And it has been a fantastic partnership because we can see the benefit of the dollars that were putting in. Charles Watson, the CEO of Tropical Smoothie Care, was thrilled with his companys performance so far this year, which is what youd expect from a chain whose. 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. Theyre not just a snack day part, etc. Cheryl Fletcher, Chief Development Officer of Tropical Smoothie Cafe, shares highlights of her career and leadership style in Franchising. Mark serves on the board of the Institute of Certified Franchise Executives. My mentality and passion for what I do has remained consistent at every stage of my career, carrying over to when I first started with Tropical Smoothie Cafe in 2010, as the brands first vice president of franchise development. Resolved: Release in which this issue/RFE has been resolved. Currently, the following states regulate the offer and sale of franchises: California, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota (File No. 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. 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%. Were any of the franchisees reluctant to follow the system or embrace a new direction? 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. New York State Disclaimer: This advertisement is not an offering. Tropical Smoothie Cafe's Profile, Revenue and Employees. Mark serves on the board of the Institute of Certified Franchise Executives. I and/or my business partner(s) have the following financials, Tropical Smoothie Cafe, LLC Excludes non-traditional locations and Restaurants that were not open for at least 357 days in 2021. This is a BETA experience. Right next to that is our relationship with our Franchise Owners. Tropical Smoothie Cafe. Some of our franchisees had the idea to donate smoothies to first responders and hospital workers in Atlanta. Atlanta, GA. Get Verified Emails for 1,980 Tropical Smoothie Cafe Employees. Complete the form or call 770-821-1928, and a Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchise development leader will reach out to you with more information. This information appears in Item 19 of our Franchise Disclosure Document. Chief Executive Officer @ Tropical Smoothie Cafe; . ", Charles Watson was named CEO in December 2018. 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. I would say Im absolutely not opposed to being in all 50 states. In this role, he is responsible for the brand's strategic vision and overall franchise performance. "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. We really call Tropical Smoothie Cafe a street corner business. 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. How do you see the company moving forward? Tang asked Watson what support his Franchise Owners need from Tropical Smoothie Cafe. 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. Its doing more than just being in business to sell food and smoothies. 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. Watson has worked for the brand for more than 10 years and has been its chief development officer since 2015. TropicalSmoothie.com. In 2018, when I was named CEO, we had more than 720 locations open nationwide. 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. 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. John Joseph Dallier, 61, passed away suddenly at home after severe health complications. We strive to continue to harness these relationships in this way and feel that this approach will continue to fuel our success. 770-580-2333, Bold Women in the C-Suite: Cheryl Fletcher, Connect with People Who Have More Experience: Interview with Charles Watson, CEO of Tropical Smoothie Cafe, Tropical Smoothie Cafe Celebrates Spring With The Return Of Superfruit Smoothies. 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. Glad Tidings: Are Seasonal Franchises A Good Investment? This information appears in Item 19 of our Franchise Disclosure Document. Its not just: We have snacks! We have a full-on robust kitchen thats preparing fresh products. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. 770-580-2333 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 Tell us a bit about Camp Sunshine, about the partnership there, what you want people to know about it, and ways people can help support it. He is a general assignment reporter and has covered a range . TropicalSmoothie.com. Prior to being named CEO in 2018, Charles served as the chief development officer for Tropical Smoothie Cafe. I write about the franchising, restaurant and food services industry. I think they can be used throughout the day and utilized in guests diets. 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. Well, I think the one thing is that smoothies are anytime, theyre not just a breakfast day part. Watch the complete interview here or start your journey in becoming a Tropical Smoothie Cafe Franchise Owner by completing our form. But its the freshness. Richard has served in a franchise operations capacity for more than 20 years with brands such as TCBY, Carvel, and Moes Southwest Grill. We figured a good person to ask might be the CEO of Tropical Smoothie Cafe, Charles Watson. See where were looking to grow to meet the incredible demand. I think all natural, whole fruit, and the ability to substitute while also having some really great baseline recipes that we have out there. All of this information may look daunting, yet . 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.. 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. . Your results may differ. 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. The way [Tropical Smoothie Cafe works in markets], we work the suburbs and the outskirts, and move our way into cities. I and/or my business partner(s) have the following financials, Tropical Smoothie Cafe, LLC The first thing is to be a business partner. shin numbness after acl surgery; first friday phoenix vendor application; benton high school baseball roster; surprise message link for boyfriend Nov 10, 2021, 09:36 ET. Passion and brand vision continue to guide the way. 1117 Perimeter Center West, Suite W200 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. It is, however, a "darn good chaser," he said and . Yes, I am putting my mark on the brand and culture, but I have been around long enough not to stray too far from the DNA of the brand.". So thats always up there. 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.. 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. 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. At the end of the day, we are a restaurant company and how great our food and smoothies are determines [success]. *$1,009,803 System Wide Average Net Revenues. So that was helpful! In a franchise system, without broad franchisee buy-in, you cannot move as efficiently and effectively as is required in today's business environment.". 