Millard boy spends summers making smoothies, raising money for backpack giveaways

12-year-old Xavier Roccaforte says he started selling smoothies out of his driveway before he could even cut up fruit.

Read the full article on KETV 7

12-year-old Millard smoothie entrepreneur shares business tips

Over the past six years, he’s run the smoothie stand. Roccaforte says it’s grown as he has, and his knowledge has grown, too.

OMAHA, Neb. —

Xavier Roccaforte says he started making smoothies before he could even cut up fruit.

“My dad wouldn’t let me cut fruit because I wasn’t allowed to hold the knife,” said Roccaforte.

Over the past six years, he’s run the smoothie stand. Roccaforte says it’s grown as he has, and his knowledge has grown too.

“I’m able to cut fruit. I’m able to blend it up. I’m able to add toppings by myself. So I’m just really proud for that,” said Roccaforte.

Roccaforte says his business has a special twist: He does giveaways for customers, including backpacks.

“People who would come with their kids to buy smoothies at the end of the summer, we’ll ask them if they want to take a backpack and some school supplies for free,” said Roccaforte.

Roccaforte hopes to renovate a trailer so he can take his smoothies on the road, and one day, own his own restaurant.

He says making smoothies has given him the knowledge he needs to achieve his future dreams.

“I’m starting off young, so I already know how to make the stuff for when I’m older, so it’s just easier to start now.”

For other entrepreneurs, young or old, Roccaforte has advice to give: He says keep your workspace tidy, and most of all, stay consistent.

“You want to just stay out there. You don’t want to just go, ‘Oh, I’m tired. I think I’m just going to go inside,’ because that’s when you miss all the stuff that’s probably going to happen,” said Roccaforte

Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.