So theres a lot of involvement. 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. I love that. And so thats one of my favorites. I would say that understanding the viewpoints and drivers of the different stakeholders I was serving was important. What was the condition of the company before you were named CEO? And its the high quality food. Other common Tropical Smoothie Cafe email . Charles Watson, CEO of Tropical Smoothie Cafe, LLC, said, "It's inspiring to be part of the growth that Tropical Smoothie Cafe has . 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. Our company sells about 200 franchises, opens over 120 cafes a year, and has more than 500 locations in the pipeline. 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. Beyond that, we need to provide training. Our company sells about 200 franchises, opens over 120 cafes a year, and has more than 500 locations in the pipeline. Paul Marsden oversees development and execution of financial strategies to support the companys business plans. 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. Tropical Smoothie Cafe CEO Charles Watson has been with the company for more than 10 years and is passionate about . These early experiences in the workforce are what ignited my entrepreneurial spirit. I and/or my business partner(s) have the following financials, Tropical Smoothie Cafe, LLC 770-580-2333, Tropical Smoothie Cafe Achieves New Milestones in 2022, These Will Be The 10 Fastest-Growing Restaurant Chains In 2023, Tropical Smoothie Cafe Propels Franchise Momentum in Q3. Watson:"As a first time CEO, learning to view the business from a thinking vs. a doing mentality was a challenge I faced. So that was helpful! Von Kutzleben most recently served as vice president of brand strategy, advertising and menu at Arbys. 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. We strive to continue to harness these relationships in this way and feel that this approach will continue to fuel our success. And that really got us down this road of: What is our purpose? Get Verified Emails for 1,980 Tropical Smoothie Cafe Employees. 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. I think the biggest shift will take place for those restaurants that can't be open right now. Our consumers really like our food. 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.. Yes, we have some great products on our menu that weve crafted, but you can go off script. Occhiogrosso:What was your plan for the first 90 days? Occhiogrosso: What is the mission and goal of the company over the next few years? Von Kutzleben most recently served as vice president of brand strategy, advertising and menu at Arbys. Your results may differ. 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. Our annual tactics are focused around delivering those results.". Watson: "Like I said, I was very fortunate to have had already developed relationships with our franchise community prior to becoming CEO. In 2018, when I was named CEO, we had more than 720 locations open nationwide. Charles recently joined his team in celebrating the opening of the 1,000th Tropical Smoothie Cafe location. We have quesadillas, we have flatbread sandwiches, we have sandwiches, we have salads. We like to call it chopping wood, meaning you dont decide when quitting time is; you simply get the work done. 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, Richard was the Vice President of Operations, West Division, for Papa Murphys International where he was responsible for field operations and marketing. So its got a little bit of indulgence to it. Right next to that is our relationship with our Franchise Owners. In July 2018, I was named interim CEO, and then permanent in December 2018.". Glad Tidings: Are Seasonal Franchises A Good Investment? Beyond just smoothies, we serve better-for-you . If you dont have a good product, it doesnt matter. And was one in place already? I wont lie, it was a blow to the ego at first, but it taught me what being a role player means and how important every role is to the bigger picture. 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. Charles Watson serves as CEO for Tropical Smoothie Cafe. Skip to main content Call now and speak to a franchise development leader. 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. 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. "Tropical Smoothie Cafe is a national fast-casual cafe concept inspiring healthier lifestyles with more than 850 locations in 44 states. Since that time, he has led the company on its quest towards $1billion in sales by 2023. 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. What was your plan for the first 90 days? 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. Those franchisees are serving our guests on the front lines I can't run this business without their candid feedback.". We figured a good person to ask might be the CEO of Tropical Smoothie Cafe, Charles Watson. Charles is directly responsible for selling more than 800 franchises during his tenure. 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. CALIFORNIA DISCLAIMER: THESE FRANCHISES HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE FRANCHISE INVESTMENT LAW OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. See where were looking to grow to meet the incredible demand. Tropical Smoothie Cafe, LLC . 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 gathered that feedback and used it to set goals and action plans for the company. I have a lot of people that inspire me daily, but I really do think that my parents inspired me to be the leader I am today. Thats a smoothie that has pineapple, strawberries, and white chocolate and coconut. 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. . Turns out, theres a lot to know about Tropical Smoothie Cafe. Chief Executive Officer @ Tropical Smoothie Cafe; . The reality is the Left Coast, the West coast, Oregon, California, and Washington. 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. Passion is key in everything. And is there a smoothie that you wish to see added to the menu in the future? 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. An offering can only be made by prospectus filed first with the Department of Law of the State of New York. Sometimes youve just got to go with the taste. Atlanta, GA 30338 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. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. ATLANTA, Nov. 10, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Tropical Smoothie Cafe, the fast-growing national franchise brand known for its better-for-you smoothies and food with a tropical . 