The concept came from Landon Eckles, a former managing partner at global investment firm Rose Rock Group, and his wife, Kat, a “self-proclaimed recovering Taco Bell addict” with an abiding interest in nutrition and health, according to the company website. Landon is CEO, and Kat is chief visionary officer. Kat had been thinking about starting a juice bar since first becoming a health food aficionado whipping up smoothies at home for her family. “We are constantly moving the brand forward and coming out with new and exciting products for our guests,” she said.

From the start, the Eckles wanted a healthy product made from organic produce and without added sugars. On June 5, 2015 — the couple’s eighth wedding anniversary — the very first Clean Juice bar opened, in Birkdale Village, a mixed-use development in Huntersville, north of Charlotte. Active, walkable communities like Birkdale Village are ideal sites for Clean Juice, says Michael Stokes, the company’s director of operations. “People who come out to walk tend to have a focus on health, and that resonates with our customers and our products here,” Stokes said.

In June of this year, the company opened its ninth shop, in Charlotte. All told, four of the units are corporate-owned, and the others are franchised. Dozens more units are in the pipeline.

The names of the menu items owe as much to good humor as to good health: The Youthful One is a blueberry-coconut smoothie with dates and almond milk; The Intense One offers a concoction of kale, spinach, avocado, apple, ginger, spirulina and lemon; and The Immunity One — “this one is a must if you are getting sick,” the company website says — is a blend of orange, carrot, pineapple, lemon and turmeric. Cold-pressed juices cost $9 each; a small smoothie costs $7, and a large one goes for $9.

As for retail real estate, Clean Juice goes into lifestyle centers, not malls. A typical space requires up to 1,500 square feet, with at least 18 feet of frontage, and the chain likes plenty of windows, good lighting, swinging doors, high ceilings and backdoor access, says Brennan Kerr, the company’s director of real estate. In general, Clean Juice makes 10-year leasing deals. “But some franchisees aren’t comfortable doing that,” Kerr said, “so we can do a five-year lease too.”

The company collects an initial franchise fee of $40,000, plus 6 percent in royalties and 1 percent for its brand-marketing fund. “With all the stores we have open right now, the average is coming in around $270,000 to get your doors open,” said Dave Cuff, vice president of development, noting that this initial investment includes the franchise fee.

Over the past few months, the company has made franchise agreements in Lancaster, Pa.; Las Vegas; Orlando, Fla.; and Scottsdale, Ariz. “Right now we have 63 units in development,” said Kerr. “We expect around 30 to be open by the end of the year.” Of that total, six shops will be company-owned, he says.

Franchisees and general managers are required to attend a three-week training program at the home office. Clean Juice also sends a trainer to the actual shop the week before launch and later provides ongoing support as well, through a dedicated franchise business manager.

The company seeks people who demonstrably want to be doing this particular thing. “For us it always starts with passion,” Kat Eckles said. “Our whole team is dedicated to awarding franchises exclusively to people who are passionate about juicing, organic eating and making a positive contribution to the communities that they serve.”