If its not run-of-the-mill bland food, we want to bring a little bit of a culinary experience to quick casual, and still provide convenience, and value, and all those kinds of things. Passion and brand vision continue to guide the way. Our annual tactics are focused around delivering those results.". As reopening guidelines are being determined, we plan to move forward with an abundance of caution.". 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. Tropical Smoothie Caf's recent momentum isn't just a snowball rolling downhillit's more like a full-on avalanche. Occhiogrosso: What challenges, if any, did you face in getting "buy-in" from the existing franchise community once you became CEO? He was previously. Your results may differ. Mr. Watson was appointed the CEO position of. We want to be an escape for our consumers in this hectic world we live, and an incredible business model for our franchise partners It's an exciting time to be a fast-casual concept within this segment, specifically as the market size of the juice and smoothie bars industry is expected to increase by 2.3% in 2020, reaching nearly $3 billion in revenue across the globe. Then I was our chief development officer and Ive been our CEO for about three years now. Whats your favorite cuisine outside of Tropical Smoothie? In a franchise system, without broad franchisee buy-in, you cannot move as efficiently and effectively as is required in today's business environment.". Charles is directly responsible for selling more than 800 franchises during his tenure. Von Kutzleben most recently served as vice president of brand strategy, advertising and menu at Arbys. There is no assurance that you will do as well. We had a high level of mutual trust and respect for each other that existed before I assumed the role of CEO. Tang asked Watson what support his Franchise Owners need from Tropical Smoothie Cafe. Fixed: Release in which this issue/RFE has been fixed.The release containing this fix may be available for download as an Early Access Release or a General Availability Release. So in cities where you see a lot of brand-awareness and a lot of units, we will have moved into the core center-city demographics, but we typically work outside in. What sets your smoothies apart from smoothies from competitors? And is there a smoothie that you wish to see added to the menu in the future? In July 2018, I was named interim CEO, and then permanent in December 2018.". 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. So thats always up there. The offering is by prospectus only. Sometimes youve just got to go with the taste. jdoe@tropicalsmoothie.com), which is being used by 23.3% of Tropical Smoothie Cafe work email addresses. This information is not intended as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy a franchise. Oh gosh. Atlanta, GA 30338 Its not just: We have snacks! We have a full-on robust kitchen thats preparing fresh products. Both of my parents had the entrepreneur bug and they definitely passed that on to me. 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 offerings have evolved over the years to include a menu of breakfast and lunch items beyond smoothies. NJ. 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. 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. The initial investment ranges from $246,500 to $580,500. 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. Its the high quality ingredients. Southern-style, all the way! This is a BETA experience. And it has been a fantastic partnership because we can see the benefit of the dollars that were putting in. Youre paying for a premium product. Jan 2010 - Nov 20155 years 11 months. That created a kind of blueprint that served as the foundation for me to take the reins and lead the company the way I felt was best. 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. TropicalSmoothie.com. Such filing does not constitute approval by the Department of Law. Prior to that, he was named Chief Development Officer in 2015 after serving as VP of Franchise Development since 2010. An offering can only be made by prospectus filed first with the Department of Law of the State of New York. And then number two, I would say a franchisee base that is second to none. 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. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Find contact details for 700 million professionals. . See where were looking to grow to meet the incredible demand. For more information about owning a Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchise, complete our form! 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. We really call Tropical Smoothie Cafe a street corner business. So I would say our Island Green Detox is not my go-to, but I understand that should be my go-to from a health perspective. Those franchisees are serving our guests on the front lines I can't run this business without their candid feedback.". 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. 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. 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. 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. Charles recently joined his team in celebrating the opening of the 1,000th Tropical Smoothie Cafe location. I think the world would be a little bit of a better place if we all kept that in mind. 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. Always number one, what I am focused on, is unit-level economics for our Franchise Owners. A veteran franchise professional, Charles has worked for several hospitality-related companies including Intercontinental Hotels Group and US Franchise Systems. Did you foresee the level of growth the chain has experienced of late? Show all. It was important to me that we have franchisees themselves share their feedback and align on system initiatives and goals. Your results may differ. 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. "Relationships Rule" is one of our core values, and because of that, people are at the heart of our company. 185 Industrial Pkwy, Site H. Branchburg. Charles Watson, the CEO of Tropical Smoothie Care, was thrilled with his company's performance so far this year . Franchising offers multiple benefits to a business as a whole. So its the made-to-order. Charles Watson serves as CEO for Tropical Smoothie Cafe. Absolutely. You know, this is terrible, but Ive never gone through a pandemic before obviously, and I would have to say Im pretty pleased I think we did a very nice job during 2020, we opened 99 new restaurants. In this role, he is responsible for the brand's strategic vision and overall franchise performance. 