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Pitaya , on the other hand , is a dragon fruit from Nicaragua with a faintly sweet taste of an earthy watermelon , but the consistency of a kiwi . Pitaya also has several health benefits , as it ’ s packed with phytonutrients , aids digestion , and stimulates metabolism . It ’ s high in fiber too and boasts loads of vitamin C and B2 .
The business has quite an interesting history , beginning life as ‘ a pair of blenders , a patio table , and a fridge .’ It has since flourished into a successful company with more than 200 stores and thousands of employees , continuing its mission to lead communities in healthy and sustainable living .
Exceptional service
The concept behind Playa is the vision of its founders , Robert Giuliani and Abby Taylor , who are both Jersey Shore natives and keen surfers . The pair were inspired by their surf trips to Panama , Costa Rica , Nicaragua , Puerto
Rico , and Hawaii , where they tried each town ’ s unique version of exotic açai or pitaya bowls .
Deciding to recreate their own favorite recipes at home , Robert and Abby made a deal with the owner of the pizza shop they lived above at the time and bought a blender , fridge , and freezer to set up a makeshift stand on the sidewalk in front of the pizza shop . ‘ Playa ,’ meaning ‘ beach ’ in Spanish , seemed a fitting name for the company and a nod to the locations that inspired Robert and Abby .
As the sole employees , Robert and Abby spent most of their time and efforts telling their story and educating customers on the benefits of açai . As word spread , customers flocked to try out the açai bowls , and the founders realized that it was time to take their growing business to the next level .
Nine years later , Playa has over 200 stores and a strong reputation for healthy , sustainable eating . Robert is now Chief Innovation 150