Today we’d like to introduce you to Derek Alvarez.
Hi Derek , thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Smoothie Squad started in 2018 during a time when I was just trying to figure life out. I didn’t have investors, a mentor, or a business plan. What I did have was a vision, to build something positive that made people feel good, feel motivated, and feel connected. I believed that being healthy didn’t have to be boring, and that a smoothie could be someone’s spark to change their whole day.
So I bought a small food truck and went gym to gym across Miami. I’d set up in parking lots, blending smoothies right there after workouts. Some gyms welcomed me, and others kicked me out. Some days I made enough to break even, and some days I didn’t. There were nights I was sitting alone in that truck wondering if I’d made a mistake, wondering if this dream was bigger than what I could carry.
But then there were the moments that kept me going – someone saying, This made my day,” or “I feel better already,” or that look people get when they taste something made with real intention. Those moments reminded me why I started.
Eventually, the grind paid off. UFC Fit Gyms noticed what I was building, not just the product, but the atmosphere, the energy, the community and gave us the opportunity to move inside the gym. Now we have multiple smoothie bars inside UFC Fit locations, and we’re still growing.
Smoothie Squad is built from real hustle, real belief, and real love for the people we serve.
This isn’t just a business to me. It’s proof that if you don’t give up, even when you’re tired, even when the parking lots are empty, even when nobody understands the vision yet , you can truly build something meaningful.
We’re still growing, still evolving, and still just getting started.
Healthy is our flex , but heart is what built us.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No, it definitely hasn’t been smooth. Starting from a food truck, I spent years going gym to gym, getting kicked out of parking lots, figuring everything out the hard way. I’ve dealt with financial stress, long days, and doing every job myself. But those challenges are what built the grind, the culture, and the heart behind Smoothie Squad.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Smoothie Squad ?
Smoothie Squad is a smoothie and juice bar located inside UFC Fit gyms, focused on fueling active lifestyles with real ingredients and great flavor. We’re known for our energy , we don’t just serve smoothies, we create a positive, motivating environment that makes people feel part of a community.
What sets us apart is the authenticity behind the brand. We started from a food truck and grew through genuine connections, consistency, and never cutting corners. Healthy is our flex isn’t just a slogan, it’s how we live. We’re here to make living healthy enjoyable, uplifting, and part of your everyday routine.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Never giving up. The ability to stay committed when it’s hard is what made all of this possible.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thesmoothiesquadmiami.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smoothiesquadfl/
