Tropical Smoothie Cafe, the leading fast casual café concept known for its better-for-you food and smoothies with a tropical twist, announced tremendous success in the first half of 2016. Following a year where the company experienced the strongest growth in its 19-year history, the momentum is continuing as the sandwich and smoothie franchise reported a 6.4 percent increase in same-store sales and signed franchise agreements to develop 80 new cafés across the U.S., including in Albuquerque, Atlanta, Charleston, Houston, and Dallas.
“In 2015, we experienced a record-setting year thanks to our ongoing menu innovation and unwavering commitment from our franchisees and employees,” says Mike Rotondo, CEO of Tropical Smoothie Cafe. “We started this year with the same vigor and have already achieved tremendous success as we hit the half-way mark. With a strong franchise development pipeline, enticing limited-time menu items, and evolving technology with continued use of our new mobile ordering and payment app, we’re on track to reach our goal of exceeding 550 restaurants this year and further establishing Tropical Smoothie Cafe as a leader in the marketplace.”
Among new franchise developers are Dusty Veach, Nathan Miller, and Jake Miller who will own and operate five new Albuquerque, New Mexico, cafés, with plans to expand into the Santa Fe and Farmington areas over the next several years. Entrepreneurs Calei and Kodei Kesterson also have joined the Tropical Smoothie Cafe team, and have plans to open three new cafés in Dallas this year. Experienced restaurateurs Marc Rodenbaugh, Alex Corbishley, Lawrence Rodenbaugh, and Kevin Lawler, who make up RL Investments, also signed an agreement to own and operate a new café in Charleston, South Carolina, which will mark the second in the area.
This year, the food and smoothie franchise plans to exceed 550 restaurants nationwide. The brand currently has franchise opportunities across the U.S. in markets such as Miami, Philadelphia, Boston, Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Atlanta, Columbus, and Charlotte, among others. By 2018, Tropical Smoothie Cafe plans to have 800 units open across the U.S.
