Tropical Smoothie Cafe Is One Of The Fastest
The restaurant business can be tough and many big fast food chains are struggling to stay afloat. Several national chains have already been seeing closures over the past few years, and there’s a good chance that even more will go under in the future. But it seems like Tropical Smoothie Cafe is still doing relatively well, despite the difficulties.
As of last year, its growth came in at over 20 percent. According to Business Insider, last year alone, the company opened 124 new stores and signed over 200 franchise agreements. And the industry is taking notice. Tropical Smoothie Cafe found itself on Fast Casual’s “Top 100 Movers and Shakers,” Entrepreneur’s “Best Franchises for Any Budget,” Nation’s Restaurant News’ “Top 200” and “Top 10 Fastest-Growing Chains,” and Franchise Times’ “Fast & Serious” lists, so it’s clear that the company’s efforts to expand aren’t being ignored by the wider restaurant community.
The company also has high hopes for even further expansion. When Charles Watson became the new Tropical Smoothie Cafe CEO in 2019, the company claimed that it could be looking at $1 billion in sales in the next five years. With the fast-casual spot gaining more recognition every year, there’s a good chance that you won’t be seeing your favorite Tropical Smoothie Cafe going anywhere anytime soon.
The Business Model Of Tropical Smoothie Franchise
The tropical smoothie franchise is one of the fastest-growing opportunities. The Franchise is available in more than 40 states of America and is still trying to grow in other states.
You have to understand the brand culture and franchise model to ensure the nutrient quality of food, which is essential because the café is run based on food quality.
Tropical Smoothie Cafe Competitors
Tropical Smoothie Cafe competitors include Chick-fil-A, Jimmy John’s, Jamba Juice and Panera Bread. Tropical Smoothie Cafe ranks 5th in CEO Score on Comparably vs its competitors. See below how Tropical Smoothie Cafe compares to its competitors with CEO Rankings, Overall Culture Score, eNPS, Gender and Diversity Scores.
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Tropical Smoothie Cafe Was Started In Florida In 1993
It’s not a big surprise that the story of this beach-themed eatery all started in Destin, Florida. The first iteration of the business was on the panhandle right on the beach back in 1993. It was just a smoothie shop back then, and it hadn’t yet become the Tropical Smoothie Cafe we all know and love now.
Then, a few years later, Tropical Smoothie Cafe opened its first sit-down franchise cafe in Tallahassee, a city known as a getaway for spring breakers and families hoping to escape the colder weather up north. The semi-tropical vibe close to the coast made it a perfect location for fresh, delicious smoothies, as that’s just what customers were looking for in the midst of blazing hot weather. Before long, customers were lining up for the fruity concoctions, and it became clear that the store was onto something.
Just two years later, in 1999, the store added sandwiches and wraps to its selection, making it a viable lunch or dinner option and not just a smoothie shop. Today, the company is headquartered in Atlanta, but that certainly doesn’t take away from its laid-back, distinctly Florida vibe.
Eat Better Feel Better Its Our Mantra
Todays consumers are embracing healthier food options and more active lifestyles. Tropical Smoothie Cafe is ready to satisfy the cravings of our health-conscious, flavor-craving guests. To keep up with them, we opened 124 Cafes in 2019, and have been recognized as one of 2019s fastest-growing franchises by Entrepreneur and Nations Restaurant News.
- 5+ multiple revenue streams with drive-thru, delivery, curbside pickup, online and mobile app ordering
- $9.47 average ticket per person thanks to our balanced mix of smoothies and food that supports all dayparts
- 840+ locations coast-to-coastwith 486+ opened in the last 5 yearsfeeds the demand of our loyal customer base
- 213 new agreements signed in 2019, with 60% coming from existing Franchise Owners
- Ranked one of the best by the best. Entrepreneur #18 Franchise 500 , Franchise Times #17 Fast & Serious Smartest-Growing Brands , Franchise Business Review Top 40 Franchises by Franchisees
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Tropical Smoothie Cafe Uses Real Fruit
Unlike some smoothies out there, you can count on getting a smoothie made from real fruits and veggies when you go to Tropical Smoothie Cafe. Generally, the stores use frozen fruit, but don’t write them off jus yet. While some people believe that frozen fruit just isn’t as nutritious as the “fresh” stuff, that’s far from the truth. Frozen fruit can be just as nutritious than fresh fruit. That’s because it’s often frozen at the peak of freshness, while “fresh” fruits, on the other hand, might have been picked before they were completely ripe, so they wouldn’t spoil before their scheduled delivery date.
While you can generally expect your favorite fruits from Tropical Smoothie Cafe, many of the supplements and add-ins aren’t quite what you’d find at your local farmer’s market. Some of the smoothies on the menu have added sugar or artificial sweetener added to them, so keep that in mind if you’re trying to break a sugar addiction. Overall, though, the slightly higher prices compared to other smoothie shops make sense considering the high-quality and fresh ingredients.
