Vitality Bowls: Fast, casual food — with a twist of health
After years as a “road warrior” for several Big 5 consultancies, Anil Nair was looking to invest in a retail franchise as a way to be home more on nights and weekends, and to partner with his wife in business.
One of his criteria was to integrate his family’s social values into this investment. The search led him to buy into Vitality Bowls. “Serving the community with something we can be proud of — that was very important for us,” Anil says. “It was one of the few businesses we could live with.”
He says the couple feels good about selling Vitality Bowls’ fresh, quality food — something he and his wife insist upon at the family table. So good that, in May, he opened the Vitality Bowls, in downtown Sunnyvale, with two friends he’s known for 15 years.
For those not familiar with the growing, San Ramon-based chain, Vitality Bowls offers 12 kinds of bowls, most of them based on organic acai berries and topped with organic granola and other “superfoods.” While bowls are the main emphasis, the Vitality Bowls menu also includes smoothies, juices waffles, soups, salads and an assortment of panini.
What ties it all together?
“It’s all healthy, vegan-friendly natural food with no added preservatives or sugar, no yogurt, no GMOs (genetically modified organisms). It’s seasonally organic, as well,” he says. “And it’s good for any time of day, breakfast, lunch, dinner or snack. It’s quite filling and gives you the energy to go the whole day.”
Allergy fighters
It’s not so hard to get fast food, or to eat in a casual environment. But tasty and healthy, too? That’s what makes Vitality Bowls stand out from the crowd, Anil says.
There are about 30 locations around the state, and at least one in 11 states. The first one opened in San Ramon in 2014, a few years after franchisors Roy and Tara Gilad discovered their young daughter had several food allergies. They decided they wanted to spread the health, and that’s a must for any franchisee, as well.
Anil says he and his partners chose the Sunnyvale location in the historic Murphy Avenue area, because there’s lots of foot traffic, a built-in customer base in the many tech companies located nearby and little competition in his niche. It has proved to be a great decision.
The Sunnyvale location is on the Plaza del Sol and also offers a fully catered menu. Call (408) 498-0074 or email downtownsunnyvale@vitalitybowls.com. They’re open Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Address: 115 S. Frances St., Sunnyvale 94086.
Be sure to follow on Facebook and Twitter for offers posted regularly Any way to help the community make healthy food choices is what Vitality Bowls is all about.