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. So we dont have any specific development goals associated, i.e. Our annual tactics are focused around delivering those results.". There is no assurance that you will do as well. The way [Tropical Smoothie Cafe works in markets], we work the suburbs and the outskirts, and move our way into cities. 770-580-2333 And the other misconception, whether you think its uber healthy or not so healthy, is that you, the consumer, the guest have all the choice in the world. Charles also serves on the boards of the International Franchise Association (IFA) and the Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) program. Today's post focus' on that topic in an interview with Charles Watson, the CEO of Tropical Smoothie Caf. 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. 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. F-9894), New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin. No credit card required. Call now and speak to a franchise development leader. Jul. Tropical Smoothie Caf currently has over 800 locations nationwide. He has been instrumental in developing the culture of Tropical Smoothie Cafe and earning the trust of our franchisees. 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. Call now and speak to a franchise development leader. 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. Im a football lover. 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. In response to a question about the culture of Tropical Smoothie Cafe, Watson elaborated: The mission of Tropical Smoothie Cafe is to inspire a healthier lifestyle. charles watson tropical smoothie cafe. 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. Occhiogrosso: How do you see the company moving forward? In her role as Chief Development Officer, Cheryl drives the brands franchise development sales, real estate and design and construction. And theyve been able to do that, which is increased our average unit volume many, many times over the years. As a restaurant executive, hospitality should be in your blood. 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. Nobody knew what was going to happen. As reopening guidelines are being determined, we plan to move forward with an abundance of caution. From my VP of development officer to today as CEO, Ive been passionate about the brands vision. Tropical Smoothie Cafe announces Charles Watson as the new Chief Executive Officer. How are we purpose-driven? And were rolling that out under our tagline of Inspire Better. 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. Were finding ourselves in an environment where people want speed. 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. We gathered that feedback and used it to set goals and action plans for the company. 1117 Perimeter Center West, Suite W200 And the digital guest experience is another way for our customers to use us. His goal is to achieve $1 billion in sales and 1,500+ cafes by 2023. . 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 . Fast CasualAn interview with Tim Tang of HughesDecember 2, 2019. 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.". Unresolved: Release in which this issue/RFE will be addressed. In these roles, Charles was responsible for all development of the Tropical Smoothie Cafe brand. NET WORTH * LIQUID CAPITAL/CASH . Charles recently joined his team in celebrating the opening of the 1,000th Tropical Smoothie Cafe location. Charles also serves on the boards of the International Franchise Association (IFA) and the Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) program. 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. 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. Without our franchisees, committees, and council, I simply could not do this job. Jan 2010 - Nov 20155 years 11 months. A presentation for a board is focused on very different things than a franchisee roadshow. Were implementing a new point-of-sale system that acts as a hub and enables all third-party delivery, white label delivery, online ordering, etc. 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. With 2011 winding down, how are you leveraging people, budgets, brands, and resources to meet development goals? 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. Each year, franchisees complete the Franchise Business Review to essentially grade us here at the Support Center on how we're serving them. Franchising offers multiple benefits to a business as a whole. We want to capture both the head and the heart of our consumers. A shift leaders hourly wage is an average of $11. So its the made-to-order. Watson will lead us through our next phase of strategic growth. 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 . Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Richard has served in a franchise operations capacity for more than 20 years with brands such as TCBY, Carvel, and Moes Southwest Grill. 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. Did you foresee the level of growth the chain has experienced of late? Then I was our chief development officer and Ive been our CEO for about three years now. The companys goal is to open 1,500 cafes or more by the year 2024. 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%. Weve been in partnership with them for over 10 years now. Charles also serves on the boards of the International Franchise Association (IFA) and the Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) program. See where were looking to grow to meet the incredible demand. CALIFORNIA DISCLAIMER: THESE FRANCHISES HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE FRANCHISE INVESTMENT LAW OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. CALIFORNIA DISCLAIMER: THESE FRANCHISES HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE FRANCHISE INVESTMENT LAW OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. 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. 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. 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. Currently, the following states regulate the offer and sale of franchises: California, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota (File No. So I actually see myself very much like our consumer who wants to make better choices, but you know what? I love those states, [but] those are not really key states for us at this point, our big bastions out west are Las Vegas and Phoenix. "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. And theyre in their communities. Now were really taking the lead from our franchisees and building out DMAs organically from outside them. 