Jamba Inc.'s New Healthy Offerings - Analyst Blog

Consumer product companies need to upgrade their brands and create differentiated value propositions for customers in order to cater to changing demand. In keeping with this trend, Jamba Juice Company, a unit of Jamba, Inc. JMBA recently introduced two nutritious items on its menu.

This leading restaurant retailer of juices and smoothies unveiled its fourth Fresh Juice Blend, Kale Orange Power for a limited period. Kale Orange Power comprises fresh orange juice blended with chopped whole leaf kale and bananas. Being a good source of vitamins and minerals, we believe this fresh juice like the other three juices will soon get popular among health conscious customers. The other three juices include the Orange Berry Antioxidant Juice Blend (a blend of Strawberries, Blueberries, and Raspberries), the Triple Revitalizer Juice Blend (a blend of Fresh Carrot Juice, Bananas) and the Tropical Kick-Start Juice Blend which is a blend of mangoes and orange juice.

It also introduced the Kale Whole Food Boost, which contains one full cup of chopped whole leaf kale and can be blended with any smoothie. Jamba will offer this nutritious item packed with antioxidants and other vitamins with its popular Apple 'n Greens Smoothie.

In order to improve guest traffic, the company has come up with a limited period offer (from Mar 11 to Mar 16) for these two nutritious items. Jamba is also offering a special $2 offer (with coupon) for customers at participating Jamba outlets across the country.

Of late, U.S. eateries are serving a healthy menu to cater to consumer preference for fresh, organic, nutritious and low-calorie food. Rising health concerns and increasing awareness about obesity and related diseases have led to the shift toward healthy products. Juices are favored by consumers who prefer healthy and low-carbohydrate products. Jamba's new juice is expected to strike a balance between nutrition and taste.

Innovation has become a trend among all restaurateurs. Recently, The Wendy's Company WEN announced its plans to introduce two new salads on its menu with additional fresh vegetables — Asian cashew chicken and BBQ ranch chicken salads.

Jamba, Inc. that currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) posted fourth quarter and full year 2013 results on Mar 6, 2014. Though the company incurred a loss of 33 cents, it was better than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 39 cents as well as the year ago loss of 45 cents driven by international expansion and premium juice and whole food blending platform. Revenues were in line with the consensus mark as well as the year-ago figure.

Other players in the restaurant industry, which look attractive at current levels, include Famous Dave's of America Inc. DAVE and Brinker International, Inc. EAT.  Both these stocks carry the same Zacks Rank as Jamba, Inc.