinnabon in cramped 'combo' counter setups
- ▸Understaffed locations mean long waits for a smoothie that used to take minutes — often just one person behind the counter managing the entire line
- ▸Customer service is nearly impossible to reach — finding a working phone number for your local Jamba is a challenge, and complaints go unanswered
- ▸The fresh juice-focused menu has shifted to smoothie-forward with more pre-mixed ingredients — the 'Juice' they dropped from the name isn't the only thing that got squeezed out
Sources
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Jamba owned by private equity?
Yes. Jamba is currently owned by Roark Capital, which acquired it in 2018. They dropped 'Juice' from the name. Turns out that wasn't the only thing they squeezed out.
What happened to Jamba after the acquisition?
Your standalone neighborhood Jamba is disappearing — increasingly co-located with Auntie Anne's and Cinnabon in cramped 'combo' counter setups Understaffed locations mean long waits for a smoothie that used to take minutes — often just one person behind the counter managing the entire line
Who owns Jamba?
Jamba is owned by Roark Capital, which acquired it in 2018.