Tropical Smoothie Cafe, LLC, 1117 Perimeter Center West, Suite W200, Atlanta, GA 30338. Tropical Smoothie Cafe Franchise Review - Average, Median, Highest, and CEO Charles Watson says that the company is "99.9 percent franchise," which means that most of the locations are owned independently. On the other hand, its hard to beat a plate of spaghetti. Tropical Smoothie Franchise For Sale - SmoothieProClub.com As a 35 year veteran of the restaurant and franchise industry, I have always been fascinated by the challenges, risks, rewards, and day to day "work" a CEO faces when first taking the helm of an ongoing franchise organization. Its not just: We have snacks! We have a full-on robust kitchen thats preparing fresh products. CEO Charles Watson, . It was not possible for me to get involved in every project so I had to learn to let go and delegate. New York State Disclaimer: This advertisement is not an offering. 'The restaurant business has been absolutely decimated': Tropical Tropical Smoothie Cafe has deals in place for hundreds more locations in the pipeline and is on track to meet Charles aggressive goal to hit 1,500 locations by the end of 2024. Interested Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchise candidates should have business experience, along with a minimum net worth of $350,000, which includes $125,000 in liquid assets. Cheryl Fletcher joined Tropical Smoothie Cafe in July of 2017. And its the high quality food. There is no assurance that you will do as well. I wont lie, it was a blow to the ego at first, but it taught me what being a role player means and how important every role is to the bigger picture. And so I think thats only going to fuel our continued growth going forward. SUCH REGISTRATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE APPROVAL, RECOMMENDATION OR ENDORSEMENT BY THE COMMISSIONER OF CORPORATIONS NOR A FINDING BY THE COMMISSIONER THAT THE INFORMATION PROVIDED HEREIN IS TRUE, COMPLETE AND NOT MISLEADING. The guests who support local businesses in and around their communities are the ones we give the credit to because their loyalty to our cafes is what has ultimately maintained our ability to serve. For many, many years, its been the Bahama Mama. Glad Tidings: Are Seasonal Franchises A Good Investment? Well, Tropical Smoothie Cafe, we've got 850 locations in 44 states. Cheryl Fletcher joined Tropical Smoothie Cafe in July of 2017. This process only helps our individual franchisees and their bottom line, respectively.". Tropical Smoothie Caf works to keep its momentum - Restaurant Business Yes, I am putting my mark on the brand and culture, but I have been around long enough not to stray too far from the DNA of the brand.". Charles is directly responsible for selling more than 800 franchises during his tenure. So we managed to get through that. The chain plans on opening an astonishing 200 locations this year alone, which will mean its opening its 1000threstaurant. Tropical Smoothie Cafe drives strong development - Nation's Restaurant News Von Kutzleben most recently served as vice president of brand strategy, advertising and menu at Arbys. Occhiogrosso: What were the one or two unique challenges that you faced upon taking over as CEO? Prior to that, he was named Chief Development Officer in 2015 after serving as VP of Franchise Development since 2010. You may opt-out by. We really call Tropical Smoothie Cafe a street corner business. "I think when taking over any brand where you worked alongside your predecessor, there's a certain level of pressure to continue carrying the torch, but also to make necessary changes to the brand to evolve with the changing economy and consumer trends. NET WORTH * LIQUID CAPITAL/CASH . 770-580-2333, NRN Editors Discuss Digital Engagement with CMO Deborah von Kutzleben, Tropical Smoothie Cafe Achieves New Milestones in 2022, These Will Be The 10 Fastest-Growing Restaurant Chains In 2023. CALIFORNIA DISCLAIMER: THESE FRANCHISES HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE FRANCHISE INVESTMENT LAW OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. Weve raised almost $7.5 million for them. 185 Industrial Pkwy, Site H. Branchburg. Watson: "Like I said, I was very fortunate to have had already developed relationships with our franchise community prior to becoming CEO. It is the food. Then I was our chief development officer and Ive been our CEO for about three years now. As reopening guidelines are being determined, we plan to move forward with an abundance of caution. Watson: "I think when taking over any brand where you worked alongside your predecessor, there's a certain level of pressure to continue carrying the torch, but also to make necessary changes to the brand to evolve with the changing economy and consumer