By Pam Teel
Frutta Bowls is the fastest growing superfoods cafe in the nation, providing healthy alternatives to traditional fast food chains in the form of Acai, Pitaya & Kale bowls. They also offer delicious toast, oatmeal bowls, organic coffee & all natural fresh fruit smoothies with Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free & Soy options available.
Frutta Bowls was founded in 2016 with 2 locations. It was the brainchild of Brooke Gagliano. After spending her college career focused on health, wellness, and sports, Brooke sought out a way to pursue those interests while building her career. While on a trip out west, Brooke came across the Açai bowl concept and the idea for Frutta Bowls was born. Brooke opened the first two Frutta Bowls locations with great success near her home- town of Freehold, N.J. Her family, all very involved in health and wellness, decided to take the leap of faith with her. Leaving their corporate careers, Brooke and her family have made her dream of creating a healthy and delicious restaurant a reality. The Frutta Bowls dream started as a local idea, but has since grown into a nationwide concept, continuing to positively affect many lives along the way. Frutta Bowls sets itself apart by their commitment to providing healthy, delicious food, but also by their involvement in the communities surrounding each location. Currently there are some 50+ stores nationwide.
In April 2017, Kelsey Healy’s store was the first franchise location to open. Located at 167, US Highway 9 South, in Marlboro, Kelsey, at the young age of 21, took a chance on a dream.
Back in December 2014, Kelsey gradated college a semester early from East Stroudsburg University with a degree in Hospitality Management. The summer before she graduated, she completed a culinary internship with Wegman’s Food Store. Once she graduated, she was hired fulltime at Wegman’s as a Service Team Leader.
Kelsey learned so much from Wegman’s because they emphasize how important customer service is and she was able to implement their core values to her business. Just one month after she graduated and started her first big girl job, her father became very ill. It was a tough time for her family but as her father started getting better, he started going to a small acai shop in Howell, NJ called Frutta Bowls. He loved the kale bowls and since his hemoglobin was low, this was a great way to get the iron he needed.
“My Dad is not one to eat different types of food, especially anything with the word “Kale” in it, but he was OBSSESED with Frutta Bowls,” Kelsey stated. “So one day, I decided to go with him on his frequent visits to the store. I walked in and immediately loved the concept. I met the owner, who was a young girl just like me. I felt a connection with her right away and I knew this was something I wanted to do. The owner and I talked a lot about taking a chance and opening up another store, and once she agreed to the idea, I was on my way. I thought my parents were going to think that I was out of my mind when I told them about the idea. I was only 21 years old, just landed my first full time job and already I wanted to leave it to open my own business. My parents supported me one hundred percent. The best advice my mom ever gave me was, take the risk or lose the chance.” After that I ran with it. I loved the passion that surrounded Frutta Bowls. I made a promise to myself that I would give my customers the very best product with the freshest ingredients and never compromise on quality.
That being said, we opened the doors to my very own business in April of 2017. My parents have been so supportive and have helped me along the way. My father does all of my bookkeeping and my mother helps me on weekends. My grandparents are always in the shop and helping me with everything, especially making homemade protein balls, which is something my grandmother is extremely proud of. I actually have customers who know that my grandmother makes protein balls every Tuesday and Thursday and they make sure they stock up for the weekend for their kids’ basketball and soccer games. My grandparents also help cut my fruit as well. They say it takes a village and I am blessed to have a family that has come together to make my dreams come true. I truly love what I do, and I am surrounded by amazing people. Our Frutta family is a terrific group of people who make my life easy because they are the hardest workers on the planet who believe in my vision. I have many ideas for the future, and I am hoping that I can chip away at my goals and make them become reality.”
As the board in Kelsey’s store says… “always fresh and made with a family’s love.”
Kelsey.healy@fruttabowls.com
Check out their website for menu info and store times. https://www.fruttabowls.com/