Paul Dudgeon is an old pro at opening Tropical Smoothie Cafe locations and he should be, as he’s done it 7 times before. His newest location is in St. Clair Shores, Michigan at 30114 Harper Avenue. Not slowing down, he has plans to open several others, 11 to be exact. Congratulations to Paul on his continued growth and expansion!
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Annually, Franchise Times releases their list of Fast & Serious franchise brands and Tropical Smoothie Cafe has landed a coveted spot for the third year in a row. Recognizing the smartest-growing brands in the industry, the brand soared up to #25, 9 rankings higher than last year.
Known to many as a smoothie brand, the article highlights the food offerings of Tropical Smoothie Cafe like tacos and noodle bowls. The food menu represents around 40% of the brand’s sales, which saw a 53% system wide growth in the past three years. “As we grow our food business, our smoothie business grows right alongside it,” CEO Mike Rotondo said.
In addition to increased sales, Tropical Smoothie Cafe is also accelerating their growth plan. The company hit the 500-unit milestone last year and plans to open their 600th location in 2017. Much of the growth has come from existing franchisees, a testament to the brand’s system and Franchise Owners’ success.
Opening 1+ Cafes per week requires attentiveness to all aspects of the system. “Our growth is coming so fast and so furious, that we have to evaluate everything we’re doing on a regular basis to get us to that next level,” Rotondo said.
If any brand is up for the challenge, however, it’s Tropical Smoothie Cafe.
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Entrepreneur recently released their 38th annual listing of the best of the best franchise brands, the Entrepreneur Franchise 500. With a formula based on everything from financial strength and stability to growth and social media presence, they take into account a wide variety of factors to narrow down the top 500.
In an industry crowded with competition, it’s an honor to make the list and be recognized for a franchise system that is not only working, but excelling. Tropical Smoothie has been named to the list for a handful of years, but in 2017, they blazed up the list to #140, more than 250 spots ahead of last year.
Not surprising when you look at the year the brand just had. With a 26% increase in comp sales over the last 3 years, 540+ locations open coast to coast, and a balanced mix of better-for-you food and smoothies across all dayparts, it’s obvious the model is delivering.
We are honored to be recognized for our continued growth and success.
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Father-son duo, Rick and Brad Evans, are far from newbies to the restaurant industry. Rick’s dad owned a restaurant for 40 years and grew up working there. His son Brad has been in the business for 17 years, running a family restaurant in Maryland for 7 years, and working in an array of other restaurants for 10. We are excited to have them put their valuable restaurant experience towards becoming Tropical Smoothie Cafe Franchise Owners. The newest Cafe is now open in Manheim, Pennsylvania at 2201 Strickler Road. Congratulations, Rick and Brad!
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Varco Franchise, LLC is part of a large firm that owns numerous retail centers, a construction firm, an insurance franchise company, and most recently, two Tropical Smoothie Cafes. A natural fit to incorporate into their existing retail centers, their first two Texas Cafes are in Brownsville (3230 Pablo Kisel Blvd.) and South Padre Island (410 Padre Blvd.). Not stopping there, the franchise group has plans for further development. Welcome aboard!
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Ruth and David Buko are tried and true multi-unit franchisees with the Tropical Smoothie Cafe family. By trade, Ruth is an attorney and David is a sales executive. In addition to these careers, the Bukos already operate two successful Cafes in Michigan, their first in 2012 on Grand River Avenue in East Lansing and the second in 2014 on State Street in Saginaw. A third Cafe on W. Lake Lansing Road in East Lansing is a welcomed addition to their Cafe portfolio. Congratulations, Ruth and David! We love to see your growth with Tropical Smoothie Cafe!
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Congratulations to Libby McDonald on her newest Tropical Smoothie Cafe location! With prior experience as a restaurant business consultant, Libby was intrigued by the better-for-you menu and simple business model that Tropical Smoothie Cafe brings to the table for its Franchise Owners. Wanting to get in on the action, she joined the TSC family in 2012 with a Cafe in Grand Rapids and quickly expanded her portfolio with the addition of another Grand Rapids Cafe in 2014. Now, with a third Cafe to her name in the Grand Rapids area, Libby can’t imagine her life without Team TSC! Congratulations!
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Congratulations to Franchise Owners Vivek and Heena Ajbani on the opening of their Cafe in Fort Worth, Texas! Vivek and Heena have been watching the growth of the Tropical Smoothie Cafe brand for several years as they became brand fans and were interested in exploring Tropical Smoothie Cafe as a business venture. While this Fort Worth location is their first, they have a goal of becoming multi-unit owner/operators. We are excited to grow with them!