trends. TropicalSmoothie.com. Thats our limited-time offer. Charles recently joined his team in celebrating the opening of the 1,000th Tropical Smoothie Cafe location. Von Kutzleben most recently served as vice president of brand strategy, advertising and menu at Arbys. He was previously Tropical Smoothie Cafe's Chief Development Officer since 2016, after serving as VP of Franchise Development since 2010. TropicalSmoothie.com. Tropical Smoothie Cafe CEO Charles Watson has been with the company for more than 10 years and is passionate about supporting the franchise system's . Tropical Smoothie Cafe CEO Charles Watson has been with the company for more than 10 years and is passionate about supporting the franchise system's sustainable growth, the success of its franchisees, and the execution of the brand's Inspire Better mission. The impact of the more formalized committees we have set up, and the close connection I have with TFC has gotten the system more comfortable with my style and thinking, and I believe, since trust is earned, I still have a long way to go, but am off to a good start. So that was helpful! 770-580-2333, Tropical Smoothie Cafe Achieves New Milestones in 2022, These Will Be The 10 Fastest-Growing Restaurant Chains In 2023, Tropical Smoothie Cafe Propels Franchise Momentum in Q3. Tropical Smoothie Cafe. Prior to joining Tropical Smoothie Cafe, Richard was the Vice President of Operations, West Division, for Papa Murphys International where he was responsible for field operations and marketing. One of the biggest expenses seen in the income statement is $12 million spent in . Watch the complete interview here or start your journey in becoming a Tropical Smoothie Cafe Franchise Owner by completing our form. In 2018, when I was named CEO, we had more than 720 locations open nationwide. Were any of the franchisees reluctant to follow the system or embrace a new direction? An offering can only be made by prospectus filed first with the Department of Law of the State of New York. Management can grow a company without having to invest too much money, and . Those franchisees are serving our guests on the front lines I can't run this business without their candid feedback.". Occhiogrosso: How do you feel about franchise advisory councils? Your results may differ. Resolved: Release in which this issue/RFE has been resolved. And it has also driven franchise development and growth, so more units coming out. And then number two, I would say a franchisee base that is second to none. Tropical Smoothie Cafe CEO, Charles Watson, talks franchising Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. And I dont think enough people know that you can go off script to substitute or to take out, etc. Theres an obvious answer for me here, and thats to put your heart into what you do. How Tropical Smoothie pulled off record-breaking year during COVID-19 How do you see the company moving forward? He is directly responsible for selling more than 800 franchises. If your Franchised Business includes a drive-thru, the additional expense (including the cost of leasehold improvements, restaurant fixtures and equipment, and other costs) would be approximately $35,000 to $45,000. Watson:"When COVID-19 struck the restaurant landscape in mid-March, we closed all dining rooms and shifted our focus to drive-thru, curbside pickup, and delivery where available. . Today's post focus' on that topic in an interview with Charles Watson, the CEO of Tropical Smoothie Caf. If you are a resident of or want to locate a franchise in one of these states, we will not offer you a franchise unless and until we have complied with applicable pre-sale registration and disclosure requirements in your state. Southern-style, all the way! The chain plans on opening an astonishing 200 locations this year alone, which will mean it's opening its 1000th restaurant. Youre asking me to pick which kid I like the best. Paul Marsden oversees development and execution of financial strategies to support the companys business plans. Did you foresee the level of growth the chain has experienced of late? Charles is a graduate of The Hotel School at Cornell University and also holds a Masters of Business Administration from The Terry School of Business at The University of Georgia. The companys goal is to open 1,500 cafes or more by the year 2024. Early in his career, Mark served the franchise industry as a supplier, delivering innovative technology-enabled marketing strategies to help emerging franchise concepts rapidly scale and grow revenue through local-level marketing and sales. F-9894), New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin. Were proud to report that as of today, weve donated more than 200,000 smoothies to these hometown heroes, and were not done yet! In her role