Were in 44 states, and Tropical Smoothie Cafe does not currently have an international presence. Southern-style, all the way! "Tropical Smoothie Cafe is in a perfect position for the future. Passion and brand vision continue to guide the way. Ivebeen with Tropical Smoothie since 2010 and was [first] our vice president of franchise development, he told Mashed. 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. 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, LLC, 1117 Perimeter Center West, Suite W200, Atlanta, GA 30338. Prior to being named CEO in 2018, Charles served as the chief development officer for Tropical Smoothie Cafe. What is something you wish more people knew about the chain and its products? In these roles, Charles was responsible for all development of the Tropical Smoothie Cafe brand. Communicate deeply. 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. Because sure, the smoothies sell well and all, but did you know about the Chipotle Chicken Club flatbread sandwich? 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. 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. Occhiogrosso: What were the one or two unique challenges that you faced upon taking over as CEO? Atlanta, GA 30338 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. Management can grow a company without having to invest too much money, and . Based on our fiscal year ending 12/26/2021 and includes 768 Restaurants that were open for at least 12 months as of 12/26/2021. The brands dedication to Inspire Better in all aspects of the business resonated with me from day one. webtv.net; 5+ 404-210-XXXX; 770-670-XXXX; 770-821-XXXX; 770-580-XXXX; 770-821-XXXX; 678949XXXX; Paul Marsden Chief Financial Officer . I think all natural, whole fruit, and the ability to substitute while also having some really great baseline recipes that we have out there. Really trying to understand how to see the world through a different stakeholders' eyes is something I still work on.". 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.". Oh gosh. . The fact that nearly 60% of all new Tropical Smoothie Cafe units are opened by existing franchisees underscores the franchise owner's satisfaction with the concept, the company, and it's leadership. shin numbness after acl surgery; first friday phoenix vendor application; benton high school baseball roster; surprise message link for boyfriend We can make you any smoothie that you like with our whole ingredients and you can mix and match as you see fit. My predecessor did a great job, so most of the hesitancy candidly was, "will this guy be as good, will we have the same amount of success?" So another boldly flavored product, thats been a number one seller for gosh, probably five, six years at this point. It hopes to keep all its new customers. Watson has been with Tropical Smoothie Cafe for many years now, so he has seen the growth up close. Charles Watson was named CEO in December 2018. 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.". Tropical Smoothie Cafe, LLC . Always number one, what I am focused on, is unit-level economics for our Franchise Owners. If you dont have a Tropical Smoothie Cafe near your home yet, just wait a bit. Resolved: Release in which this issue/RFE has been resolved. A presentation for a board is focused on very different things than a franchisee roadshow. F-9894), New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin. Luckily in my first two years as CEO, we continued to expand the footprint of the brand, and increase brand awareness, drive profitability for our franchisees and drive our comp sales. The range is based on estimated costs for End-Cap or In-Line Tropical Smoothie Cafe Restaurants, which include those located in or at strip style retail shopping centers but does not include drive-thrus. 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. 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%. CEO Charles Watson, . Those interested in becoming a franchisee should have $125,000 in liquid assets and a minimum net worth of $350,000. 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. Both of my parents had the entrepreneur bug and they definitely passed that on to me. All of this information may look daunting, yet . Our company sells about 200 franchises, opens over 120 cafes a year, and has more than 500 locations in the pipeline. In this role, he is responsible for the brand's strategic vision and overall franchise performance. Richard has served in a franchise operations capacity for more than 20 years with brands such as TCBY, Carvel, and Moes Southwest Grill. When Charles Watson became the new Tropical Smoothie Cafe CEO in 2019, . There are currently 913 franchised locations and 1 company-owned restaurant. So I was compelled to ask Mr. Watson his thoughts on the pandemic and the company's response. These early experiences in the workforce are what ignited my entrepreneurial spirit. Richard has served in a franchise operations capacity for more than 20 years with brands such as TCBY, Carvel, and Moes Southwest Grill. There is no assurance that you will do as well. 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. He's no stranger to franchise development, nor is Charles Watson an outsider, having served four years as the company's Chief Development Officer in addition to his prior role as VP of Franchise Development. jdoe@tropicalsmoothie.com), which is being used by 23.3% of Tropical Smoothie Cafe work email addresses. We really call Tropical Smoothie Cafe a street corner 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.". So again, I mentioned earlier menu innovation. Some of our franchisees had the idea to donate smoothies to first responders and hospital workers in Atlanta. The smoothie-and-food chain has been a strong grower for years and turned on the jets so far in 2021. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. As their franchise website states: "Tropical Smoothie Cafes menu boasts bold, flavorful smoothies with a healthy appeal, all made-to-order with quality ingredients. Absolutely. . 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. Passion is key in everything. And we actually drove our comparative sales versus 2019 by 7.5%. 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 . Well, we just talked about Camp Sunshine and we have a smoothie called the Sunshine Smoothie that is orange and mango based. Currently, the following states regulate the offer and sale of franchises: California, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota (File No. "I've been with Tropical Smoothie since 2010 and was [first] our vice president of franchise development," he told Mashed. 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. If you dont have a good product, it doesnt matter. 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. We want to capture both the head and the heart of our consumers. We look forward to realizing Charles vision for the company.. It was important to me that we have franchisees themselves share their feedback and align on system initiatives and goals. I was originally a quarterback in high school and had my heart set on the same position for college. Join our Franchise Family. 