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Longtime Juice It Up! franchisee Cem Yorulmaz is expanding into Texas with a four-unit development agreement covering Houston and Katy.
Yorulmaz, who has operated Juice It Up! locations in California for more than 15 years, partnered with Katy resident Gulendam Ece Hurmeydan to form Palate Pros LLC and lead the brand's next phase of growth in the Lone Star State.
Yorulmaz's California stores consistently rank among the brand's top performers with average unit sales approaching $1 million.
"We've seen firsthand how successful the Juice It Up! model can be, and we're excited and energized to bring opportunities for brand growth to Houston and Katy," Hurmeydan said. "When my family relocated to Katy last year, it felt like the perfect time to partner with Cem, whose operational expertise is unmatched, and introduce Juice It Up! to a market that's expanding rapidly and demonstrating tremendous potential for long-term business success."
Juice It Up! currently operates 100 locations across seven states with more than 30 additional units in development. The brand plans to double its system size over the next four years as demand grows for smoothies, raw juices, and superfruit bowls built around better-for-you offerings.
"Texas is a high-priority growth market for Juice It Up!, and we are proud to expand our footprint in Houston and Katy with experienced partners who understand our brand and business model," said Carlo Verdugo, vice president of operations and business development at Juice It Up!. "Cem has been an exceptional franchisee for more than 15 years, and with Gulendam joining him to lead development in Texas, we are confident this partnership will further cement Juice It Up! as the go-to smoothie, bowl, and juice brand for guests throughout the Lone Star State."