FAQs

The answers to the most commonly asked questions.

things to know

Frequently Asked Questions

Menu & Package

Is this a Franchise?

Nope! We have an old school approach. If we treat our customers well, they’ll continue ordering from us!

Are there any monthly fees or hidden fees?

Not at all. We pride ourselves on transparency!

Do you use Fresh Fruit?

Here at PFC, we love fresh fruit! In fact, 21 years ago, that is all we supplied to all of our customers. We only believe in minimally processed whole foods being a part of one’s diet. That said; after many years and supplying thousands of juice bars in North and South America, we’ve evolved! We’ve listened to our customer’s needs and found better ways of supplying better foods! We developed a system using only clean, shelf stable liquids, supplements and freeze dried, nutrient dense, raw living Fruits and Vegetables. That’s right, no freezer and no waste! If in the rare instance that you need fresh or frozen fruits, let us know. We may just be your Easy Button!

Do Freeze Dried Fruits/Veggies give you the same benefits as fresh?

Absolutely! The process of Freeze Drying is a Cold Vacuum process that leaves the Fruit or Vegetable completely intact. That’s right! We simply remove the water…leaving you with nutrient dense and enzymatically alive, raw fruits & veggies! Great for retailing/snacking too.

Do I need to buy a package? Can I purchase a la carte?

We’d love for you to get a Start Up Package, but it is not required. Our Start Up packages have evolved too and our packages deliver soup to nuts everything the most common juice bar scenarios may need. We have found that our most successful customers are those that begin with one of our “standard” packages. That being said, every customer goes through a “Discovery” phase where we understand your very specific needs and then if needed or you like, we offer a la carte solutions for your budget, space, etc.

What if I have an existing bar?

You’re making this too easy! We can adapt our system to any existing space and customize your package to include only the items you need.

Can I just buy some product at a Wholesale price?

Absolutely! We have many customers that choose to sell some of our swiig brand of snacks and supplements. We also work with many locations that choose to purchase individual products here and there. This is a smart move. The swig brand is becoming so recognizable everywhere! Because of the thousands of clubs that we are in, people know our brand and our mission. This awareness elevates your message too!

Do you Private Label?

One of our most popular items, besides our line of swiig supplements and snacks, is our Private Label Protein option. For a low price, we design a label with your branding and ship the “PLP” to you to retail at your facility.

How long will it take me to make up my investment of the start up package?

We get this question a lot…and for good reason! It really depends on the size, location of your facility as well as your projected Shake/Smoothie sales. Our specialist will be able to supply you with an R.O.I and more information once you connect.

How many shakes can I make with each start up package?

Similar to our reply above regarding R.O.I; It really depends on the size, location of your facility as well as your projected Shake/Smoothie sales. Our specialist will be able to supply you with more information once you connect.

How soon will I need to reorder?

Our Start Up Packages supply you with everything you need to get up and running. That being said, there are products (bananas, peanut butter, whey protein) that move much quicker than others. Our team will work with you on inventory and ordering procedures right away upon opening to make sure your stock levels aren’t depleted. Most customers do place an order within the first week open.

Can I upgrade my package down the road?

Of course! Most of our customers do. It’s important to stay fresh!

How long does it take from start to finish once I commit?

Typically one month unless you’re utilizing our Design & Construction offerings. Please refer to Design & Construction FAQs for more info.

Can I do a digital menu?

Please do! We love the look and convenience of a digital menu. While we do not supply the monitor/TV, our team can supply you with the necessary files to easily upload. Please refer to our Marketing & Education section for more info.

Can we do a custom look for our menu?

Absolutely! In fact, we prefer that you work with our team to make sure the branding is exactly like you envision.

Do you provide training?

This is our favorite part… All of our Start Up Packages include an on-site set up and training. We have the very BEST Trainers in the biz!. Sometimes our Founder/President, Dan Young, does the trainings himself! If we can’t get there in person, we have a digital solution. “PFC University” is available at no charge, for all of our customers in perpetuity. So if you hire staff after your initial training, no worries! PFC U will keep your Juice Bar on point for years to come!

Design & Construction

Who should I reach out to?

Food safety is regulated by multiple agencies and it will depend on your local jurisdiction. The main regulatory agencies are the Department of Health and Department of Agriculture.

What is a Plan Review?

Plan review is required when the food service establishment is newly built, remodeled, converted from another use or re-opened after being closed for at least 1 year for sanitation and safety concerns. The plan review process is separate from applying for your food service license. The plan review process involves completing a plan review application and by listing and locating equipment on floor plans and diagramming specifications for electrical, mechanical and plumbing systems. The purpose is to identify potential problems that can be spotted while still on paper and modifications made BEFORE costly purchases, installation and construction.

