HB Protein Smoothies Plans Expansion in Arizona

HB Protein Smoothies, now expanding internationally, is deepening its roots in Arizona with franchisees who believed in the brand before they ever signed a deal. Gilbert couple Michael and Samantha Marquez were loyal HB customers first. Now they’re bringing the brand to their own backyard. At the same time, the brand is preparing to open its second corporate location in Flagstaff near Northern Arizona University, in a Whole Foods-anchored retail corridor alongside brands including Lululemon, CycleBar, and Dutch Bros. “I fell in love with the shake,” said Samantha. “I was full for the rest of the day. I was like, ‘Wow, it’s a good shake.’” The couple brings a complementary set of skills to the table. Michael is a seasoned entrepreneur with multiple businesses under his belt, while Samantha brings nearly a decade of food and beverage experience and a background in accounting. Together, they saw in HB exactly what they’d been looking for: a business that combined operational simplicity with a product they believed in. “The numbers in the Item 19 were really, really good. Food costs are low, there’s a smaller team to manage, and just the simplicity of it — water, ice, and protein packets. The low entry and high return were very appealing to us,” said Michael. “We’re definitely not afraid to jump into something.” Samantha, who trained new staff and opened multiple locations during her years in food and beverage, was equally drawn to how straightforward HB’s operations were — a sharp contrast to the…

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