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. "Tropical Smoothie Cafe is in a perfect position for the future. Turns out, theres a lot to know about Tropical Smoothie Cafe. Atlanta, GA ( RestaurantNews.com ) Tropical Smoothie Cafe, a leading national fast-casual cafe franchise known for both its better-for-you smoothies and food with a tropical twist, continues its . 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. So another boldly flavored product, thats been a number one seller for gosh, probably five, six years at this point. And that really got us down this road of: What is our purpose? He was previously Tropical Smoothie Cafe's Chief Development Officer since 2016, after serving as VP of Franchise Development since 2010. Paul Marsden oversees development and execution of financial strategies to support the companys business plans. I may have been the smallest employee there (I had to stand on a tub used for busing tables just to reach the sink) but I had the biggest ambition. Occhiogrosso: How is taking the reins of an existing company different than being part of a startup or a founder? In 2018, when I was named CEO, we had more than 720 locations open nationwide. The chain plans on opening an astonishing 200 locations this year alone, which will mean its opening its 1000threstaurant. jdoe@tropicalsmoothie.com), which is being used by 23.3% of Tropical Smoothie Cafe work email addresses. 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. The companys goal is to open 1,500 cafes or more by the year 2024. I love that. 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 . Always number one, what I am focused on, is unit-level economics for our Franchise Owners. We figured a good person to ask might be the CEO of Tropical Smoothie Cafe, Charles Watson. Our company sells about 200 franchises, opens over 120 cafes a year, and has more than 500 locations in the pipeline. NET WORTH * LIQUID CAPITAL/CASH AVAILABLE FOR INVESTMENT * *All fields required. Charles Watson, the CEO of Tropical Smoothie Care, was thrilled with his company's performance so far this year . We have three tenets in how we serve our Franchise Owners. 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. If you dont have a good product, it doesnt matter. Without our franchisees, committees, and council, I simply could not do this job. 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. The Version table provides details related to the release that this issue/RFE will be addressed. From wraps to flatbreads to salads, Mr. Watson continues to solidly position Tropical Smoothie Cafe as a leader in the fast-casual, healthier lifestyle food category. In her role as Chief Development Officer, Cheryl drives the brands franchise development sales, real estate and design and construction. Really trying to understand how to see the world through a different stakeholders' eyes is something I still work on.". A veteran franchise professional, Charles has worked for several hospitality-related companies including Intercontinental Hotels Group and US Franchise Systems. 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. *$1,009,803 System Wide Average Net Revenues. New York State Disclaimer: This advertisement is not an offering. Charles recently joined his team in celebrating the opening of the 1,000th Tropical Smoothie Cafe location. 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. "I've been with Tropical Smoothie since 2010 and was [first] our vice president of franchise development," he told Mashed. Every day is a day to celebrate at Tropical Smoothie Cafe, with all the success were having. As you know, the restaurant industry has taken a huge hit. See where were looking to grow to meet the incredible demand. 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. Mark serves on the board of the Institute of Certified Franchise Executives. The offering is by prospectus only. On the other hand, its hard to beat a plate of spaghetti. It is for information purposes only. This process only helps our individual franchisees and their bottom line, respectively.". 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. 5 Questions with Tropical Smoothie CEO Charles Watson. Camp Sunshine is a camp for kids and their families that have life-threatening illnesses. 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. Not the Charles Watson you were looking for? 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. Occhiogrosso: What was the condition of the company before you were named CEO? We gathered that feedback and used it to set goals and action plans for the company. And provide technology.. 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. Drain-Net Technologies. 770-580-2333 Complete the form or call 770-821-1928, and a Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchise development leader will reach out to you with more information. Outside of smoothies, whats the top-selling non-smoothie product? 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. As a restaurant executive, hospitality should be in your blood. 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. Or the Hummus Veggie Wrap? 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. Share Tweet Share Pin. By Jonathan Maze on Apr. The offering is by prospectus only. We decreased royalties and deployed hyper-local marketing strategies to drive business within a 1to 2-mile radius of cafes. 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)? Start Now! It is, however, still a hefty financial investment. Im a football lover. Youre paying for a premium product. The most common Tropical Smoothie Cafe email format is [first_initial] [last] (ex. Ivebeen with Tropical Smoothie since 2010 and was [first] our vice president of franchise development, he told Mashed. The initial investment ranges from $246,500 to $580,500. We must be able to service the guests who want to be on demand.. Such filing does not constitute approval by the Department of Law. 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. Find contact details for 700 million professionals. 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. When I became CEO, I launched a formal franchisee advisory council, known in our organization as the Tropical Franchisee Council (TFC). The reality is the Left Coast, the West coast, Oregon, California, and Washington. Was it a pleasant surprise, expected, or was it a bit of both? He has been instrumental in developing the culture of Tropical Smoothie Cafe and earning the trust of our franchisees. Theres an obvious answer for me here, and thats to put your heart into what you do. I may have been, in fact, the person responsible for awarding them a franchise! Charles recently joined his team in celebrating the opening of the 1,000th Tropical Smoothie Cafe location. 