Smoothie King Franchises announced at its recent annual national franchisee conference that it has named Roger and Stephanie Wilder of Denham Springs, Louisiana “Franchisee of the Year.”
The Wilders were selected for excellence in store operations, customer service, and community dedication, as well as their strong passion to help guests lead healthier lifestyles. The couple has garnered the title seven of the past eight years.
“We’re proud to honor and extend our heartfelt congratulations to the Wilders on this well-deserved recognition,” says Smoothie King global CEO Wan Kim. “Over the years, these franchisees continue to demonstrate that strong leadership, combined with Smoothie King’s proven business model, can yield outstanding results. We are very fortunate to have them as our partners and look forward to witnessing their future achievements.”
At the age of 18, Roger Wilder got his start as a team member serving guests from behind the counter. Over the years, he worked his way up from store-level to corporate management, where he worked closely with the brand’s founders to learn their vision.
Today, the Wilders own and operate 10 locations in the Baton Rouge, Louisiana, market and have an additional location scheduled to open next year in Watson, Louisiana.
“Since opening our first store in 2001, our focus has always been to help guests lead healthier lifestyles,” Roger Wilder says. “Our success can be attributed to our exceptional team—our company’s greatest investment—who has shown their commitment through providing excellent service and creating a positive work environment, which ultimately has translated into an amazing guest experience. This award would not have been possible without their support.”
Smoothie King plans to add 1,000 new franchised and corporate locations domestically over the next five years.