Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Today, many people are focusing on living healthier lifestyles, and a major component of that is better nutrition. Perhaps one of the hardest parts of eating more healthfully is finding appropriate snacks. However, the Grafs have made the process easier through their business, the Orange Peel.
Derek Graf lived in Seattle for several years. He grew accustomed to a healthier lifestyle while living there, and after moving to Utah, he was frustrated that he found it so difficult to find appropriate snack foods. So he determined to do something about it. Derek and his wife, Annette, combined his entrepreneurial experience with her marketing background and launched the Orange Peel in late 2006. Derek's father, Elwood, and his mother, Pamela, also joined the venture.
The Orange Peel, with two locations in St. George, offers customers a healthy snack option: smoothies. With more than 200 varieties to choose from, the Orange Peel's smoothies are made using vegan-friendly products, don't include dairy and can accommodate any special diet. Customers can order fresh fruit smoothies with nearly every option from tropical fruits to berries and then choose to sweeten their smoothie with Splenda, honey, stevia or Agave nectar.
Some of the top-selling smoothies include the Big Kahuna, a tropical blend of pineapple, coconut, strawberry and banana; the Green Machine, which has avocado, vanilla and green tea; Melon Explosion with honeydew, watermelon and cantaloupe; and Bubble Tea smoothies, which are a blend of green tea with a choice of more than 32 flavors and tapioca balls at the bottom of the drink.
The Grafs are in the process of franchising the Orange Peel so it can expand throughout the state and into other areas as well. The Orange Peel offers only one thing — smoothies — but they do it well. They care about their customers and are dedicated to fulfilling customers' needs in any delicious and healthy way possible.