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. Nov 10, 2021, 09:36 ET. 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. Its the high quality ingredients. We figured a good person to ask might be the CEO of Tropical Smoothie Cafe, Charles Watson. Paul Marsden oversees development and execution of financial strategies to support the companys business plans. And so the way that they impact the communities where they operate is a really big part. Our annual tactics are focused around delivering those results.". I am forever grateful to our franchisees, support center team and our Board of Directors for their confidence in me as the leader who can guide Tropical Smoothie Cafe into a new era.. Every day is a day to celebrate at Tropical Smoothie Cafe, with all the success were having. Tropical Smoothie Cafe. So we have a broad array of food products that are both healthier and theyre more boldly flavored. What is behind the companys rapid growth and impressive success (which, according to a company spokesperson, sawyear-to-date same-store-sales increase by 38% in recent quarters)? Tropical Smoothie Cafe has deals in place . Von Kutzleben most recently served as vice president of brand strategy, advertising and menu at Arbys. Charles recently joined his team in celebrating the opening of the 1,000th Tropical Smoothie Cafe location. final four 2022 euroleague tickets. Gary Occhiogrosso: Tell us a little about your background before joining Tropical Smoothie? 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. 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. 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. "I'm a huge advocate for franchise advisory councils, specifically when nearly 60% of all franchise agreements at Tropical Smoothie Cafe come from existing franchisees. I may have been, in fact, the person responsible for awarding them a franchise! Atlanta, GA 30338 Then I was our chief development officer and Ive been our CEO for about three years now. For many, many years, its been the Bahama Mama. Charles Watson, CEO of Tropical Smoothie Cafe was a recent attendee at the Fast Casual Executive Summit in Austin, Texas. 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 When I became CEO, I launched a formal franchisee advisory council, known in our organization as the Tropical Franchisee Council (TFC). He is directly responsible for selling more than 800 franchises. So well get to 50, but Im not focused on about five or six of them right now. And was one in place already? 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 . Such filing does not constitute approval by the Department of Law. Its tough. The range is based on estimated costs for End-Cap or In-Line Tropical Smoothie Cafe Restaurants, which include those located in or at strip style retail shopping centers but does not include drive-thrus. I was 11 years old when I got my first job washing dishes at my fathers restaurant. Since that time, he has led the company on its quest towards $1billion in sales by 2023. Atlanta, GA ( RestaurantNews.com ) Tropical Smoothie Cafe, a leading national fast-casual cafe franchise known for both its better-for-you smoothies and food with a tropical twist, continues its . Today's post focus' on that topic in an interview with Charles Watson, the CEO of Tropical Smoothie Caf. So weve been able to do that. See where were looking to grow to meet the incredible demand. The way [Tropical Smoothie Cafe works in markets], we work the suburbs and the outskirts, and move our way into cities. Our relationships are founded on trust and respect for the unique talents of our teams, franchisees, and vendors alike. This is a BETA experience. This information appears in Item 19 of our Franchise Disclosure Document. 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. F-9894), New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin. And drive their economic engine. What were the one or two unique challenges that you faced upon taking over as CEO? Charles Watson, CEO of Tropical Smoothie Cafe, LLC, said, "We were humbled by the incredible response to the 200,000 smoothies our franchisees donated to frontline heroes nationwide. Youre paying for a premium product. Von Kutzleben most recently served as vice president of brand strategy, advertising and menu at Arbys. When Charles Watson became the new Tropical Smoothie Cafe CEO in 2019, the company claimed that it could be looking at $1 billion in sales in the next five years. 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. 1117 Perimeter Center West, Suite W200 My mentality and passion for what I do has remained consistent at every stage of my career, carrying over to when I first started with Tropical Smoothie Cafe in 2010, as the brands first vice president of franchise development. The chain plans on opening an astonishing 200 locations this year alone, which will mean it's opening its 1000th restaurant. 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. Theres an obvious answer for me here, and thats to put your heart into what you do. Mark Montini joined Tropical Smoothie Cafe as Chief Marketing Officer in October 2019. Charles also serves on the boards of the International Franchise Association (IFA) and the Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) program. TropicalSmoothie.com. The offering is by prospectus only. A veteran franchise professional, Charles has worked for several hospitality-related companies including Intercontinental Hotels Group and US Franchise Systems. 26, 2021. What are the brands plans for expansion and are you eyeing an international presence? Based on our fiscal year ending 12/26/2021 and includes 768 Restaurants that were open for at least 12 months as of 12/26/2021. In her role as Chief Development Officer, Cheryl drives the brands franchise development sales, real estate and design and construction. Now were really taking the lead from our franchisees and building out DMAs organically from outside them. 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. How are we purpose-driven? And were rolling that out under our tagline of Inspire Better. How is taking the reins of an existing company different than being part of a startup or a founder? 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. While the pandemic destroyed thousands of restaurants last year, Atlanta-based Tropical Smoothie Cafe had one of its best years to date. We strive to continue to harness these relationships in this way and feel that this approach will continue to fuel our success. Charles Watson serves as CEO for Tropical Smoothie Cafe. See where were looking to grow to meet the incredible demand. Michael brings 20 years of foundational IT skills and core functions of digital knowledge critical to shaping our journey to reach guests via innovative technologies. Its only here until August. An offering can only be made by prospectus filed first with the Department of Law of the State of New York.