By Dalton Lee, Baldwin Wallace ’11
Day with triplets, Brenden, Noah, and Rosie (2015)
Graduating college can mean different things to all of those who do it; for some it’s the start of their careers, it could be a break from academia and a chance to travel or explore, maybe a nightmare of uncertainty, but for others it’s a time to forge their own path and create something new. Those eager to start their careers would be ecstatic at the opportunity to take a position in Los Angeles, but for Jamie Day, Ohio State ’89, this was merely a jumping off point to build his own future. Over the past two decades, Day has been at the forefront of innovation and creativity in the food and beverage industry. Now a Managing Partner for Fresh Blends, Day is in the midst of his most successful business venture yet.
Arriving in Columbus in the fall of 1989, Jamie Day from Huron, Ohio was like most of us, looking to receive an education and have some fun along the way. Initiated into the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity, Day wasted no time in moving into the Gamma chapter's house. As a freshman and sophomore, Day was doing just what he set out to do. Majoring in Business and Finance, enjoying all the social aspects of college and the fraternity, and even finding time to serve as assistant to the President of Student Government. Realizing his aptitude for leadership positions, Day was encouraged by the then president to find a running mate and take a swing at running the Student Government. With the ability to secure the Greek life vote, Day would be elected as Vice President, with a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity serving as President. Sparking Day’s passion for student leadership, he was elected as the President of the Gamma chapter in 1991. Following his term, he would go on to be an undergraduate member of the Phi Kappa Tau National Council from 1992-1994.
Fresh Blends partners with 7/11 in Australia
Following graduation, Day was offered a job by Jim Hamilton, Ohio State ’63, working for a mutual aid fund in Los Angeles, California. While in LA, Day began to pick up on the growing smoothie trend that was taking over the city. This observation—paired with a drive to create his own business—led Day and partners to found California Juice Exchange. Later selling the Hermosa Beach shop to Jamba Juice and using the knowledge he gained to create Beverage Innovations Ltd with partner Marc Lange. The duo built Beverage Innovations into a $15 million company, later selling the business and using the profits to create Fresh Blends. In just one year Fresh Blends generated net sales in the excess of $15 million. This create-and-customize your own beverage machine continues to make a splash in the global marketplace. With the goal of ease and accessibility, the machine easily pairs with your phone or computer to streamline ordering for the customer. Exponentially growing since its inception, Fresh Blends currently has 2500 installed machines across the US and Australia, hoping to reach 4000 by the end of 2022. Perhaps the most exciting partnership for the flourishing company is with The Ohio State University Athletics Department. Now offered in the athlete's dorm, the machine is generating nearly 300 drinks per day and creating healthy, convenient options for the students.
After weathering the hardships of the COVID-19 pandemic, Day is hopeful that Fresh Blends will continue to thrive. Setting sights on partnering with more universities, this young company may have the ability to affect permanent change on campus dining. Day’s professional successes are bountiful, but do not hold a candle to what he considers his biggest accomplishment in life—his three children. The day before this story is released (February 13th, for those of you reading late), triplets Brenden, Noah, and Rosie will be turning 15-years-old. We wish the happiest of birthdays to the three of you, and continued success to our distinguish buckeye.