Tropical Smoothie Café announced that Kathleen Gehl and Bob Fischer joined the company as performance improvement consultants to help local stores reach their maximum sales potential.

Their responsibilities will be to support area developers and assist the developers and franchisees in improving their performance through the use of business tools and systems provided by Tropical Smoothie Café.

“We are thrilled to welcome both Kathleen and Bob to the Tropical Smoothie Café team,” says Jim Valentino, president and chief operating officer. “Their knowledge of the proven systems that generate maximum performance is an asset that will benefit all the store owners and area developers they work with.”

Both Fischer and Gehl are foodservice industry veterans.

Most recently, Fischer was the vice president of operations and managing partner with Promus Restaurants LLC, responsible for total supervision of all stores under the Cold Stone Creamery and BD’s Mongolian Grill brands in the Cincinnati and Lexington, Kentucky, markets. He has also been regional director of operations/franchise consultant for Cold Stone Creamery and district manager for BD’s Mongolian Grill.

Fischer will be responsible for performance improvement in Ohio, South Carolina, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and New York.

“Joining the Tropical Smoothie Café brand is an honor for me, and I look forward to helping area developers and franchisees reach new heights in sales performance,” Fischer says.

Gehl most recently was senior business consultant-operations/catering sales and development for Atlanta Bread Company, where she provided guidance on improving overall business and operations to franchisees in a 25-state territory. She has also held executive positions with Brinker International and Mitchell Hospitality Group and has extensive experience in management, sales and customer relations.

Gehl will be responsible for performance improvement in Georgia, Louisiana, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Nebraska, Montana, Tennessee, Iowa, and Michigan.

“I’m pleased to be part of such a dynamic brand as Tropical Smoothie Café,” Gehl says. “I’m eager to lend my expertise to every effort that helps it grow.”