as Chief Development Officer, Cheryl drives the brands franchise development sales, real estate and design and construction. So our franchisees, if theyre staying on top of their Tropical Smoothie Cafe, theyve got to own that three to five mile radius around there. wills o' nats last of the summer wine. A veteran franchise professional, Charles has worked for several hospitality-related companies including Intercontinental Hotels Group and US Franchise Systems. Watson: Our franchisees are the heart of our brand, so we wanted to make sure we were doing everything we could to help them stay afloat through the crisis. See where were looking to grow to meet the incredible demand. Michael Lapid joined Tropical Smoothie Cafe in October of 2019 to the role of Chief Information and Digital Officer. we dont want to go to Manhattan and open 30 locations. Tropical Smoothie Caf currently has over 800 locations nationwide. We strive to continue to harness these relationships in this way and feel that this approach will continue to fuel our success. For the fiscal year 2021, these End-Cap and In-Line Tropical Smoothie Cafe Restaurants typically ranged in size from 1,200 to 1,900 square feet. In her role as Chief Development Officer, Cheryl drives the brands franchise development sales, real estate and design and construction. If you are a resident of or want to locate a franchise in one of these states, we will not offer you a franchise unless and until we have complied with applicable pre-sale registration and disclosure requirements in your state. Richard Key serves as the Chief Operations Officer, responsible for overseeing the operations team and its support and training of the Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchise community. So theres a lot of involvement. Skip to main content Call now and speak to a franchise development leader. It was not possible for me to get involved in every project so I had to learn to let go and delegate. Tropical Smoothie Cafe chases big dreams, pandemic or not The average tropical smoothie franchise owner s salary/pay is estimated to be $126,000 per year, based on an average net revenue of $1,009,803 and a profit margin of 15%. Richard Key serves as the Chief Operations Officer, responsible for overseeing the operations team and its support and training of the Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchise community. Its doing more than just being in business to sell food and smoothies. Watson will lead us through our next phase of strategic growth. In todays restaurant industry, consumers are always looking for the next trendy item or the next emerging concept. For me, my entrepreneurial passion really came from my parents. I started working at a young age and because of my early drive, have been involved in a variety of industries and performed many different jobs. Beyond that, we need to provide training. Watson: "Tropical Smoothie Cafe is a national fast-casual cafe concept inspiring healthier lifestyles with more than 850 locations in 44 states. Previously, Cheryl held a 17-year tenure with Popeyes, during which she served as Vice President of Franchise Development, Vice President of Development Strategic Planning, and Director of Investor Relations and Finance. And so the way that they impact the communities where they operate is a really big part. In this role, he is responsible for the brand's strategic vision and overall franchise performance. Call now and speak to a franchise development leader. Well, Tropical Smoothie Cafe, we've got 850 locations in 44 states. And what we were able to do is to take a smaller organization that was scrappy, just like Tropical Smoothie Cafe, and really build their endowment and really serve a lot of families. Its been quite the adventure since becoming the CEO in 2018, and Ive enjoyed every twist and turn in the road. Charles has the tenacity, vision and passion this brand needs to continue our upward trajectory and will ensure the success of our franchisees is at the center of every decision we make, said Scott Pressly, Chairman of the Board, Tropical Smoothie Cafe. And was one in place already? The company's goal is to . But we want to also have a higher calling of what were doing to be great individuals and great corporate citizens. New York State Disclaimer: This advertisement is not an offering. Early in his career, Mark served the franchise industry as a supplier, delivering innovative technology-enabled marketing strategies to help emerging franchise concepts rapidly scale and grow revenue through local-level marketing and sales. Such filing does not constitute approval by the Department of Law. We have a jerk chicken quesadilla, we dont come out and just do a ham or turkey sandwich. Drain-Net Technologies. Show them that