Share Tweet Share Pin. 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. Tropical Smoothie Cafe Similar Companies - SmoothieProClub.com 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. Well, Tropical Smoothie Cafe, we've got 850 locations in 44 states. 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 Challenge the Pros: Leveraging To Meet Development Goals How do you see the company moving forward? When our franchisees are successful, the brand is successful. Right now Im on a Mango Berry Cosmo kick. What challenges, if any, did you face in getting "buy-in" from the existing franchise community once you became CEO? 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. How is taking the reins of an existing company different than being part of a startup or a founder? Did you foresee the level of growth the chain has experienced of late? 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 It was important to me that we have franchisees themselves share their feedback and align on system initiatives and goals. It was not possible for me to get involved in every project so I had to learn to let go and delegate. The smiles we saw and stories we heard inspired us to think bigger and explore how we could do even more to support the communities we serve. 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. "Relationships Rule" is one of our core values, and because of that, people are at the heart of our company. "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. 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 . 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. Charles also serves on the boards of the International Franchise Association (IFA) and the Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) program. 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. 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. Are there misconceptions about smoothies you want cleared up? I worked for my father throughout my teenage years, and those years were my first taste of what the industry was all about. Tropical Smoothie Cafe, the leading national fast-casual cafe concept known for both its better-for-you smoothies and food with a tropical twist, announces the appointment of Charles Watson as the new Chief Executive Officer. So we dont have any specific development goals associated, i.e. Tropical Smoothie Cafe CEO, Charles Watson, talks franchising 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. While the pandemic destroyed thousands of restaurants last year, Atlanta-based Tropical Smoothie Cafe had one of its best years to date. Our annual tactics are focused around delivering those results.". Mr. Watson was appointed the CEO position of Tropical Smoothie Cafe in December 2018. What is the mission and goal of the company over the next few years? Prior to that, he was named Chief Development Officer in 2015 after serving as VP of Franchise Development since 2010. Looking ahead to twelve months or two years down the road, Watson had this to say: Tropical Smoothie Cafe is in an incredible growth phase. 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. NET WORTH * LIQUID CAPITAL/CASH . Oh gosh. I try to pass along that spirit and advice to others. Charles recently joined his team in celebrating the opening of the 1,000th Tropical Smoothie Cafe location. So whats your own personal favorite smoothie? Nov 10, 2021, 09:36 ET. NET WORTH * LIQUID CAPITAL/CASH . Tropical Smoothie Cafe, LLC, 1117 Perimeter Center West, Suite W200, Atlanta, GA 30338. Resolved: Release in which this issue/RFE has been resolved. 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. We gathered that feedback and used it to set goals and action plans for the company. The Version table provides details related to the release that this issue/RFE will be addressed. Cheryl Fletcher joined Tropical Smoothie Cafe in July of 2017. 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. As you know, the restaurant industry has taken a huge hit. Find restaurant equipment and suppliers. Our annual tactics are focused around delivering those results.". Tropical Smoothie Cafe Franchise History and Leadership Team Those franchisees are serving our guests on the front lines I can't run this business without their candid feedback.". Your results may differ. Any plans for celebrations and promotions around the quarter-century mark? We decreased royalties and deployed hyper-local marketing strategies to drive business within a 1to 2-mile radius of cafes. Is there a smoothie that you personally are thrilled is on the menu, but just dont enjoy yourself? Show them that we care. He was previously Tropical Smoothie Cafe's Chief Development Officer since 2016, after serving as VP of Franchise Development since 2010. Tropical Smoothie Caf Income Statement Key Insights-Analysis based off Predecessor 2020-Overall, Tropical Smoothie Caf is a profitable business, with a net income of $7.6 million in 2020. Watson: "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. We loved the idea so much we launched a nationwide campaign to donate 100,000 smoothies across the country and the response has been incredible. Occhiogrosso: How do you see the company moving forward? 26, 2021. 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. Complete the form or call 770-821-1928, and a Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchise development leader will reach out to you with more information. And was one in place already? TikTok user Fuhlex left her followers stunned after revealing the cost of the bagThe social media user, from LA, said she was 'too embarrassed to put it back'But people likened it to a 'potato sack' and begged her to return it to the store Your results may differ. So since I like it, and since we love Camp Sunshine, we may see that this fall. I love that. See where were looking to grow to meet the incredible demand. 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. But the Mango Berry Cosmo has overtaken it. 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. Not the Charles Watson you were looking for? 