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. We consider ourselves to be an approachable, healthier option for the average American, and our customer loyalty system-wide continues to climb. 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. What are some of your interests outside of work? Paul Marsden oversees development and execution of financial strategies to support the companys business plans. 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. Well, Tropical Smoothie Cafe, we've got 850 locations in 44 states. "Tropical Smoothie Cafe is a national fast-casual cafe concept inspiring healthier lifestyles with more than 850 locations in 44 states. Whats your favorite cuisine outside of Tropical Smoothie? 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. 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 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. Total revenues were $58 million while expenses were only $41 million, indicating a healthy profit margin of around 30%. I was 11 years old when I got my first job washing dishes at my fathers restaurant. What is the all-time best-selling smoothie the chain offers? In my experience, making franchisee success and profitability the priority is the key to the longevity of any franchised brand. Richard has served in a franchise operations capacity for more than 20 years with brands such as TCBY, Carvel, and Moes Southwest Grill. At the start of his career, Michaels ambitious spirit led him to develop a point of sale system, Hot Sauce. 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. Right now Im on a Mango Berry Cosmo kick. Charles Watson, CEO of Tropical Smoothie Cafe, LLC, said, "It's inspiring to be part of the growth that Tropical Smoothie Cafe has . Yes, I am putting my mark on the brand and culture, but I have been around long enough not to stray too far from the DNA of the brand.". What was your plan for the first 90 days? What challenges, if any, did you face in getting "buy-in" from the existing franchise community once you became CEO? What were the one or two unique challenges that you faced upon taking over as CEO? This information appears in Item 19 of our Franchise Disclosure Document. 770-580-2333 A shift leaders hourly wage is an average of $11. 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. 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. Occhiogrosso: What are some of the additional support initiatives you put in place for your franchise community during the pandemic? As CEO, Watsons goal is to achieve $1 billion in sales and more than 1,500 cafes by 2023. So well get to 50, but Im not focused on about five or six of them right now. Such filing does not constitute approval by the Department of Law. Excludes non-traditional locations and Restaurants that were not open for at least 357 days in 2021. It is the food. Watson:"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. At the start of his career, Michaels ambitious spirit led him to develop a point of sale system, Hot Sauce. 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. 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 We add some spice to it. . 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 chain plans on opening an astonishing 200 locations this year alone, which will mean it's opening its 1000th restaurant. This information is not intended as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy a franchise. And its the high quality food. A veteran hospitality professional . We had a high level of mutual trust and respect for each other that existed before I assumed the role of CEO. By year-end 2018 we opened 110 cafes and signed 191 new franchise agreements. Occhiogrosso: Please give our readers the "Elevator Pitch" for Tropical Smoothie Cafe? Here are some highlights of their conversation about his franchise business. Be sure that you have a minimum net worth of $350,000 and $125,000 in liquid assets. 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. This information is not intended as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy a franchise. Southern-style, all the way! 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. There are currently 913 franchised locations and 1 company-owned restaurant. Again, the franchising, especially in Tropical Smoothie, it is a local business. It was important to me that we have franchisees themselves share their feedback and align on system initiatives and goals. Occhiogrosso: What challenges, if any, did you face in getting "buy-in" from the existing franchise community once you became CEO? Charles recently joined his team in celebrating the opening of the 1,000th Tropical Smoothie Cafe location. 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. 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. *$1,009,803 System Wide Average Net Revenues. Were finding ourselves in an environment where people want speed. See where were looking to grow to meet the incredible demand. When asked about developing people skills with a generation used to communicating online, Its an opportunity for us as managers and Franchise Owners to teach the staff how to greet people, look them in the eye, and ask how may I serve you today? Its our job to teach the next generation. 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. I lean into that so that our employees can feel good about what they do.. And so the way that they impact the communities where they operate is a really big part. 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. Then I was our chief development officer and Ive been our CEO for about three years now. Thats a smoothie that has pineapple, strawberries, and white chocolate and coconut. 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. 1117 Perimeter Center West, Suite W200 Total investment for a new cafe opening ranges between $246,500 and $580,500. Thatll come down over time, but were going to open 130 cafes on top of that. In a franchise system, without broad franchisee buy-in, you cannot move as efficiently and effectively as is required in today's business environment.". 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. We can make you any smoothie that you like with our whole ingredients and you can mix and match as you see fit. We decreased royalties and deployed hyper-local marketing strategies to drive business within a 1to 2-mile radius of cafes. 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.