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. 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. The offerings have evolved over the years to include a menu of breakfast and lunch items beyond smoothies. Charles Watson is currently an Atlanta-based correspondent for Fox News Mediacovering the southeastern portion of the United States. If you don't have a Tropical Smoothie Cafe near your home yet, just wait a bit. In conclusion, I believe the growth of Tropical Smoothie Cafe over the last two years demonstrates Mr. Watson's steady leadership and a clear understanding of building on the momentum that has made the brand a leader in its category. We have quesadillas, we have flatbread sandwiches, we have sandwiches, we have salads. Occhiogrosso: How is taking the reins of an existing company different than being part of a startup or a founder? Tropical Smoothie Cafe Store Managers make an average of $39,252 per year. Occhiogrosso:What was your plan for the first 90 days? 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. Richard has served in a franchise operations capacity for more than 20 years with brands such as TCBY, Carvel, and Moes Southwest Grill. "Like I said, I was very fortunate to have had already developed relationships with our franchise community prior to becoming CEO. The company planned 130 in just 2020; signed 36 of a hopeful 200 franchise agreements by March; and was well on its way to adding five units to its annual . Such filing does not constitute approval by the Department of Law. Resolved: Release in which this issue/RFE has been resolved. Building off this momentum, in 2019, we celebrated the openings of our 750th and 800th locations, but taking over during such a monumental time for our brand certainly brought opportunities to improve. A veteran hospitality professional, Charles has worked for several hospitality-related companies, including Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Intercontinental Hotels Group, US Franchise Systems, Inc., and Hospitality Real Estate Counselors. 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 a franchise system, without broad franchisee buy-in, you cannot move as efficiently and effectively as is required in today's business environment.". We set company-wide strategic imperatives around these issues immediately.". 26, 2021. 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)? Charles recently joined his team in celebrating the opening of the 1,000th Tropical Smoothie Cafe location. New York State Disclaimer: This advertisement is not an offering. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. You may opt-out by. How Much Do You Make Owning A Tropical Smoothie. Watson:"I wanted to further instill a franchisee-first mentality. We consider ourselves to be an approachable, healthier option for the average American, and our customer loyalty system-wide continues to climb. A minimum net worth of $350,000, which includes $125,000 in liquid assets; Investment and Fee Structure: Start-up fees: A new Cafe investment is between $198,500 and $543,500. . And provide technology.. As reopening guidelines are being determined, we plan to move forward with an abundance of caution.". Whats the best piece of advice that other restaurant executives should hear? 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. Occhiogrosso: What are some of the additional support initiatives you put in place for your franchise community during the pandemic? The companys goal is to open 1,500 cafes or more by the year 2024. 1117 Perimeter Center West, Suite W200 Was it a pleasant surprise, expected, or was it a bit of both? And drive their economic engine. Excludes non-traditional locations and Restaurants that were not open for at least 357 days in 2021. An offering can only be made by prospectus filed first with the Department of Law of the State of New York. CEO Charles Watson says that the company is "99.9 percent franchise," which means that most of the locations are owned independently. Prior to being named CEO in 2018, Charles served as the chief development officer for Tropical Smoothie Cafe. See where were looking to grow to meet the incredible demand. 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. Ill start with the fact that I believe that convenience is king. Were any of the franchisees reluctant to follow the system or embrace a new direction? From my VP of development officer to today as CEO, Ive been passionate about the brands vision. 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. Other common Tropical Smoothie Cafe email . Unresolved: Release in which this issue/RFE will be addressed. Occhiogrosso: Please give our readers the "Elevator Pitch" for Tropical Smoothie Cafe? And thats like: Whos the bad kid in the family! Weve got everything right from Island Green Detox, with zero sugar, and ginger, and everything. Here's how CEO Charles Watson did it. 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 . He is directly responsible for selling more than 800 franchises. Sometimes youve just got to go with the taste. Currently, the following states regulate the offer and sale of franchises: California, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota (File No. The success of our brand is about the talent and drive of our talented executives and Support Center team. 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. He sat down to do an interview with Tim Tang and talked about how his brand is innovating to meet the needs of todays consumers. And that really got us down this road of: What is our purpose? Well see, I may have to bring that one back. Mark serves on the board of the Institute of Certified Franchise Executives. 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. We decreased royalties and deployed hyper-local marketing strategies to drive business within a 1to 2-mile radius of cafes. 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. It is, however, still a hefty financial investment. 