Smoothie King Franchises, the premier smoothie and nutritional lifestyle center, announced the opening of its first location in Aventura, Florida, marking the beginning of the brand's accelerated expansion plan under new global CEO Wan Kim.
The Aventura location is owned by veteran franchisee Chris Webb and plans to open to the public on November 5, 2012.
The Aventura store is the 19th Smoothie King in south Florida and part of the company's rapid growth plan, with an early focus on this emerging market.
Plans over the next five years include opening more than 40 stores in the region, targeting high-profile areas such as South Beach, Sunny Isles, Miami's MiMo District, Boca Raton, Weston, and many others.
Additional locations in Miami and Miami Lakes, Florida, will open this December, with another planned for Doral, Florida, in early 2013.
To help fuel growth, the company's executive team will host a Discovery Day on November 9 in Miami, sharing the benefits of opening a Smoothie King with potential future franchisees.
"South Florida is populated with health-conscious consumers," Kim says. "As a franchisee for over a decade, I see it as the perfect market for Smoothie King growth. The new Aventura loction, along with the 40 additional planned in the region, will be a crucial part of our plans to open more than 1,000 new franchised and corporate locations in the U.S. over the next five years."
Webb has been with the Smoothie King brand for nearly 15 years, working his way up from part-time team member to franchisee. He also owns the Smoothie King locations in Coconut Grove, Florida; the Wynwood Arts District in Miami; and a drive-thru Smoothie King in north Miami.
"We're very excited to bring Aventura residents the original, nutritional, fresh-blended smoothies and healthy retail products that Smoothie King is known for," Webb says. "Our south Florida expansion will bring Smoothie King's more than 60 fresh, made-to-order, nutritious fruit smoothies–as well as our wheatgrass, kale, carrot, apple, and orange juices–to guests looking for better-for-you, on-the-go products."