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. And its the high quality food. By Jonathan Maze on Jan. 24, 2019. The TFC works hand-in-hand with Tropical Smoothie on all facets of the business from operations, IT, marketing, construction, and beyond, and their genuine feedback continues to establish the open communication we strive for, helping us to enhance our business model on an ongoing basis. In these roles, Charles was responsible for all development of the Tropical Smoothie Cafe brand. Tropical Smoothie Cafe, LLC, 1117 Perimeter Center West, Suite W200, Atlanta, GA 30338. We must be able to service the guests who want to be on demand.. As their franchise website states: "Tropical Smoothie Cafes menu boasts bold, flavorful smoothies with a healthy appeal, all made-to-order with quality ingredients. 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.. 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. 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. 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. He has been the Chief Development Officer since 2015 and directly responsible for selling more than 800 franchises during his tenure. 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. 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. Your results may differ. The impact of technology on the restaurant business and how Tropical Smoothie Cafe is adapting to a changing landscape in hospitality. 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. 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. 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. Please give our readers the "Elevator Pitch" for Tropical Smoothie Cafe? Areas we wanted to attack immediately with our rapid growth were direct franchisee support as well as technology support and menu innovation. I would say that understanding the viewpoints and drivers of the different stakeholders I was serving was important. It was not possible for me to get involved in every project so I had to learn to let go and delegate. So we have a broad array of food products that are both healthier and theyre more boldly flavored. 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. Charles recently joined his team in celebrating the opening of the 1,000th Tropical Smoothie Cafe location. Youre asking me to pick which kid I like the best. When I became CEO, I launched a formal franchisee advisory council, known in our organization as the Tropical Franchisee Council (TFC). 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?" 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. Complete the form or call 770-821-1928, and a Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchise development leader will reach out to you with more information. *. Well see, I may have to bring that one back. Charles Watson was named CEO in December 2018. In July 2018, I was named interim CEO, and then permanent in December 2018.". As a brand, we strive for excellence in service and creating a culture of hospitality for our business no matter which location you visit, and this year we're prioritizing them even further by enhancing pillars of our hospitality-centric culture and the technology we use to create convenience for our guests in order to reinforce our position as the leader in our segment. Watson:"At Tropical Smoothie Cafe, it's our mission to inspire a healthier lifestyle by serving amazing food and smoothies, with a bit of tropical fun. 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. Call now and speak to a franchise development leader. "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. Michael Lapid joined Tropical Smoothie Cafe in October of 2019 to the role of Chief Information and Digital Officer. Beyond just smoothies, we serve better-for-you wraps, sandwiches, and flatbreads, and pride ourselves on living at the "intersection of taste, convenience, and hospitality." Tropical Smoothie Cafe's primary competitors include Del Taco, Jack in the Box, El Pollo Loco and 19 more. I think the biggest shift will take place for those restaurants that can't be open right now. 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. 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 . The smoothie-and-food chain has been a strong grower for years and turned on the jets so far in 2021. In short, franchisees needed to know that there was a formal mechanism of their peers that was constantly feeding back to us at the Support Center. 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. 5 free lookups per month. We can go to camp, we can be counselors. Complete the form or call 770-821-1928, and a Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchise development leader will reach out to you with more information. 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. Charles also serves on the boards of the International Franchise Association (IFA) and the Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) program. charles watson tropical smoothie net worth. This strategic expansion has reinforced its industry-leading position and set the stage for 2023 and beyond. . 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.". 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. Watson:"We were in a good place! 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. Charles is directly responsible for selling more than 800 franchises during his tenure. What is the mission and goal of the company over the next few years? Ill start with the fact that I believe that convenience is king. 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?" Here's how CEO Charles Watson did it. If you dont have a Tropical Smoothie Cafe near your home yet, just wait a bit. Paul Marsden oversees development and execution of financial strategies to support the companys business plans. wills o' nats last of the summer wine. Unresolved: Release in which this issue/RFE will be addressed. Well, Tropical Smoothie Cafe, we've got 850 locations in 44 states. We want to be an escape for our consumers in this hectic world we live, and an incredible business model for our franchise partners It's an exciting time to be a fast-casual concept within this segment, specifically as the market size of the juice and smoothie bars industry is expected to increase by 2.3% in 2020, reaching nearly $3 billion in revenue across the globe. Occhiogrosso: Please give our readers the "Elevator Pitch" for Tropical Smoothie Cafe? Mark serves on the board of the Institute of Certified Franchise Executives. And so we are rolling out this fall, what were calling it, our Inspire Better, right? 