Unattended Solutions Inc. dba Bleni Blends, a Philadelphia-based frozen beverage kiosk company, appeared on ABC’s Shark Tank on March 31, where it received an investment offer from KIND Snacks and Camino Partners founder, Daniel Lubetzky, and inventor and entrepreneur, Lori Greiner.
Founders Peter and Stuart Shapiro’s appearance on the show garnered nationwide awareness and will assist in accelerating their expansion and innovation efforts.
Founded in 2019 by native-Philadelphia entrepreneurial brothers Peter and Stuart Shapiro, Bleni Blends’ kiosks enable consumers to select real fruit smoothies and coffee frappes 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, as a delicious, nutritional alternative to traditional vending machine options. In just 60 seconds, customers can sip frozen blends such as Strawberry Banana, Tropical, Green Power, Pink Dragon, and Vanilla Frappé coffee. The fruit blends are made with real fruits and vegetables, with no added sugar, no artificial flavors, dairy, lactose, or gluten.
Bleni Blends currently operates over 50 machines in North America, including California, Colorado, Florida, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, South Carolina, Texas, Toronto, and Utah.
Bleni Blends appeals to operators with an entrepreneurial spirit looking to indulge in a low-maintenance vending machine. Kiosks are self-contained, self-cleaning and require minimal maintenance. Additionally, kiosks only occupy 12 square feet of space and can be installed in a few hours, providing a fully automated experience. Bleni Blends are cashless and accept all major credit cards, Apple Pay, Google Wallet, and most staff and student cards by utilizing a touchless vending option.
“When my brother Stuart and I founded Bleni Blends, we never imagined the possibility of appearing on national TV and receiving recognition from industry leaders,” Peter Shapiro, CEO and president of Bleni Blends, said in the announcement. “Our appearance on Shark Tank will allow us to expand operations nationally and provide a quick, nutritious option to thousands of consumers across North America.”
In addition to bringing additional brand awareness across the United States and Canada, the sought-after investment will aid Bleni Blends in scaling its product to untapped regions and continuing to provide consumers with a fresh, sustainable alternative to traditional on-the-go snacks. Looking ahead, Bleni Blends plans on strategic innovation with new flavors and product capabilities.
“We’re so excited for the next chapter of Bleni Blends as pioneers to the contactless retail world,” Stuart Shapiro, COO and vice president of operations and treasurer for Bleni Blends, added in the announcement. “Having the opportunity to showcase our business on a national scale was a dream come true and we can’t wait for what we’re able to deliver to consumers as a result, including new flavors and new products to come.”