Visit their location:
2700 Presidio Vista Drive, Suite 120
Fort Worth, TX 76177
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Tropical Smoothie Cafe is proud to announce another Cafe opening! Existing Franchise Owner and Area Developer Kimberly Rego’s newest Cafe has opened in Port St. Lucie, Florida. This is the third location she has added to her portfolio since becoming a die-hard brand fan in 2007 and joining the Tropical Smoothie Cafe team. And she’s even more excited to dive into real estate selection on her fourth Cafe! We can’t wait to celebrate another one of her Cafe’s grand opening celebrations.
Stop into Kimberly’s Port St. Lucie Cafe today!
6632 S. Federal Highway
Port St. Lucie, FL 34952
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Tropical Smoothie Cafe, the leading fast casual cafe concept known for its better-for-you food and smoothies with a tropical twist, announced today it reported positive comp sales of 4 percent in 2016, resulting in comp sales exceeding 26 percent over the last three years. The award-winning food and smoothie franchise also signed franchise agreements to develop more than 160 new Cafes across the U.S. and closed out the year with 86 new restaurant openings, expanding the brand’s presence in cities nationwide including Charleston, Albuquerque, Dallas and Houston.
“We’re thrilled that our unwavering commitment to providing consumers with the high-quality, better-for-you products they crave has continually translated to strong results year after year. From the opening of our 500th restaurant to a surge in franchise development, 2016 was an outstanding year that positioned the Tropical Smoothie Cafe brand for tremendous success this year and beyond,” said Mike Rotondo, CEO of Tropical Smoothie Cafe. “Over the past several years, more and more entrepreneurs nationwide have recognized our business model’s immense potential for success and fueled the growth of our franchise network, and we know that we’re just getting started. As we head into our company’s 20th anniversary year, we look forward to building on this success and seeing what the future brings for Tropical Smoothie Cafe.”
This year, the food and smoothie franchise plans to open 100 restaurants nationwide and currently has franchise opportunities across the U.S. in markets such as Indianapolis, Nashville, Houston, Dallas, Cincinnati and Minneapolis, among others. By 2020, Tropical Smoothie Cafe plans to have 1,000 stores open across the U.S.
Tropical Smoothie Cafe is looking to add qualified franchisees to its growing brand. Candidates should have business experience;$125,000 in liquid assets and a minimum net worth of $350,000; and an initial investment of between $198,050 and $478,550. The healthier fast food franchise currently boasts an average unit volume (AUV) of more than $634,000 — the highest in the company’s 20-year history — with the top 50 percent reporting an AUV of more than $806,000.
Tropical Smoothie Cafe’s aggressive franchise growth is backed by the entrepreneurs at the BIP Franchise Accelerator, a division of venture capital firm BIP Capital, which invested in the brand in 2010. BIP Capital has invested more than $250 million in emerging, high-growth brands across the franchising, software, and technology and consumer products industries. BIP Capital created the BIP Franchise Accelerator to leverage its leadership team’s deep franchise experience to help emerging brands accelerate their growth. In addition to Tropical Smoothie Cafe, the BIP Franchise Accelerator’s portfolio includes Tin Drum Asian Kitchen, which has grown to 11 locations in Georgia.
“Tropical Smoothie Cafe continues to greatly exceed our expectations, but I believe we’ve just scratched the surface of its potential,” said Scott Pressly, co-founder and managing partner of BIP Capital. “The brand has tremendous opportunity for growth as it works in all types of consumer markets, from major metropolitan areas to secondary markets and small towns.”
Original Press Release: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tropical-smoothie-cafe-achieves-significant-growth-and-nationwide-expansion-in-2016-300392724.html
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For years, franchise industry professionals have touted the important role franchise businesses play in the overall U.S. economy. A recent article from the International Franchise Association (IFA), published in Nation’s Restaurant News, proves their case with very strong numbers. The article predicts that the franchise sector will grow to $710B in 2017, led by growth in the franchised restaurant segment. Restaurants represent the largest number of franchise businesses in the U.S.
“Franchising is an American success story,” IFA president and CEO Robert Cresanti said on a conference call with reporters. “Establishments are growing faster and creating more jobs at a faster pace than the overall economy. They’re getting more sales and growth than other businesses.”
For people looking for a franchise business opportunity experiencing strong growth, look no further than Tropical Smoothie Cafe, which in recent years has seen its number of franchised locations grow to more than 540, with 1+ Cafes being opened per week. Tropical Smoothie can also boast a 26% increase in comp sales over the last three years. Clearly, Tropical Smoothie Cafe is positioned for even more growth in the months and years ahead.
Get started on the path to opening your own Cafe by finding out if your territory is available here.
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Tropical Smoothie Cafe is proud to open its 550th Cafe with Franchise Owners Amish, Rakesh and Rohit Patel. With 35+ collective years in the franchising industry, owning a number of hospitality franchise locations, and having background in software development, the Patels are prepared to run their first of many Tropical Smoothie Cafes. This team is looking forward to opening 4 additional Cafes in the future, and Rohit Patel has committed to an additional 3 Cafes in Kansas and Alabama. We are excited to see you grow with us!