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. CALIFORNIA DISCLAIMER: THESE FRANCHISES HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE FRANCHISE INVESTMENT LAW OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. And those are the most important things that I do.. Atlanta, GA 30338 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. Provide product innovation and innovation in general. As a restaurant executive, hospitality should be in your blood. Franchising offers multiple benefits to a business as a whole. 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. Its the high quality ingredients. Prior to being named CEO in 2018, Charles served as the chief development officer for Tropical Smoothie Cafe. 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. Its only here until August. How Much Do You Make Owning A Tropical Smoothie. So that was helpful! F-9894), New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin. Michael Lapid joined Tropical Smoothie Cafe in October of 2019 to the role of Chief Information and Digital Officer. Please give our readers the "Elevator Pitch" for Tropical Smoothie Cafe? CALIFORNIA DISCLAIMER: THESE FRANCHISES HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE FRANCHISE INVESTMENT LAW OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. Charles Watson has been the CEO since . Watson will lead us through our next phase of strategic growth. Our company sells about 200 franchises, opens over 120 cafes a year, and has more than 500 locations in the pipeline. . 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. Here's how CEO Charles Watson did it. While we had always involved franchisees, I felt it needed to be formalized and more visible to our franchise system. Richard has served in a franchise operations capacity for more than 20 years with brands such as TCBY, Carvel, and Moes Southwest Grill. 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. And by the way, thats one way Tropical Smoothie Cafe has grown so big so fast the food. I and/or my business partner(s) have the following financials, Tropical Smoothie Cafe, LLC Its doing more than just being in business to sell food and smoothies. Theyre not just a snack day part, etc. The role employees play in setting the customer experience in the restaurant. Tropical Smoothie Cafe Celebrates Milestone Opening of 1,100th Location Chief Executive Officer @ Tropical Smoothie Cafe; . I dont believe that the people side of our business is dead.. In her role as Chief Development Officer, Cheryl drives the brands franchise development sales, real estate and design and construction. CEO Charles Watson says that the company is "99.9 percent franchise," which means that most of the locations are owned independently. The offering is by prospectus only. F-9894), New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin. Tropical Smoothie Cafe CEO Charles Watson has been with the company for more than 10 years and is passionate about . Now were really taking the lead from our franchisees and building out DMAs organically from outside them. jdoe@tropicalsmoothie.com), which is being used by 23.3% of Tropical Smoothie Cafe work email addresses. Charles recently joined his team in celebrating the opening of the 1,000th Tropical Smoothie Cafe location. Tropical Smoothie Caf works to keep its momentum - Restaurant Business webtv.net; 5+ 404-210-XXXX; 770-670-XXXX; 770-821-XXXX; 770-580-XXXX; 770-821-XXXX; 678949XXXX; Paul Marsden Chief Financial Officer . Your results may differ. In 2018, when I was named CEO, we had more than 720 locations open nationwide. *. Whats the best piece of advice that other restaurant executives should hear? 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. 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. We had a high level of mutual trust and respect for each other that existed before I assumed the role of CEO. 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. wills o' nats last of the summer wine. No credit card required. Prior to being named CEO in 2018, Charles served as the chief development officer for 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. What are some of your interests outside of work? I and/or my business partner(s) have the following financials, Tropical Smoothie Cafe, LLC 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. 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. 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. So its getting involved with charity partners. Occhiogrosso: During the current COVID-19 crisis, what steps have you taken to ensure that Tropical Smoothie Cafe supports the local community? 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. 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 is directly responsible for selling more than 800 franchises during his tenure. Because sure, the smoothies sell well and all, but did you know about the Chipotle Chicken Club flatbread sandwich? The Tropical Franchisee Council (TFC) was established in 2018 and has been invaluable for our growth. I think all natural, whole fruit, and the ability to substitute while also having some really great baseline recipes that we have out there. "Relationships Rule" is one of our core values, and because of that, people are at the heart of our company. 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. In her role as Chief Development Officer, Cheryl drives the brands franchise development sales, real estate and design and construction. And if you do that well, then your top-sellers, sometimes you beat them. In these roles, Charles was responsible for all development of the Tropical Smoothie Cafe brand. 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. A veteran hospitality professional . The success of our brand is about the talent and drive of our talented executives and Support Center team. It hopes to keep all its new customers. We must be able to service the guests who want to be on demand.. 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. 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. Excludes non-traditional locations and Restaurants that were not open for at least 357 days in 2021. "I wanted to further instill a franchisee-first mentality. Well, Tropical Smoothie Cafe, we've got 850 locations in 44 states. 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. 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.