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. Outside of smoothies, whats the top-selling non-smoothie product? Nov 10, 2021, 09:36 ET. So thats what we call Inspiring Better. I love a good pot roast with mashed potatoes, green beans and corn. If you dont have a Tropical Smoothie Cafe near your home yet, just wait a bit. He was previously Tropical Smoothie Cafe's Chief Development Officer since 2016, after serving as VP of Franchise Development since 2010. I think all natural, whole fruit, and the ability to substitute while also having some really great baseline recipes that we have out there. Cheryl Fletcher, Chief Development Officer of Tropical Smoothie Cafe, shares highlights of her career and leadership style in Franchising. NET WORTH * LIQUID CAPITAL/CASH . Complete the form or call 770-821-1928, and a Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchise development leader will reach out to you with more information. In that role, he was responsible for all aspects of franchise development, real estate, design and construction and franchise administration and helped grow the system from 265 open units to 725 open units. 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. 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. Its tough. If you don't have a Tropical Smoothie Cafe near your home yet, just wait a bit. Michael Lapid joined Tropical Smoothie Cafe in October of 2019 to the role of Chief Information and Digital Officer. 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?" But the Mango Berry Cosmo has overtaken it. Tropical Smoothie Cafe has relationships with third-party sources which offer financing to cover the following: startup . 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 is something you wish more people knew about the chain and its products? 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 that was helpful! Be sure that you have a minimum net worth of $350,000 and $125,000 in liquid assets. "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. Please give our readers the "Elevator Pitch" for Tropical Smoothie Cafe? So I was compelled to ask Mr. Watson his thoughts on the pandemic and the company's response. There is no assurance that you will do as well. 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 So its getting involved with charity partners. There are currently 913 franchised locations and 1 company-owned restaurant. 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. 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. . Always number one, what I am focused on, is unit-level economics for our Franchise Owners. 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 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. 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. Tropical Smoothie Cafe Store Managers make an average of $39,252 per year. Every day is a day to celebrate at Tropical Smoothie Cafe, with all the success were having. Occhiogrosso: What challenges, if any, did you face in getting "buy-in" from the existing franchise community once you became CEO? The success of our brand is about the talent and drive of our talented executives and Support Center team. This information appears in Item 19 of our Franchise Disclosure Document. 770-580-2333 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. As CEO, Watsons goal is to achieve $1 billion in sales and more than 1,500 cafes by 2023. Here are some highlights of their conversation about his franchise business. Thatll come down over time, but were going to open 130 cafes on top of that. 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. An offering can only be made by prospectus filed first with the Department of Law of the State of New York. 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. We really call Tropical Smoothie Cafe a street corner business. 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. 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. I try to pass along that spirit and advice to others. "Relationships Rule" is one of our core values, and because of that, people are at the heart of our company. 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. Prior to that, he was named Chief Development Officer in 2015 after serving as VP of Franchise Development since 2010. Since that time, he has led the company on its quest towards $1billion in sales by 2023. Ivebeen with Tropical Smoothie since 2010 and was [first] our vice president of franchise development, he told Mashed. Tropical Smoothie Cafe's primary competitors include Del Taco, Jack in the Box, El Pollo Loco and 19 more. At the start of his career, Michaels ambitious spirit led him to develop a point of sale system, Hot Sauce. This information is not intended as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy a franchise. And what we were able to do is to take a smaller organization that was scrappy, just like Tropical Smoothie Cafe, and really build their endowment and really serve a lot of families. we dont want to go to Manhattan and open 30 locations. 2~10() . The guests who support local businesses in and around their communities are the ones we give the credit to because their loyalty to our cafes is what has ultimately maintained our ability to serve. I lean into that so that our employees can feel good about what they do.. Management can grow a company without having to invest too much money, and . Some of our franchisees had the idea to donate smoothies to first responders and hospital workers in Atlanta. Because we want to help with your meal and your food, etc. Watson: "Tropical Smoothie Cafe is a national fast-casual cafe concept inspiring healthier lifestyles with more than 850 locations in 44 states. It posted its ninth consecutive year of positive same-store sales, with 2020 same-stores up 7.5%. 770-580-2333 wills o' nats last of the summer wine. Mark Montini joined Tropical Smoothie Cafe as Chief Marketing Officer in October 2019. When our franchisees are successful, the brand is successful. Such filing does not constitute approval by the Department of Law. What challenges, if any, did you face in getting "buy-in" from the existing franchise community once you became CEO? The smoothie-and-food chain has been a strong grower for years and turned on the jets so far in 2021. Tropical Smoothie Caf's recent momentum isn't just a snowball rolling downhillit's more like a full-on avalanche. This information appears in Item 19 of our Franchise Disclosure Document. And so were going to really get to focus there. . On the other hand, its hard to beat a plate of spaghetti. Paul Marsden oversees development and execution of financial strategies to support the companys business plans. charles watson tropical smoothie net worth. Charles recently joined his team in celebrating the opening of the 1,000th Tropical Smoothie Cafe location. 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.

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charles watson tropical smoothie net worth