we care. SUCH REGISTRATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE APPROVAL, RECOMMENDATION OR ENDORSEMENT BY THE COMMISSIONER OF CORPORATIONS NOR A FINDING BY THE COMMISSIONER THAT THE INFORMATION PROVIDED HEREIN IS TRUE, COMPLETE AND NOT MISLEADING. "We were in a good place! Charles also serves on the boards of the International Franchise Association (IFA) and the Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) program. With extensive experience in the food service industry, Paul comes to Tropical Smoothie Cafe from Popeyes, where he served as the Chief Accounting Officer and spent nearly two decades working in the brands financial and accounting departments. From there, we set up committees, reporting into our TFC, around the major parts of our business, and included more franchisees to provide feedback and work with us on further improving IT, Marketing, Design, and Construction, etc. I and/or my business partner(s) have the following financials, Tropical Smoothie Cafe, LLC A shift leaders hourly wage is an average of $11. Watson:"As a first time CEO, learning to view the business from a thinking vs. a doing mentality was a challenge I faced. Amid all the pandemic news and stories of how the foodservice business is coping with the crisis, I thought I'd attempt to redirect our attention today, even if only for a short while. Yes, I am putting my mark on the brand and culture, but I have been around long enough not to stray too far from the DNA of the brand.". Prior to that, she spent 22 years at BBDO Worldwide, where she was executive vice president and senior director for the global advertising powerhouse, leading campaign strategy and execution for many large national brands. Paul Marsden oversees development and execution of financial strategies to support the companys business plans. In this role, Mark leads brand, marketing, product, and digital innovations core functions of delivering the remarkable guest experience that drives Tropical Smoothie Cafes success. Prior to that, he was named Chief Development Officer in 2015 after serving as VP of Franchise Development since 2010. 5 Questions with Tropical Smoothie CEO Charles Watson. An offering can only be made by prospectus filed first with the Department of Law of the State of New York. When I became CEO, I launched a formal franchisee advisory council, known in our organization as the Tropical Franchisee Council (TFC). Yes, it has a brand name on it, but it is Bill and Sally Smith on the corner and theyre entrepreneurs. Related Posts. The success of our brand is about the talent and drive of our talented executives and Support Center team. Its tough. In a franchise system, without broad franchisee buy-in, you cannot move as efficiently and effectively as is required in today's business environment.". His goal is to achieve $1 billion in sales and 1,500+ cafes by 2023. . Well, I think the one thing is that smoothies are anytime, theyre not just a breakfast day part. Charles is a graduate of The Hotel School at Cornell University and holds a Master of Business Administration from The Terry College of Business at The University of Georgia. And the digital guest experience is another way for our customers to use us. CALIFORNIA DISCLAIMER: THESE FRANCHISES HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE FRANCHISE INVESTMENT LAW OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. Start to Finish: What Inspires Execs | September 14, 2022 | QSR Staff. In a highly competitive segment, we're one of the fastest-growing quick-casual brands, opening 124 new locations in 2019 alone and singing 213 development agreements to open hundreds of businesses over the next few years.". Charles Watson serves as CEO for Tropical Smoothie Cafe. He was previously. However, I ended up a punter at Cornell. I love a good pot roast with mashed potatoes, green beans and corn. By year-end 2018 we opened 110 cafes and signed 191 new franchise agreements. Well, we just talked about Camp Sunshine and we have a smoothie called the Sunshine Smoothie that is orange and mango based. Pete Ward advises Tropical Smoothie Cafe on all legal and business matters, including franchising, real estate, labor and employment, litigation, intellectual property, licensing, and other commercial matters. Tropical Smoothie Caf works to keep its momentum. With the fast-casual spot gaining more recognition every year, there's a good chance that you won't be seeing your favorite Tropical Smoothie Cafe going anywhere anytime soon . Smoothie King to Open More Than 100 Stores in 2023 February 3, 2023 Crisp & Green Inks Largest Multi-Unit Deal in Company History with 40 Units Sold February 2, 2023 Dine Brands International Expands with Dual-Brand Locations in the Middle East January 31, 2023 Tropical Smoothie Cafe Celebrates Milestone Opening of 1,100th Location I think the biggest shift will take place for those restaurants that can't be open right now. Its a fantastic organization that weve enjoyed immensely being part of. Charles Watson, CEO of Tropical Smoothie Cafe was a recent attendee at the Fast Casual Executive Summit in Austin, Texas. SUCH REGISTRATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE APPROVAL, RECOMMENDATION OR ENDORSEMENT BY THE COMMISSIONER OF CORPORATIONS NOR A FINDING BY THE COMMISSIONER THAT THE INFORMATION PROVIDED HEREIN IS TRUE, COMPLETE AND NOT MISLEADING. Mark serves on the board of the Institute of Certified Franchise Executives. 