The Peanut Butter Cup Smoothie Is The Best Way To Indulge
Just because Tropical Smoothie Cafe is all about offering healthier options, that doesn’t mean that customers can’t indulge when they visit. Some of the dishes are healthier than others, but most of the lunch and dinner items are more on the savory side. If you’re looking for something sweet that could double as dessert, then the Peanut Butter Cup smoothie is the way to go. It contains peanut butter, banana, and chocolate, however, it is loaded with 107 grams of sugar. Obviously, it’s not exactly the healthiest item on the menu, but everyone deserves their “treat yourself” moments, right?
There are other rich, sweet smoothies that are perfect for those who want something more substantial than your typical green or fruity smoothie. The Mocha Madness is ideal for coffee lovers, with its coffeechocolatecappuccino flavor mixed with non-fat yogurt. Be warned, this smoothie too is pretty high in sugar with 132 grams of the sweet stuff. And if the kids want something sweet , the Chocolate Chimp smoothie made with banana and chocolate is the way to go. Plus, with just 52 grams of sugar, it may be your best bet.
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Tropical Smoothie Cafe Has Been Sending Kids To Camp For Over A Decade
Too many companies out there making millions or even billions of dollars give too little back to their communities, even though those communities support them every day. Thankfully, Tropical Smoothie Cafe is sharing some of its success. The company has partnered with an organization called Camp Sunshine located in Casco, Maine that serves children with life-threatening illnesses. The non-profit operates a year-round campus for families as they navigate the difficulties of everyday life, while at the same time, providing a fun getaway for the kids where they can simply create some great memories.
Tropical Smoothie Cafe teamed up with the camp in 2008 and since then, has contributed some 6,00 volunteer hours and helped 2,500 family members by raising more than $7.5 million for the organization. The company also encourages its customers to get involved in the summer camp with links on its website for referring a family in need, as well as donation and volunteer opportunities.
Tropical Smoothie Cafe Ranks 5th In Employee Net Promoter Score
226 Employees rate Tropical Smoothie Cafe’s Employee Net Promoter Score a -64, which ranks it 5th against its competitors, below Panera Bread. Employee Net Promoter score tracks employees’ overall score to this question – On a scale from 0-10, how likely are you to recommend working at Tropical Smoothie Cafe to a friend?.
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Our Nutritious Food And Smoothies Are Fueling Healthy Growth
The huge demand for healthier food choices drives business to our doors. What keeps people coming back is the Tropical Smoothie Cafe experience. Its our unique combination of irresistible food, a cool beachy vibe, and fun, friendly service.
What clearly distinguishes Tropical Smoothie Cafe from the competition is our balanced mix of smoothies and food, serving multiple dayparts: breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, and snack and multiple revenue streams like dine-in, drive-thru, delivery, and catering. That mix helps drive our average ticket sales and average net revenues of $982,486 for the top 50% of our Franchise Owners.*
*Top 50% of Cafes. Based on calendar year 2019, 120 of 326, or 37%, of the Cafes gained or surpassed this sales level. This information appears in Item 19 of our Franchise Disclosure Document. Your results may differ. There is no assurance that you will do as well.
More Tropical Smoothie Cafe Locations Near Me:
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- Ice Cream & Frozen Desserts Dealers, Groceries, Juices & Juice Bars, Restaurants22905 Michigan AveWayne County
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- Groceries, Health & Diet Food Products, Juices, Cafes, Restaurants30273 Plymouth RdWayne County
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Tropical Smoothie Cafe Offers More Than Just Smoothies
As the name suggests, Tropical Smoothie Cafe is all about the smoothies. They’re definitely the most plentiful item on the menu there are over 30 options listed on the company’s website, and customers will find a wide array of supplements and extras they can add to their smoothies. If you’re making a trip to your local Tropical Smoothie Cafe, it’s probably specifically for the smoothie.
However, this fast-casual chain offers so much more than its signature smoothies. On the food end of the spectrum, the restaurant is probably best known for its flatbreads and wraps. They’ve been on the menu for a while, and there are both chicken and veggie options available. But the quesadillas are popular too, as are the sandwiches, including the Cuban Sandwich and Ultimate Club. The bowls are some of the newer items on the menu, and while some are essentially just salads, others like the Baja Chicken Bowl include rice for a more typical fast-food “bowl.”
Plus, the breakfast options at Tropical Smoothie Cafe are totally underrated. The All-American Wrap may not be the perfect healthy complement to your fruity smoothie, but if you’re being smart with your smoothie choice, you deserve to treat yourself. And those who want something on the lighter side can go for the Southwest Wrap. Basically, the next time you visit a Tropical Smoothie Cafe, you may want to branch out and get something to eat along with your favorite smoothie order.
