Global Excellence 2020

186 Acquisition International - Global Excellence 2020 Acquisition International - Issue 11 2020 25 Beyond the Bottle JuiceBot is the first-ever robotic juice vending machine. The company started in 2017 in response to sustainability initiatives. With its Beyond-the-Bottle concept, JuiceBot created a convenient distribution system that brings fresh and healthy beverages to the masses while eliminating plastic consumption. Recently, we profiled the firm to discover more about their innovative business and how they earned the 2020 Award for Innovation in FoodTech Hardware – USA in Acquisition International’s 2020 Global Excellence Awards. ince its inception, JuiceBot has put people and the planet first. They not only found an innovative way to serve pure 100% fruit and vegetable juices, that contain no added preservatives or chemicals for health-conscious customers but also cut out the need for single-use plastics in the supply chain for a greener world. Going into further detail, John Yanyali, CEO of JuiceBot, begins by telling us a little bit more about the rationale behind the firm. “JuiceBot was founded with the mission to transform the distribution system for foods and beverages that have a shorter shelf-life, a way to deliver a product that contains no preservatives, emulsifiers or additives,” he begins. “JuiceBot strives to serve functional and fortified beverages without the unhealthy preservatives and chemicals used to keep products on shelves longer as accessible and easy to find as a soda machine. Our mission has always been to bring high-quality and nutritious juice to all and create positive change in our food culture. We innovate to improve life through real food.” The company is just three years old but miles ahead of the curve compared to its competitors due to its strong understanding of the supply chain, customer expectations, operation and maintenance of a fleet. “Most of our competitors have not established a strong market presence yet and are pre-market,” explains John. “JuiceBot is a pioneer in the industry with its own legislation that it passed to allow fresh beverages to be dispensed via unattended self-service kiosks. We truly understand the customer needs and to deliver a product in the safest and efficient way. In addition to this, we invest heavily in our team that drives our mission, in research and development that pushes our technology to the next level, and our customers that inspire us to broaden our reach to serve them better.” JuiceBot currently serves corporate cafés, school campuses, gyms, apartment complexes, retail shopping centers, and many more where people are looking for a healthy pick-me-up drink. It establishes partnerships through its network of clients, industry events and expos or via a growing online presence. “We typically launch trial periods with our clients first to test out our services. In that time, we understand the needs of the customer and customize our services accordingly. Afterward, we offer annual or multi-year contracts to sustain long-term brand partnerships. That is how we sustained successful partnerships with locations such as Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus.” With a supportive, authentic and transparent company culture, the dedicated team at JuiceBot plays a significant role in its success. S Aug20005 “Investors invest in the people more than the idea itself and a great team will turn a great idea into a great product or a service and will continue to drive the vision,” John enthuses. “As a technology company, it is important to have talented technical people (engineers, designers, developers) who own the mission of the company because they are actually turning the idea into a product and own the design process. Additionally, experienced, key players with a stake in the company will significantly contribute to the business and will help the management in creating new revenue streams.” Regarding the future, John tells us that the key to further success for JuiceBot lies in its recruitment practices. “Every new employee will either contribute positively to customer satisfaction, growth, and profitability or contrastingly have a negative impact on the business. By adopting a structured and comprehensive hiring process, we take the first step in positioning our business for success by attracting the right talent. The type of talent that will help build the company culture, drive sales, and ultimately position the company as a leader in the industry. Failing to instil the right recruitment process will do the exact opposite, resulting in underperforming employees and wasting resources, time, and money. We not only invest in our team but also onboard effective advisory board members to bring in the expertise we may not have. At JuiceBot, we always welcome driven, creative and intelligent individuals in all areas of the company. “Next year, we are planning on going into manufacturing the next generation of JuiceBot with new features and design to grow our fleet. With that we hope to secure nationwide contracts with big retailers, residential, corporate and public buildings, and bring a Bot to every city in the US. Finally, we are also actively building our franchising network to fuel this growth.” Web Address: www.thejuicebot.com 2020 Award for Innovation in FoodTech Hardware - USA