Mark Montini joined Tropical Smoothie Cafe as Chief Marketing Officer in October 2019. 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. Our relationships are founded on trust and respect for the unique talents of our teams, franchisees, and vendors alike. 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. And its the high quality food. 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. What was your plan for the first 90 days? Cheryl Fletcher joined Tropical Smoothie Cafe in July of 2017. Chipotle chicken flatbread. Tropical Smoothie Cafe CEO Charles Watson admits that his brand isn't always at the leading edge when it comes to technology innovation. 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. Theres an obvious answer for me here, and thats to put your heart into what you do. TropicalSmoothie.com. *$1,009,803 System Wide Average Net Revenues. Von Kutzleben most recently served as vice president of brand strategy, advertising and menu at Arbys. But we want to also have a higher calling of what were doing to be great individuals and great corporate citizens. This information appears in Item 19 of our Franchise Disclosure Document. Charles recently joined his team in celebrating the opening of the 1,000th Tropical Smoothie Cafe location. It was not possible for me to get involved in every project so I had to learn to let go and delegate. No credit card required. Watson: As you know, the restaurant industry has taken a huge hit. So thats always up there. I was originally a quarterback in high school and had my heart set on the same position for college. Based on our fiscal year ending 12/26/2021 and includes 768 Restaurants that were open for at least 12 months as of 12/26/2021. Watson: "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. Be sure that you have a minimum net worth of $350,000 and $125,000 in liquid assets. So we managed to get through that. Tropical Smoothie Caf Income Statement Key Insights-Analysis based off Predecessor 2020-Overall, Tropical Smoothie Caf is a profitable business, with a net income of $7.6 million in 2020. Saturday 31st December 2022 (New Year's Eve) 10:00pm til 4:00am. 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. We have three tenets in how we serve our Franchise Owners. Prior to being named CEO in 2018, Charles served as the chief development officer for Tropical Smoothie Cafe. And by the way, thats one way Tropical Smoothie Cafe has grown so big so fast the food. 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. The company's goal is to . Always number one, what I am focused on, is unit-level economics for our Franchise Owners. There is no assurance that you will do as well. 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. What is the mission and goal of the company over the next few years? Then I was our chief development officer and Ive been our CEO for about three years now. I try to pass along that spirit and advice to others. Charles Watson CEO. This information is not intended as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy a franchise. Players MAY win multiple prizes in a. What is something you wish more people knew about the chain and its products? Each year, franchisees complete the Franchise Business Review to essentially grade us here at the Support Center on how we're serving them. We figured a good person to ask might be the CEO of Tropical Smoothie Cafe, Charles Watson. I think all natural, whole fruit, and the ability to substitute while also having some really great baseline recipes that we have out there. Without our franchisees, committees, and council, I simply could not do this job. As you know, the restaurant industry has taken a huge hit. It was important to me that we have franchisees themselves share their feedback and align on system initiatives and goals. Atlanta, GA. Because sure, the smoothies sell well and all, but did you know about the Chipotle Chicken Club flatbread sandwich? 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. Michael Lapid joined Tropical Smoothie Cafe in October of 2019 to the role of Chief Information and Digital Officer. 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. 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. Weve done different promotions and summertime promotions to raise dollars for Camp Sunshine and have one more coming up this fall for them. While we had always involved franchisees, I felt it needed to be formalized and more visible to our franchise system. He has been the Chief Development Officer since 2015 and directly responsible for selling more than 800 franchises during his tenure. We look forward to realizing Charles vision for the company.. CEO Charles Watson says that the company is "99.9 percent franchise," which means that most of the locations are owned independently. "Tropical Smoothie Cafe is in a perfect position for the future. 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. Beyond just smoothies, we serve better-for-you . Charles Watson:"Prior to joining Tropical Smoothie Cafe, I worked for several hotel and hospitality-centric companies, including Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Intercontinental Hotels Group, US Franchise Systems, Inc. and Hospitality Real Estate Counselors. We consider ourselves to be an approachable, healthier option for the average American, and our customer loyalty system-wide continues to climb. By Jonathan Maze on Apr. 2~10() . In her role as Chief Development Officer, Cheryl drives the brands franchise development sales, real estate and design and construction. Beyond just smoothies, we serve better-for-you wraps, sandwiches, and flatbreads, and pride ourselves on living at the "intersection of taste, convenience, and hospitality." We find that real fruits, veggies, and juices just taste better.". So I think theres a misconception with some brands that, for example a Slurpee, its not at all a Slurpee, its absolutely whole real fruit, ice, water, very basic items. 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. We set company-wide strategic imperatives around these issues immediately.". New York State Disclaimer: This advertisement is not an offering. I worked for my father throughout my teenage years, and those years were my first taste of what the industry was all about. We decreased royalties and deployed hyper-local marketing strategies to drive business within a 1to 2-mile radius of cafes. 