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. charles watson tropical smoothie cafe. Really trying to understand how to see the world through a different stakeholders' eyes is something I still work on.". Its getting involved in the local community. And by the way, thats one way Tropical Smoothie Cafe has grown so big so fast the food. Although COVID-19 has directly impacted our business, some days being down more than 50 percent, we consider ourselves lucky to have a business model that allowed us to easily transition to grab-and-go, curbside, and delivery only. 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 and/or my business partner(s) have the following financials, Tropical Smoothie Cafe, LLC Im a football lover. The chain plans on opening an astonishing 200 locations this year alone, which will mean its opening its 1000threstaurant. 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. So we managed to get through that. A veteran franchise professional, Charles has worked for several hospitality-related companies including Intercontinental Hotels Group and US Franchise Systems. We have a jerk chicken quesadilla, we dont come out and just do a ham or turkey sandwich. Tropical Smoothie Cafe, LLC . Watson has been with Tropical Smoothie Cafe for many years now, so he has seen the growth up close. There is no assurance that you will do as well. 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. But the Mango Berry Cosmo has overtaken it. 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. Chief Development Officer since 2016, after serving as VP of Franchise Development since 2010. As their franchise website states: "Tropical Smoothie Cafes menu boasts bold, flavorful smoothies with a healthy appeal, all made-to-order with quality ingredients. We find that real fruits, veggies, and juices just taste better.". He was previously Tropical Smoothie Cafe's Chief Development Officer since 2016, after serving as VP of Franchise Development since 2010. There is no assurance that you will do as well. Tropical Smoothie Cafe on Thursday said it has named Charles Watson its permanent CEO as it works to grow into a $1 billion company within five years. Mark serves on the board of the Institute of Certified Franchise Executives. We had a high level of mutual trust and respect for each other that existed before I assumed the role of CEO. In this role, he is responsible for the brand's strategic vision and overall franchise performance. It was important to me that we have franchisees themselves share their feedback and align on system initiatives and goals. "We were in a good place! CLOSE. This information is not intended as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy a franchise. Charles Watson, CEO of Tropical Smoothie Cafe, LLC, said, "It's inspiring to be part of the growth that Tropical Smoothie Cafe has . webtv.net; 5+ 404-210-XXXX; 770-670-XXXX; 770-821-XXXX; 770-580-XXXX; 770-821-XXXX; 678949XXXX; Paul Marsden Chief Financial Officer . TropicalSmoothie.com. Then we determined two focus areas, giving back to the community and prioritizing support for our franchisees. Charles Watson, the CEO of Tropical Smoothie Care, was thrilled with his company's performance so far this year . In her role as Chief Development Officer, Cheryl drives the brands franchise development sales, real estate and design and construction. Previously with Papa Johns International as the Vice President, Global Digital Technology, Michael is a seasoned technology executive with vast engineering and operations expertise, leadership, and a deep understanding of digital technology and guest experiences. 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 . Its a fantastic organization that weve enjoyed immensely being part of. "I've been with Tropical Smoothie since 2010 and was [first] our vice president of franchise development," he told Mashed. We set company-wide strategic imperatives around these issues immediately.". 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. Its in Casco, Maine, Camp Sunshine. But its the freshness. This information is not intended as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy a franchise. Watson has been with Tropical Smoothie Cafe for many years now, so he has seen the growth up close. Related Posts. Mark serves on the board of the Institute of Certified Franchise Executives. 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. And so were going to really get to focus there. 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. Michael Lapid joined Tropical Smoothie Cafe in October of 2019 to the role of Chief Information and Digital Officer. 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 we have a broad array of food products that are both healthier and theyre more boldly flavored. And its the high quality food. Then we determined two focus areas, giving back to the community and prioritizing support for our franchisees. While the pandemic destroyed thousands of restaurants last year, Atlanta-based Tropical Smoothie Cafe had one of its best years to date. The most common Tropical Smoothie Cafe email format is [first_initial] [last] (ex. At the end of the day, we are a restaurant company and how great our food and smoothies are determines [success]. I think the world would be a little bit of a better place if we all kept that in mind. Beyond that, we need to provide training. I may have been, in fact, the person responsible for awarding them a franchise! We really call Tropical Smoothie Cafe a street corner business. It is, however, a "darn good chaser," he said and . We strive to continue to harness these relationships in this way and feel that this approach will continue to fuel our success. 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. 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. 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. Really trying to understand how to see the world through a different stakeholders' eyes is something I still work on.". "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. Join our Franchise Family. Share Tweet Share Pin. Michael Lapid joined Tropical Smoothie Cafe in October of 2019 to the role of Chief Information and Digital Officer. Again, the franchising, especially in Tropical Smoothie, it is a local business. 