Açaí Republic Selects Square to Power Franchise Expansion

The growing superfood brand is utilizing Square to standardize and drive in-store and mobile ordering experiences across 36 locations

DISTRIBUTED-WORKFORCE/OAKLAND, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Açaí Republic, the quick-service restaurant (QSR) franchise known for its organic açaí bowls and smoothie menu, has selected Square as its unified commerce platform powering 36 locations across California, Hawaii, Arizona, and Florida. As the brand nationally expands with 8+ locations currently under construction, Açaí Republic is investing in modern, flexible infrastructure to streamline growth, improve operational consistency, and deliver a seamless customer experience across every touchpoint.

Founded in Southern California with the mission of making clean, high-quality açaí accessible nationwide, Açaí Republic has built a loyal following around a simple promise: no added sugars or shortcuts in order to keep communities healthy and enjoying life. Rooted in Amazonian tradition, the business sources its ingredients directly from sustainable farms in Para, Brazil – and this commitment to bringing the Amazon to American bowls stood out. Within months of opening the first Açaí Republic location in 2012, its menu of fresh flavors drew lines stretching beyond the front door. As demand steadily increased, Açaí Republic’s franchise footprint boomed to 36 locations, prompting the company to find a more scalable and integrated technology platform.

“There’s a natural synergy between what we believe in, and what Square enables our business to achieve,” said Adriano Nasal, Founder of Açaí Republic. “We care about the health of our communities, and need a solution to drive the health of our business. We uphold sustainable practices, and are focused on achieving sustainable, long-term growth. Square stood out because it aligns what we put on the menu with the technology behind our operations. We’re able to manage our franchises across states, scale our specialized menu, and ensure the same vibrant experience our customers love at every location.”

A Flexible Platform Built for Franchise Innovation

As a multi-state franchise, Açaí Republic needed a system that could support both centralized oversight and local operator independence. Square’s comprehensive commerce ecosystem – including Square for Franchises, Square Register, and Square Terminal – enables the QSR to standardize menus, streamline reporting, and give owners the tools to run efficient day-to-day operations. Ease of implementation and intuitive design were key factors in the switch, as Square enables new Açaí Republic locations to onboard quickly and rollout omni-channel ordering touchpoints without added complexity.

Square’s open API platform enabled Açaí Republic to take a tailored approach to meeting its operational needs. Rather than relying on third-party vendors, the company utilizes a custom kiosk solution with software powered by Square Terminal to take payments. Working in tandem with its custom mobile ordering app – which powers order-ahead, loyalty rewards like ‘Açaí Coins,’ branded merchandise, and exclusive member offers – Square serves as the foundation for a cohesive experience that strengthens Açaí Republic’s interactions with its customers.

Ambitious Growth on The Horizon

As Açaí Republic looks ahead, the company remains focused on expanding to new markets while staying true to its core values: quality ingredients, transparency, and a lifestyle centered around wellbeing. With Square as its technology partner, the brand now has the infrastructure to efficiently scale, further innovate, and deliver a consistent, high-quality experience whether customers are ordering in-store, through a kiosk, or on mobile.

“Quick-service restaurants are inherently complex businesses, and franchising adds another layer of coordination across operators, systems, and customer experiences,” said James Schonzeit, Head of Food & Beverage at Square. “Square was built to solve that in a single destination, giving brands like Açaí Republic the tools to easily run, innovate, and scale. Whether that’s standardizing operations or building custom experiences that set them apart, we’re here to help them grow from neighborhood favorites to nationally recognized names.”

For more information about Square’s solutions for food & beverage sellers, visit https://squareup.com/us/en/restaurants.

About Açaí Republic

Açaí Republic was founded with the mission of bringing the authentic taste of Brazilian açaí to the world. We use organic açaí sourced directly from the Amazon, combined with high-quality ingredients to deliver a consistent, healthy, and premium experience in every bowl.

More than just an açaí shop, we represent a lifestyle, connecting energy, wellness, and community. With an innovative model and a strong commitment to excellence, Açaí Republic continues to expand globally, sharing the best of Brazil with every new location. For more information, visit acairepublic.com.

About Square

Square helps businesses turn transactions into connections and businesses into neighborhood favorites.

In 2009, Square started with a simple invention – the first mobile card reader, which changed how the entire financial system thinks about small businesses. Square has since grown into a global business platform helping millions of sellers of all sizes participate and thrive in their communities.

Whether independently run or a global chain, Square understands that sellers succeed when they have the freedom to focus on the experiences that keep customers coming back. From point of sale and payments to online commerce, staff management, cash flow tools, and more, Square brings together the tools sellers need to run and grow on one intelligent platform. For more information, visit squareup.com.