A retired coach opened a CT business selling ‘superfood bowls.’ Here’s how it works.

After 23 years as a women’s soccer coach at Trinity College, Michael Smith has gone into another business he believes promotes healthfulness.

Smith and his wife, Christine Neville Smith, have opened a franchise of Nautical Bowls, a meal replacement or snack containing “superfoods.”

The bowls start with a choice of a sorbet-like food that’s free of gluten, soy, dairy and refined sugar. It’s all plant-based.

The store carries 12 signature bowls, or customers can build their own.

Customers can top one of the five flavors with a choice of many healthful toppings, including blueberries, bananas, strawberries, mango, acai, fresh ground peanut butter, almond butter, chia seeds, goji berries, pumpkin seeds, cashews, coconut flakes, granola and cacao butter.

They also carry signature smoothies.

The Smiths knew they wanted to go into their own business after Michael Smith retired in 2019.

They did lots of research and decided on Nautical Bowls, a fast-growing company that originated in Minnesota.

“We wanted to provide our community with meal replacements that were delicious and nutritious,” Michael Smith said.

The store opened recently at 2527 Albany Ave., Bishop’s Corner in West Hartford.

“I love it,” Michael Smith said. “You get to meet a lot of new people, interesting people, great staff of personable kids. ”

Michael Smith said the company has franchises throughout the country and is “making our way to the East Coast.”

He said there are about 60 Nautical Bowls stores operating now and about 150 in the process of opening.

“It’s a growing brand. The goal is to get to 1,000,” he said.

He said the bowls are good for people looking for a healthful meal alternative.

They call it Nautical Bowls because the company was founded in Minnesota, known as, “Land of 10,000 lakes,” Michael Smith said.

The West Hartford location is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.