Stop by the newest Tropical Smoothie Cafe today!
7307 North MacArthur Blvd., Unit 100
Oklahoma City, OK 73132
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Congratulations to Jason, Jody, Amy and Raquel Willeman! With immense excitement about the Tropical Smoothie Cafe brand, they have finally opened their first location in Knoxville, TN. But this is just the beginning! With their extensive experience running a full-service family restaurant and managing teams, they already have plans to open a second location. We’re excited to watch the Willemans grow with TSC.
Stop by their first Cafe for a smoothie or snack:
230 Keller Rd.
Afton, TN 37616
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Our newest Michigan Tropical Smoothie Cafe is in Fraser — 34521 Utica Road. This is Franchise Owner Paul Dudgeon’s 7th Cafe and he has three more on the horizon. With a huge dedication to the brand, he’s excited to make Tropical Smoothie Cafe more accessible to more people across the state, and we’re excited to watch his Tropical Smoothie Cafe empire grow!
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Clement and Jacqueline Troutman have joined Tropical Smoothie Cafe as our newest franchisees in Maryland!
The pair were introduced to the brand years ago. Not only did they enjoy the healthy menu items and vibrant Cafe design, but they were drawn into the idea of owning their own location because of the concept’s simplified business model, which is perfect for those without prior restaurant experience.
With the help of their daughter Jocelyn, who will be a Cafe manager, the Troutmans are excited to build strong relationships in the community. They plan to promote wellness at local sporting events, fitness centers, schools and more! And their looking forward to providing new job opportunities for those who want to work in a fun, upbeat environment!
Visit this new location today!
1703 Ritchie Station Court, Suite 100
Capitol Heights, MD 20743
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Tropical Smoothie Cafe, the leading fast casual Cafe concept known for its better-for-you food and smoothies with a tropical twist, announced today it will open the state’s 50th location in Portage on March 4. This restaurant, located at 230 W. Milham Ave., will mark the second location in the region for husband-and-wife franchisees Eduardo Ramos and Corina Groeger, as well as a milestone achievement for area developers Craig and Dianne LeMieux, and Debbie King, who have successfully helped to expand the brand’s presence throughout Michigan since 2005.
“Michigan is one of Tropical Smoothie Cafe’s fastest-growing markets in the country and that growth would not be possible without the continued passion and dedication of our existing franchisees like Eduardo and Corina, who continue to demonstrate their confidence in our brand,” said Mike Rotondo, CEO of Tropical Smoothie Cafe. “This couple’s enthusiasm and commitment for providing Michigan communities with better-for-you food choices has solidified their position as one of the brand’s top franchise partners in the state.”
Eduardo and Corina joined the Tropical Smoothie Cafe team back in 2015 with the opening of their first location in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Working for years in the corporate world, the couple was enamored by the brand’s franchise concept, successful business model, and high-level of corporate support. The grand opening celebration on March 4 will offer customers discounted smoothies and special prizes throughout the day.
“We are thrilled to open the 50th location in Michigan and proud to be a part of the brand’s rapid growth throughout the state,” said Ramos. “We are continuously impressed by the passion of the Tropical Smoothie team in bringing our customers the highest level of quality food and smoothies. We look forward to continuing to provide our communities with Tropical Smoothie Cafe’s healthy lifestyle choices.”
Over the past three years, Tropical Smoothie Cafe has sold over 450 franchises nationwide. The opening of this new location in Portage continues to solidify Michigan as the third largest market for Tropical Smoothie behind Florida and Virginia. On the heels of one of the strongest years in the company’s 20-year history, the award-winning brand successfully propelled its expansion and grew its presence in key markets nationwide, including Charleston, South Carolina; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Dallas, Texas; and Southern California.
This year, the food and smoothie franchise plans to open 100 restaurants nationwide and currently has franchise opportunities across the U.S. in markets such as Indianapolis, Nashville, Houston, Dallas, Cincinnati and Minneapolis, among others. By 2020, Tropical Smoothie Cafe plans to have 1,000 stores open across the U.S.
Tropical Smoothie Cafe is looking to add qualified franchisees to its growing brand. Candidates should have business experience; $125,000 in liquid assets and a minimum net worth of $350,000; and an initial investment of between $198,050 and $478,550. The healthier fast food franchise currently boasts an average unit volume (AUV) of more than $634,000 — the highest in the company’s 20-year history — with the top 50 percent reporting an AUV of more than $806,000.
