Tropical Smoothie Café, a tropical-themed smoothie and sandwich chain with more than 285 locations, announced today that Charles Watson has joined the company as Vice President of Franchise Development.
In his new role, Watson will be responsible for awarding Tropical Smoothie Café franchise opportunities to a targeted pool of candidates in the United States. Watson will report to Jim Valentino, president and chief operating officer of Tropical Smoothie Café.
“We are thrilled to welcome Charles to the Tropical Smoothie Café team,” Valentino says. “I am confident that with his expertise he will help us take Tropical Smoothie Café’s aggressive national expansion to the next level.”
Watson, a seasoned franchise development professional, brings a wealth of experience in field operations, marketing and sales, and training and development, among other areas. Having worked as a senior broker in the Investments Advisor Division for Hospitality Real Estate Counselors, the nation’s premiere real estate advisory and brokerage organization, as well as in multiple management positions including roles with US Franchise Systems Inc. Wyndham Hotel Group, and the InterContinental Hotels Group, Watson has established himself as a leader in franchising, real estate and development.
“Tropical Smoothie Café is the perfect opportunity to work with a proven franchiser and enhance a franchise network that is poised for aggressive growth in many markets throughout the United States,” Watson says. “I look forward to promoting the brand and driving its success well into the future.”
Watson holds an MBA from the University of Georgia and a Bachelor of Science in Sales & Marketing from Cornell University.
Tropical Smoothie Café is aggressively expanding its franchise base with plans to add another 50 locations by 2011. The new locations will increase Tropical Smoothie Café’s franchised locations in the United States from 285 to more than 300. Calling for new locations in large and small markets across the United States, Tropical Smoothie Café’s expansion will occur both through multi-unit franchise agreements and single-location openings.
