Munich Startup: Who are you and what do you do? Please introduce yourselves!
Frank Juice: We’re Marco, Daniel and Korbinian, the founders of Frank Juice – one of the first cold-pressed juice companies in Germany. We met while at university and have brought New York cold-pressed juice to Europe. The mission we’ve pursued since 2013 with our juice, soup and shots is to help provide a body-conscious diet and a positive attitude towards life. Offering full nutritional value and the highest quality is also extremely important to us.
Munich Startup: What problem does your startup solve?
Frank Juice: We help many people live a healthier and more sustainable life with our nutrient-dense and innovative products – and offer quick access to natural, fresh ingredients. At the same time, we’re protecting nature with our recycling program and sustainable resource procurement.
Munich Startup: But that’s nothing out of the box!
Frank Juice: We put the greatest emphasis on high-quality raw materials for our products. That means we don’t use purees or concentrates and only use whole ingredients. Our aim of making production as simple and of the highest quality possible significantly differentiates us from our competitors and makes us stand out in the market.
Frank Juice: Extended shelf life thanks to pressure filling
Munich Startup: What have been your three biggest challenges so far?
Frank Juice: We faced our first big challenge right at the beginning. Our goal was for our juice to stay fresh for up to two weeks – without additives or preservatives. And we accomplish just that with help from our HPP process, which extends the shelf life of cold-pressed juice by using pressure. Because the process can only be used with PET bottles, we introduced a deposit system that keeps in line with our sustainability concept. That means the bottles can be turned back in at deposit machines and we make a contribution to a smaller footprint. The biggest challenge, however, was that we first had to get used to being in leadership positions since we all started the business after university without any professional experience.
Munich Startup: How is business going?
Frank Juice: We’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback about our products and their impact so far. In 2020, we made a turnover of several million euros and are stocked by more than 1,500 REWE supermarkets.
Munich Startup: What do you think about Munich as a startup location?
Frank Juice: In our eyes, it’s one of the best in Europe! The startup community in Munich is huge and we benefit most particularly from talking with other founders about all kinds of topics and stages of growth. Thanks to the renowned universities right nearby, like LMU and TUM, we have optimal access to qualified employees. On top of that, the city’s infrastructure is extremely attractive for startups – and the transportation connections within the city make Munich a great place for its residents.
Munich Startup: Risk or security?
Frank Juice: Starting a company is already risk in itself! While our colleagues and friends opted to take a traditional career path, we started our own company. There is a big risk of failing, and that has a major financial and psychological impact. That being said, careful and sound planning, external help and support from family and friends can help counteract that. And it’s worth it!