5 Questions with Tropical Smoothie CEO Charles Watson Since that time, he has led the company on its quest towards $1billion in sales by 2023. Because of our amazing guests, our franchisees, and the communities they serve, including those on the front lines of this pandemic, we will get through this. Not the Charles Watson you were looking for? Tropical Smoothie Cafe CEO Charles Watson has been with the company for more than 10 years and is passionate about . Charles is a graduate of The Hotel School at Cornell University and holds a Master of Business Administration from The Terry College of Business at The University of Georgia. Costs can vary by location and the average cost is $370,000. Thatll come down over time, but were going to open 130 cafes on top of that. Meet Our New CEO Charles Watson - Tropical Smoothie Cafe LLC Within the first day, several local franchisees jumped on board and donated more than 600 smoothies each, and the donations just kept growing from there. Sure. Occhiogrosso: What are some of the additional support initiatives you put in place for your franchise community during the pandemic? Passion and brand vision continue to guide the way. So I think theres a misconception with some brands that, for example a Slurpee, its not at all a Slurpee, its absolutely whole real fruit, ice, water, very basic items. In that role, he was responsible for all aspects of franchise development, real estate, design and construction and franchise administration and helped grow the system from 265 open units to 725 open units. Our company sells about 200 franchises, opens over 120 cafes a year, and has more than 500 locations in the pipeline. And its been a heck of a ride, lots of growth, and I just really enjoying being able to scale this brand and bring healthier food and smoothies to the United States.. It is, however, a "darn good chaser," he said and . Charles Watson has been the CEO since . In 2018, when I was named CEO, we had more than 720 locations open nationwide. So that was helpful! It was important to me that we have franchisees themselves share their feedback and align on system initiatives and goals. Watson discusses how and why the brand has seen a Q3 same-store sales jump of 19.5% during the pandemic Tropical Smoothie Cafe on franchisee success during COVID-19 | Nation's Restaurant News . 1117 Perimeter Center West, Suite W200 It's almost all you need to know about the results of Mr. Watsons work and commitment to the franchisees. In this role, Mark leads brand, marketing, product, and digital innovations core functions of delivering the remarkable guest experience that drives Tropical Smoothie Cafes success. Tropical Smoothie Cafe Achieves 11th Straight Year of Positive Same While we had always involved franchisees, I felt it needed to be formalized and more visible to our franchise system. Without our franchisees, committees, and council, I simply could not do this job. Prior to joining Tropical Smoothie Cafe, Pete served as the Deputy General Counsel and Chief Compliance/Risk Officer at Popeyes for over 10 years and has extensive experience handling corporate transactions, both in-house and in private practice. Tropical Smoothie Cafe has deals in place . I joined Tropical Smoothie Cafe in 2010 as the Vice President of Franchise Development and, in 2016, became the Chief Development Officer, where I was responsible for all aspects of the development of the brand. Right now Im on a Mango Berry Cosmo kick. 770-580-2333, NRN Editors Discuss Digital Engagement with CMO Deborah von Kutzleben, In Her Own Words: Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchisees gain Cheryl Fletchers support, Tropical Smoothie Cafe Opens First Double Drive-Thru Location. *$1,009,803 System Wide Average Net Revenues. 