A Tropical Smoothie Cafe Was Linked To A Hepatitis Outbreak
Unfortunately, it hasn’t all been sunshine for Tropical Smoothie Cafe. In 2016, an outbreak of hepatitis A was linked to strawberries used in the restaurant’s smoothies. The majority of the infections were discovered in Virginia, but people in several other states, including North Carolina, Maryland, and Oregon, also fell ill. More than half of them ended up being hospitalized with a highly contagious liver infection.
The CEO of Tropical Smoothie Cafe at that time, Mike Rotondo, apologized for the mishap in a YouTube video statement. “On August 5, the Virginia Department of Health contacted us about a potential link between hepatitis A cases and frozen strawberries from Egypt,” Rotondo said. ‘We voluntarily and immediately removed all of those strawberries from all of our cafes, and we have sourced new strawberries for every location.”
Luckily for Tropical Smoothie Cafe, the company seems to have recovered relatively well from this incident, despite the bad press in 2016 .
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About Tropical Smoothie Caf
Tropical smoothie café supports a healthier lifestyle. The companys focus is on providing wholesome and nutritious food.
According to some reports, American eats less than the recommended amount of vegetables, fruits, dairy products, and oils every day.
So The Tropical Café came with the vision of providing nutrient-rich fast food with great taste.
The café is growing exponentially, and now you can find their outlet in many locations.
Tropical smoothie café is known for its nutritious food and its menu, like limited-addition valentines flavor, salad, and Smoothie.
The café is still expanding its menu with healthier food options. Today, customers continue to fall in love with the experience provided by Tropical smoothie café.
Almost All Tropical Smoothie Cafe Locations Are Franchises
If you’ve ever been to your local Tropical Smoothie Cafe, you may not have known that you were actually walking into a small business. While all Tropical Smoothie Cafe locations share roughly the same look and feel while offering the same products, the vast majority of them are franchises. CEO Charles Watson says that the company is “99.9 percent franchise,” which means that most of the locations are owned independently.
Franchising offers multiple benefits to a business as a whole. Management can grow a company without having to invest too much money, and the risk of growth is lower than with other business models. However, that doesn’t mean that things have always been easy for Tropical Smoothie Cafe. The COVID-19 pandemic was difficult for restaurants across the industry, but as Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchise owners are essentially small businesses, they were liable to be especially hard-hit. Luckily, they were still able to receive support from corporate, such as lowered franchise royalties.
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History Of Tropical Smoothie
Tropical Smoothie was founded in the panhandle of Florida as a Smoothie shop in 1993.
Then in 1997, Tropical Smoothie Franchise Development Corporation was established, and the first store opened in 1998 in Tallahassee, Florida.
They launched a specialty in the smoothie category by introducing a line of nutrient food items, including sandwiches and wraps.
Currently, Tropical smoothie cafés headquarter is located in Atlanta, Georgia. As of 2022, there is more than 1000 franchise store in Tropical smoothie café
Tropical Smoothie Cafe Partnered With Beyond Meat Back In 2013
These days, it’s not unusual to see a variety of vegetarian and vegan options on just about any menu, but that wasn’t always the case. In fact, just a few years ago, most vegans were often relegated to the sad side salad portion of the menu, forced to order “just French fries” while their friends bit into juicy hamburgers and thick slabs of chicken. But no more. Even Burger King is now offering a vegan breakfast sandwich as of June 2020.
But Tropical Smoothie Cafe was way ahead of the curve with this one. The franchise was the first national chain restaurant to serve Beyond Meat’s plant-based chicken products. This partnership began in 2013, well before vegan food was on the radar of many larger companies. It makes sense that Tropical Smoothie Cafe would be better positioned than a fast food burger joint to make this leap onto the veggie food scene. After all, they were already catering to health-conscious consumers who were more likely to adhere to a vegan lifestyle. Regardless of how Tropical Smoothie Cafe came to this decision earlier than its competitors, this move put the company high on the list of early vegan-friendly chains. Even PETA has highlighted how the restaurant offers “tons” of vegan options.
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The Detox Island Green Smoothie Is One Of The Healthiest Options
Of course, you can’t indulge all the time. When you’re feeling blah or when you’re just trying to feel your best you might want to go for a healthier option on the menu. When it comes to your smoothie options at Tropical Smoothie Cafe, the Detox Island Green smoothie has the lowest sugar content with just 29 grams and is one of the healthiest drinks you can order. Plus, it manages to pack in all your healthy essentials without tasting too bitter or “green.”
The smoothie is packed with spinach and kale and has a vibrant green color. The smoothie also boasts mango and pineapple, which will give it a rich, tropical flavor that’s delicious, while simultaneously covering up some of that green taste and making the kale a little less terrible. Banana thickens the smoothie so it’s not too watery, and it also provides much-needed calories to give you energy and get you moving for the day. A bit of ginger gives this smoothie a bite and offers a variety of health benefits, too.