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. Charles Watson has been the CEO since . Were right, exactly where It was a little bit of a step back in 2020, but in 2021, our year-to-date comparative sales are [up] almost 30%. What were the one or two unique challenges that you faced upon taking over as CEO? "I wanted to further instill a franchisee-first mentality. Call now and speak to a franchise development leader. An offering can only be made by prospectus filed first with the Department of Law of the State of New York. What is the mission and goal of the company over the next few years? 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. By Jonathan Maze on Jan. 24, 2019. Previously with Papa Johns International as the Vice President, Global Digital Technology, Michael is a seasoned technology executive with vast engineering and operations expertise, leadership, and a deep understanding of digital technology and guest experiences. 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. In my case, because I already had nearly a decade with Tropical Smoothie Cafe on the franchise development side, I had the unique advantage of personal relationships with our franchise community. At the start of his career, Michaels ambitious spirit led him to develop a point of sale system, Hot Sauce. Every day is a day to celebrate at Tropical Smoothie Cafe, with all the success were having. In my case, because I already had nearly a decade with Tropical Smoothie Cafe on the franchise development side, I had the unique advantage of personal relationships with our franchise community. Today's post focus' on that topic in an interview with Charles Watson, the CEO of Tropical Smoothie Caf. So since I like it, and since we love Camp Sunshine, we may see that this fall. This information appears in Item 19 of our Franchise Disclosure Document. So its got a little bit of indulgence to it. 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. 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. Well, I think the one thing is that smoothies are anytime, theyre not just a breakfast day part. When I became CEO, I launched a formal franchisee advisory council, known in our organization as the Tropical Franchisee Council (TFC). The offering is by prospectus only. I was 11 years old when I got my first job washing dishes at my fathers restaurant. Turns out, theres a lot to know about Tropical Smoothie Cafe. 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. 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 consider ourselves to be an approachable, healthier option for the average American, and our customer loyalty system-wide continues to climb. 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. Prior to being named CEO in 2018, Charles served as the chief development officer for Tropical Smoothie Cafe. In my experience, making franchisee success and profitability the priority is the key to the longevity of any franchised brand. 770-580-2333 Did you foresee the level of growth the chain has experienced of late? If you dont have a Tropical Smoothie Cafe near your home yet, just wait a bit. 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 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. 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. 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. Over the next five years, our goals are to reach 1,500 cafes open across the U.S., with over 18% profitability for our franchisees on average volumes in excess of $1M, all with very high operational satisfaction for our guests. I would say Im absolutely not opposed to being in all 50 states. Charles recently joined his team in celebrating the opening of the 1,000th Tropical Smoothie Cafe location. "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. F-9894), New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin. Without our franchisees, committees, and council, I simply could not do this job. Excludes non-traditional locations and Restaurants that were not open for at least 357 days in 2021. Right next to that is our relationship with our Franchise Owners. 2020, 2019, and 2018 average, median, highest, and lowest net revenues, number of stores, and number and percentage of stores that surpassed the average net revenues in the category for the top 10%, top 25%, . Thats a smoothie that has pineapple, strawberries, and white chocolate and coconut. 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.. So another boldly flavored product, thats been a number one seller for gosh, probably five, six years at this point. New York State Disclaimer: This advertisement is not an offering. 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. Von Kutzleben most recently served as vice president of brand strategy, advertising and menu at Arbys. Yes, it has a brand name on it, but it is Bill and Sally Smith on the corner and theyre entrepreneurs. 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. Chief Executive Officer @ Tropical Smoothie Cafe; . Outside of smoothies, whats the top-selling non-smoothie product? Gosh, I would say the first things that come to mind for me are menu innovation and products. Because we want to help with your meal and your food, etc. I love a good pot roast with mashed potatoes, green beans and corn. Always number one, what I am focused on, is unit-level economics for our Franchise Owners. At the start of his career, Michaels ambitious spirit led him to develop a point of sale system, Hot Sauce. Communicate deeply. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. CALIFORNIA DISCLAIMER: THESE FRANCHISES HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE FRANCHISE INVESTMENT LAW OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

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