770-580-2333 Camp Sunshine is a camp for kids and their families that have life-threatening illnesses. Weve implemented various franchisee support initiatives, including decreased royalties by 50%, ongoing support with PPP loans and real estate deferrals and abatements, rolling out curbside delivery systemwide, deployed hyper-local marketing strategies to drive business within a 12-mile radius of cafes, among many others. Prior to joining Tropical Smoothie Cafe, Richard was the Vice President of Operations, West Division, for Papa Murphys International where he was responsible for field operations and marketing. Tropical Smoothie Cafe CEO Charles Watson has been with the company for more than 10 years and is passionate about supporting the franchise systems sustainable growth, the success of its franchisees, and the execution of the brands Inspire Better mission. We figured a good person to ask might be the CEO of Tropical Smoothie Cafe, Charles Watson. "Tropical Smoothie Cafe is in a perfect position for the future. Pete Ward advises Tropical Smoothie Cafe on all legal and business matters, including franchising, real estate, labor and employment, litigation, intellectual property, licensing, and other commercial matters. Tropical Smoothie Cafe Puts Franchisees, Community First During Crisis charles watson tropical smoothie cafe. Again, the franchising, especially in Tropical Smoothie, it is a local business. Tropical Smoothie Cafe has relationships with third-party sources which offer financing to cover the following: startup . Nov 10, 2021, 09:36 ET. We set company-wide strategic imperatives around these issues immediately.". In support of National Nurses Appreciation Month in May, we have also pledged to donate $100,000 to the American Nurses Foundations COVID-19 Response Fund upon reaching our goal of giving away 1,000,000 smoothies. Now were really taking the lead from our franchisees and building out DMAs organically from outside them. Tropical Smoothie Cafe CEO Charles Watson has been with the company for more than 10 years and is passionate about supporting the franchise systems sustainable growth, the success of its franchisees, and the execution of the brands Inspire Better mission. Such filing does not constitute approval by the Department of Law. In that role, he was responsible for all aspects of franchise development, real estate, design and construction and franchise administration and helped grow the system from 265 open units to 725 open units. In this role, he is responsible for the brand's strategic vision and overall franchise performance. If your Franchised Business includes a drive-thru, the additional expense (including the cost of leasehold improvements, restaurant fixtures and equipment, and other costs) would be approximately $35,000 to $45,000. TropicalSmoothie.com. Or the Hummus Veggie Wrap? Prior to Tropical Smoothie Cafe, Mark served as Chief Marketing Officer with Floor Coverings International where he was responsible for driving the brands digital transformation and leadership position in service-based franchising. An offering can only be made by prospectus filed first with the Department of Law of the State of New York. Over the years, weve learned that our innovative and versatile menu, featuring a wide variety of food items in addition to smoothies, has brought tremendous success to our brand and to our incredible franchisees. We did a fantastic job of that during the pandemic, we gave away a quarter million smoothies to healthcare workers and first-responders. And theyve been able to do that, which is increased our average unit volume many, many times over the years. Our relationships are founded on trust and respect for the unique talents of our teams, franchisees, and vendors alike. Because 99% of Tropical Smoothie Cafe's system is franchisee-owned and operated, it was my goal to maintain consistency for them and move the company forward in the right direction, with a lot of reverence and respect for the past. For more information about owning a Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchise, complete our form! My experience with the brand up to that point was beneficial because I was already very immersed in the operations and processes that had contributed to its success at that time. Currently, the following states regulate the offer and sale of franchises: California, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota (File No. "Like I said, I was very fortunate to have had already developed relationships with our franchise community prior to becoming CEO. Jan 2010 - Nov 20155 years 11 months. I would say Im absolutely not opposed to being in all 50 states. F-9894), New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin. He is a general assignment reporter and has covered a range . Fast CasualAn interview with Tim Tang of HughesDecember 2, 2019. The role employees play in setting the customer experience in the restaurant. In a franchise system, without broad franchisee buy-in, you cannot move as efficiently and effectively as is required in today's business environment.".