Do you guys build the actual bar?

Yes, we have a network of craftsman that are familiar with our designs and can easily turn our concepts into reality. Our designs our available anywhere in the U.S. If you already have a fabricator that’s ok too. We love working on new concepts with new fabricators.

With your pre-designed juice bars, who do I use to install the actual bar?

Installation and Set Up can be provided through us, where applicable. A general contractor is best suited to do the installation. He will need to coordinate the install with various trades.

What is the timeline to get the pre-designed layouts built & shipped?

A pre-designed juice bar eliminates the design process and can take 4-6 weeks to build.

What about a custom job?

A custom job can take as little as 6-8 weeks to build.

Do I need an architect?

Some parts of the country will require an architect to obtain a building permit. However, if you are not making structural changes to the building, an architect may not be needed. The documents we provided by Performance Food Centers (PFC) are not intended to replace architectural or engineering plans that me be required by the local building department. The documents and services we provide should help complement those of the architect and not duplicate their services.

What is an architectural stamp?

An architect’s or engineer’s stamp says that the architect or engineer vouches for the accuracy and appropriateness of the documents. The architect’s/engineers stamp goes on the contract documents, which includes the drawings, specifications and any addenda that are issued after the construction documents are issued.

Do I need an engineer?

While engineering disciplines will need to be represented on your project team, it depends on the scope and requirements of the project. Commercial kitchen equipment requires extensive electrical and mechanical services. This is why some projects may require the assistance of an electrical and/or mechanical engineer.

What are grease traps and grease interceptors?

Grease traps and grease interceptors are used to remove and separate fats, oils and greases (FOG) from the waste water created by a food service establishment.

Do I need a grease trap?

Generally speaking, any facility that is preparing food or manufacturing food products should be using a grease trap.

What is the grease trap for? I am not making food.

There is a common misconception that a grease trap is only needed if you are cooking food. However, grease traps are commonly required for items that have fat and oils. i.e. common smoothie ingredients such as milk and peanut butter have fats and oils. We have low profile and compact grease traps available that may work for your operation both below and above grade.

What materials are your juice bars made from?

We specify the cabinetry as marine grade plywood with white liner finish. We typically use Wilson Art or Formica laminate for the exterior surfaces of the millwork. We edge band all corners to prevent any moisture from warping the cabinetry.

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Do I need anything more than a food handlers license?

Yes, you should have an EIN, Business license, Food Service Establishment Permit and any necessary local permits depending on what you're doing.

Marketing & Education

Can you help me create a logo?

Absolutely! Our team will work with you to discovery your vision and develop a business logo that you can call you own.

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I need something designed yesterday. Can you help me?

We can usually accommodate your rush job, depending on our current production schedule. However, a rush fee may be added. Contact us to find out.

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Can you create custom menu looks?

Of course! Our team of graphic designers can work with you to figure out exactly how you want your materials to look. Whether we work with you to build something from scratch, or you provide us with materials to start with, such as a logo, website, fonts, and color palette, we’re not happy until you’re happy.

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Can you print for us?

Absolutely. We print the majority of our work in-house, though we do have a few outside vendors we work with as well for materials outside of our typical wheelhouse. Contact us to find out more about what we can offer.

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What if I already have a logo – how do I send it to you?

We accept logo files as .eps or .ai (vector file) to ensure the highest resolution possible for your marketing materials. If at a high enough resolution, we can also work with .png files or .psd files, as long as they have a transparent background.

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Do you have ready-to-use materials that I can download and use or print on my own?

Our Member’s Club is your one-stop-shop for tons of marketing materials you can download and use as you see fit. Posters, counter cards, informational handouts, articles, kids’ materials, digital display content, social media posts – you name it, we’ve probably already got it in our Member’s Club. Contact us to find out how you can get access to our exclusive content.

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What do you charge for Graphic Design services?

Prices depend on a few variants, but you can be sure you’re getting a great value for your project. We consider Marketing materials an added value when you choose to work with PFC. When you purchase a menu package, the design time for your new menu is included in your total package price. Design time outside of your initial menu is billed at $52.50/hour – well below the national average!

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How does the menu design process work?

First, you’ll work directly with your regional representative to go over all of the details of your new menu – what you want the look & feel to be, all of your desired menu offerings, recipes, your menu format and size, pricing, etc. Once this is done, a work order will be submitted to the design team with those details outlined, and the design team will get to work! We generally provide a first proof within 5-7 business days, depending on the complexity of the project and our current production schedule. All design projects come with a standard 3 rounds of revisions built into your initial cost, which would be finalized by your representative. Anything beyond 3 proofs may require additional design time per hour. Contact us for more information about the design process and how we can work with you and your budget.

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