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.". 5 Questions with Tropical Smoothie CEO Charles Watson. Youre asking me to pick which kid I like the best. Any plans for celebrations and promotions around the quarter-century mark? Such filing does not constitute approval by the Department of Law. 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. 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. 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. 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. Von Kutzleben most recently served as vice president of brand strategy, advertising and menu at Arbys. 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. In July 2018, I was named interim CEO, and then permanent in December 2018.". Charles recently joined his team in celebrating the opening of the 1,000th Tropical Smoothie Cafe location. "I've been with Tropical Smoothie since 2010 and was [first] our vice president of franchise development," he told Mashed. And so I think were right on pace. Tropical Smoothie Cafe CEO Charles Watson Tells Us Everything About The Franchise - Exclusive Interview. Areas we wanted to attack immediately with our rapid growth were direct franchisee support as well as technology support and menu innovation. The reality is the Left Coast, the West coast, Oregon, California, and Washington. Charles recently joined his team in celebrating the opening of the 1,000th Tropical Smoothie Cafe location. The offering is by prospectus only. But I would tell you that what has ultimately driven this brand is our franchisees and it is our culture, right? The best smoothie in terms of sales actually going on right now is our Mango Berry Cosmo. Yes, we have some great products on our menu that weve crafted, but you can go off script. 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.. 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. No Place Like Home: Home Service Franchises Enjoy Continued Growth During Times Of Financial Difficulty, Little Caesars Pizza Franchise Set To Relaunch In The UK, The Importance Of Having A Franchise Exit Strategy. Excludes non-traditional locations and Restaurants that were not open for at least 357 days in 2021. *$1,009,803 System Wide Average Net Revenues. So thats what we call Inspiring Better. Is there a smoothie that you personally are thrilled is on the menu, but just dont enjoy yourself? And I dont think enough people know that you can go off script to substitute or to take out, etc. 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. Both of my parents had the entrepreneur bug and they definitely passed that on to me. Well see, I may have to bring that one back. The number one seller from a limited time offer perspective has always been our summertime Watermelon Mojito, its incredibly popular, 20 to 25 sales per cafe per day, with that Watermelon Mojito, everyone looks forward to it. Were 100% focused on domestic right now. For me, its about really making sure that those DMAs [distinct market areas] or those different cities are all well represented and well connected so that our brand can compete in those different cities. Occhiogrosso: What was the condition of the company before you were named CEO? We're a healthier, quick . 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. So again, I mentioned earlier menu innovation. Mark serves on the board of the Institute of Certified Franchise Executives. Currently, the following states regulate the offer and sale of franchises: California, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota (File No. Tropical Smoothie Cafe's primary competitors include Del Taco, Jack in the Box, El Pollo Loco and 19 more. Oh gosh. Charles Watson serves as CEO for Tropical Smoothie Cafe. In this role, he is responsible for the brand's strategic vision and overall franchise performance. The offering is by prospectus only. The chain plans on opening an astonishing 200 locations this year alone, which will mean its opening its 1000threstaurant. Was it a pleasant surprise, expected, or was it a bit of both? Watson has more than 10 years of experience with Tropical Smoothie Cafe and led our franchise development efforts since 2010. CEO Charles Watson, along with his leadership team, will be hosting an informative event at the franchised Tropical Smoothie Cafe in Dallas-Fort Worth, located at 760 Airport Freeway, Suite 400 . Paul Marsden oversees development and execution of financial strategies to support the companys business plans. In these roles, Charles was responsible for all development of the Tropical Smoothie Cafe brand. 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. And was one in place already? Outside of smoothies, whats the top-selling non-smoothie product? 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.". Prior to joining Tropical Smoothie Cafe, I worked for several hotel and hospitality-centric companies, including Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Intercontinental Hotels Group, US Franchise Systems, Inc. and Hospitality Real Estate Counselors. NET WORTH * LIQUID CAPITAL/CASH . We did a fantastic job of that during the pandemic, we gave away a quarter million smoothies to healthcare workers and first-responders. Since that time, he has led the company on its quest towards $1billion in sales by 2023. We consider ourselves to be an approachable, healthier option for the average American, and our customer loyalty system-wide continues to climb. When I became CEO, I launched a formal franchisee advisory council, known in our organization as the Tropical Franchisee Council (TFC). charles watson tropical smoothie net worth 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. Related Posts. We have very dedicated franchisees that just go out there and drive the business every day. Southern-style, all the way! 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. 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. This information is not intended as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy a franchise. The offering is by prospectus only. 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. 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.