Smoothie King Franchises today announced its nearly 600 locations across the country are now open at 7 a.m. on weekdays. The expanded hours reflect the country’s demand for quick and healthy breakfast options.
“So many of our guests have been asking for early morning hours,” says Steve Kuhnau, co-founder of Smoothie King. “As a business move, we see this as a great way to address the needs of our guests, providing a quick and healthful alternative to traditional breakfast fast foods.”
Kuhnau also cites the new morning hours as a way to further the company’s mission to encourage more people to achieve healthy lifestyles.
“We want to ensure folks are taking care of their health by making good choices throughout the day, and starting with a good breakfast is critical,” Kuhnau says. “Nutritious, refreshing, and the ultimate in portability, we think our smoothies are the perfect breakfast option.”
In addition to its more than 40 smoothie blends, the chain recently rolled out expanded breakfast offerings with a new line of all-natural, protein-enriched muffins and breakfast cookies.
“Studies have shown that nearly half of Americans are skipping breakfast — and yet it’s no secret a healthy breakfast is critical to starting the day off well,” says Molly Kimball, RD, CSSD, and Smoothie King nutritional consultant.
“Plus, as Americans face mounting levels of stress, eating a healthy breakfast can help support well-being — from boosting energy to maintaining optimum blood and sugar levels, and helping to protect the immune system,” Kimball says.
Exceptions to the new opening time include locations in airports and shopping malls, where hours may vary.