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. Richard has served in a franchise operations capacity for more than 20 years with brands such as TCBY, Carvel, and Moes Southwest Grill. Since that time, he has led the company on its quest towards $1billion in sales by 2023. While our projected 2020 growth might take a step back due to the coronavirus, I believe our approach to navigating through this will help us emerge quickly once it passes.". CALIFORNIA DISCLAIMER: THESE FRANCHISES HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE FRANCHISE INVESTMENT LAW OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. I try to pass along that spirit and advice to others. 1117 Perimeter Center West, Suite W200 I would say that understanding the viewpoints and drivers of the different stakeholders I was serving was important. These early experiences in the workforce are what ignited my entrepreneurial spirit. We strive to continue to harness these relationships in this way and feel that this approach will continue to fuel our success. Charles Watson:"Prior to joining Tropical Smoothie Cafe, I worked for several hotel and hospitality-centric companies, including Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Intercontinental Hotels Group, US Franchise Systems, Inc. and Hospitality Real Estate Counselors. 1117 Perimeter Center West, Suite W200 Thats a smoothie that has pineapple, strawberries, and white chocolate and coconut. Atlanta, GA. We decreased royalties and deployed hyper-local marketing strategies to drive business within a 1to 2-mile radius of cafes. Under his leadership, the Tropical Smoothie Cafe system grew from 265 open units to 725 open units. 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. 2~10() . 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. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. I think the greatest thing you can do in life is serve others and reap the reward of knowing youve done something good for someone else. 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. 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. I lean into that so that our employees can feel good about what they do.. CEO Charles Watson says that the company is "99.9 percent franchise," which means that most of the locations are owned independently. Were any of the franchisees reluctant to follow the system or embrace a new direction? All of this information may look daunting, yet . . And if you do that well, then your top-sellers, sometimes you beat them. On April 16 we met our goal of 100,000 smoothies, but our franchisees havent stopped there, and the new challenge is to donate a total of one million smoothies by the end of May. We like to call it chopping wood, meaning you dont decide when quitting time is; you simply get the work done. Charles recently joined his team in celebrating the opening of the 1,000th Tropical Smoothie Cafe location. It is the food. Thats why food and smoothie innovation is so important, its to keep things fresh and to make sure that our guests are getting exciting things to be able to see and try. 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. 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. It is for information purposes only. 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. Mark Montini joined Tropical Smoothie Cafe as Chief Marketing Officer in October 2019. I would say Im absolutely not opposed to being in all 50 states. When our franchisees are successful, the brand is successful. I and/or my business partner(s) have the following financials, Tropical Smoothie Cafe, LLC Our company sells about 200 franchises, opens over 120 cafes a year, and has more than 500 locations in the pipeline. Any plans for celebrations and promotions around the quarter-century mark? ATLANTA, July 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Tropical Smoothie Cafe, a leading national fast-casual cafe franchise known for both its better-for-you smoothies and food with a . And that really got us down this road of: What is our purpose? Our franchisees and their teams are the faces community members see daily, and the dedication from them is truly whats given us so much success in recent years. He is survived by his children Kayla (Jason), Kelsey (Billy), John (Stephanie), Kincaid (Cecilia), his siblings Orville Dallier (Angela), Sue Dorey (Tom), Donna Tropical Smoothie Caf works to keep its momentum. I love that. And was one in place already? Currently, the following states regulate the offer and sale of franchises: California, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota (File No. How is taking the reins of an existing company different than being part of a startup or a founder? We add some spice to it. 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%. 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.". So that was helpful! 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. 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. And I dont think enough people know that you can go off script to substitute or to take out, etc. If you dont have a good product, it doesnt matter. The best smoothie in terms of sales actually going on right now is our Mango Berry Cosmo. 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. Its doing more than just being in business to sell food and smoothies. So we dont have any specific development goals associated, i.e. And at Tropical Smoothie Cafe, we really focus on the fresh ingredients. And so the way that they impact the communities where they operate is a really big part. We decreased royalties and deployed hyper-local marketing strategies to drive business within a 1to 2-mile radius of cafes. What are some of your interests outside of work? "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. Those franchisees are serving our guests on the front lines I can't run this business without their candid feedback.". Areas we wanted to attack immediately with our rapid growth were direct franchisee support as well as technology support and menu innovation.