Tropical Smoothie Cafe’s aggressive franchise growth is backed by the entrepreneurs at the BIP Franchise Accelerator, a division of venture capital firm BIP Capital, which invested in the brand in 2010. BIP Capital has invested more than $250 million in emerging, high-growth brands across the franchising, software, and technology and consumer products industries. BIP Capital created the BIP Franchise Accelerator to leverage its leadership team’s deep franchise experience to help emerging brands accelerate their growth. In addition to Tropical Smoothie Cafe, the BIP Franchise Accelerator’s portfolio includes Tin Drum Asian Kitchen, which has grown to 11 locations in Georgia.
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Franchise Owner Joseph Ford has joined Tropical Smoothie Cafe to diversify his foodservice franchise portfolio. The newest Tropical Smoothie Cafe location in Novi, Michigan, is the first of his six Cafes to open, and he’s looking forward to his second location hitting the market in South Lyon, Michigan. Welcome to the team, Joseph! We’re excited you’ve chosen Tropical Smoothie Cafe as the second concept and first smoothie franchise in your portfolio.
Visit Joseph Ford’s 1st Tropical Smoothie Cafe:
48975 Grand River Avenue, Suite 900
Novi, MI 48374
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Tropical Smoothie Cafe, the leading fast casual cafe concept known for its better-for-you food and smoothies with a tropical twist, announced today it signed a franchise development agreement with Glen Johnson to expand the brand’s presence throughout the state of Texas. Johnson will be opening 20 new cafes, the first of which opened earlier this month in Lubbock, Texas.
“Glen Johnson has been an integral part Tropical Smoothie’s continued success and franchise development since signing his first agreement in 2011. Over the past several years, Glen has become one of our largest operators, fueling our growth and introducing the brand to new markets nationwide,” said Mike Rotondo, CEO of Tropical Smoothie Cafe. “Glen’s passion for and belief in Tropical Smoothie is what we look for in our franchise owners, and we’re eager to see what the future brings as he continues to propel his business and the company forward.”
Glen Johnson, president of Little-Rock based company Rockland Ventures, joined the brand as a multi-unit developer in 2011 and currently has 22 open locations in Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas. With deep roots in the industry and a wealth of knowledge and experience, Johnson will continue his mission of providing customers with innovative healthy food and smoothie options as he opens new restaurants throughout Texas.
“I’m incredibly proud to be part of a brand that is not only committed to the customer experience, but also to the success of its franchisees,” said Johnson. “Tropical Smoothie experienced significant franchise growth last year and I’m eager to continue that momentum with the opening of new restaurants across Texas.”
This new agreement in Texas was fueled by Tropical Smoothie Cafe’s accelerated franchise development plans in 2017. On the heels of one of the strongest years in the company’s 20-year history, the award-winning brand successfully propelled its expansion and grew its presence in key markets nationwide, including Charleston, South Carolina; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Dallas, Texas; and Southern California.
This year, the food and smoothie franchise plans to open 100 restaurants nationwide and currently has franchise opportunities across the U.S. in markets such as Indianapolis, Nashville, Houston, Dallas, Cincinnati and Minneapolis, among others. By 2020, Tropical Smoothie Cafe plans to have 1,000 stores open across the U.S.
Tropical Smoothie Cafe is looking to add qualified franchisees to its growing brand. Candidates should have business experience; $125,000 in liquid assets and a minimum net worth of $350,000; and an initial investment of between $198,050 and $478,550. The healthier fast food franchise currently boasts an average unit volume (AUV) of more than $634,000 — the highest in the company’s 20-year history — with the top 50 percent reporting an AUV of more than $806,000.
Tropical Smoothie Cafe’s aggressive franchise growth is backed by the entrepreneurs at the BIP Franchise Accelerator, a division of venture capital firm BIP Capital, which invested in the brand in 2010. BIP Capital has invested more than $250 million in emerging, high-growth brands across the franchising, software, and technology and consumer products industries. BIP Capital created the BIP Franchise Accelerator to leverage its leadership team’s deep franchise experience to help emerging brands accelerate their growth. In addition to Tropical Smoothie Cafe, the BIP Franchise Accelerator’s portfolio includes Tin Drum Asian Kitchen, which has grown to 11 locations in Georgia.
For more information about opening your own Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchise, please fill out the Learn More form.
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Mike Rotondo, the CEO of Tropical Smoothie Cafe, sat down for an interview with QSR A.M. Jolt to speak about what makes Tropical Smoothie Cafe such an iconic brand in the fast-casual smoothie industry and their aggressive growth goals for 2017 to bring Tropical Smoothie Cafe closer to each neighborhood.
Read the full article here.
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Cesar Batista and Karina Cabellero are adding their fifth and sixth Tropical Smoothie Cafe locations in the Pembroke Pines area of Florida. Thrilled with the success of their first four Cafes, the duo has placed a strong emphasis on finding the best locations and markets to meet demand in the Florida area. Their newest Cafe has opened at 756 NW 170th Terrace and they plan to open their next location as soon as they find a location. We are excited to have them growing with us.
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