Since that time, he has led the company on its quest towards $1billion in sales by 2023. Charles also serves on the boards of the International Franchise Association (IFA) and the Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) program. As reopening guidelines are being determined, we plan to move forward with an abundance of caution.". Occhiogrosso: What challenges, if any, did you face in getting "buy-in" from the existing franchise community once you became CEO? Early in his career, Mark served the franchise industry as a supplier, delivering innovative technology-enabled marketing strategies to help emerging franchise concepts rapidly scale and grow revenue through local-level marketing and sales. The initial investment ranges from $246,500 to $580,500. Our company sells about 200 franchises, opens over 120 cafes a year, and has more than 500 locations in the pipeline. Interested candidates should have business experience, along with a minimum net worth of $350,000 which includes $125,000 in liquid assets. In that role, he was responsible for all aspects of franchise development, real estate, design and construction and franchise administration and helped grow the system from 265 open units to 725 open units. Some of our franchisees had the idea to donate smoothies to first responders and hospital workers in Atlanta. Tropical Smoothie Cafe has deals in place for hundreds more locations in the pipeline and is on track to meet Charles aggressive goal to hit 1,500 locations by the end of 2024. In July 2018, I was named interim CEO, and then permanent in December 2018.". So I was compelled to ask Mr. Watson his thoughts on the pandemic and the company's response. Tropical Smoothie Cafe CEO Charles Watson admits that his brand isn't always at the leading edge when it comes to technology innovation. Such filing does not constitute approval by the Department of Law. Tropical Smoothie Cafe announces Charles Watson as the new Chief Executive Officer. TropicalSmoothie.com. Again, the franchising, especially in Tropical Smoothie, it is a local business. Mr. Watson was appointed the CEO position of Tropical Smoothie Cafe in December 2018. The range is based on estimated costs for End-Cap or In-Line Tropical Smoothie Cafe Restaurants, which include those located in or at strip style retail shopping centers but does not include drive-thrus. I would say that understanding the viewpoints and drivers of the different stakeholders I was serving was important. Absolutely. Currently, the following states regulate the offer and sale of franchises: California, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota (File No. With extensive experience in the food service industry, Paul comes to Tropical Smoothie Cafe from Popeyes, where he served as the Chief Accounting Officer and spent nearly two decades working in the brands financial and accounting departments. 770-580-2333 That created a kind of blueprint that served as the foundation for me to take the reins and lead the company the way I felt was best. In a franchise system, without broad franchisee buy-in, you cannot move as efficiently and effectively as is required in today's business environment.". "I wanted to further instill a franchisee-first mentality. If your Franchised Business includes a drive-thru, the additional expense (including the cost of leasehold improvements, restaurant fixtures and equipment, and other costs) would be approximately $35,000 to $45,000. This process only helps our individual franchisees and their bottom line, respectively.". So its the made-to-order. Any plans for celebrations and promotions around the quarter-century mark? The guests who support local businesses in and around their communities are the ones we give the credit to because their loyalty to our cafes is what has ultimately maintained our ability to serve. No credit card required. Prior to being named CEO in 2018, Charles served as the chief development officer for Tropical Smoothie Cafe. Unresolved: Release in which this issue/RFE will be addressed. Charles Watson serves as CEO for Tropical Smoothie Cafe. And was one in place already? What was your plan for the first 90 days? Interested Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchise candidates should have business experience, along with a minimum net worth of $350,000, which includes $125,000 in liquid assets. In short, franchisees needed to know that there was a formal mechanism of their peers that was constantly feeding back to us at the Support Center. From my VP of development officer to today as CEO, Ive been passionate about the brands vision. Watson has been with Tropical Smoothie Cafe for many years now, so he has seen the growth up close. Tropical Smoothie Cafe has relationships with third-party sources which offer financing to cover the following: startup . Turns out, theres a lot to know about Tropical Smoothie Cafe. CALIFORNIA DISCLAIMER: THESE FRANCHISES HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE FRANCHISE INVESTMENT LAW OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. When Charles Watson became the new Tropical Smoothie Cafe CEO in 2019, . Nov 10, 2021, 09:36 ET. Excludes non-traditional locations and Restaurants that were not open for at least 357 days in 2021. Tell us a bit about Camp Sunshine, about the partnership there, what you want people to know about it, and ways people can help support it. I love those states, [but] those are not really key states for us at this point, our big bastions out west are Las Vegas and Phoenix. Complete the form or call 770-821-1928, and a Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchise development leader will reach out to you with more information. Michael brings 20 years of foundational IT skills and core functions of digital knowledge critical to shaping our journey to reach guests via innovative technologies. Charles is directly responsible for selling more than 800 franchises during his tenure. Were 100% focused on domestic right now. Or the Hummus Veggie Wrap? Occhiogrosso: Please give our readers the "Elevator Pitch" for Tropical Smoothie Cafe? Because sure, the smoothies sell well and all, but did you know about the Chipotle Chicken Club flatbread sandwich? He sat down to do an interview with Tim Tang and talked about how his brand is innovating to meet the needs of todays consumers. "Relationships Rule" is one of our core values, and because of that, people are at the heart of our company. Glad Tidings: Are Seasonal Franchises A Good Investment? So theres a lot of involvement. Without our franchisees, committees, and council, I simply could not do this job. So thats always up there. Mark serves on the board of the Institute of Certified Franchise Executives. . Tropical Smoothie Cafe has deals in place for hundreds more locations in the pipeline and is on track to meet Charles' aggressive goal to hit 1,500 locations by the end of 2024. The most common Tropical Smoothie Cafe email format is [first_initial] [last] (ex. Tropical Smoothie Cafe CEO Charles Watson has been with the company for more than 10 years and is passionate about supporting the franchise systems sustainable growth, the success of its franchisees, and the execution of the brands Inspire Better mission. When asked about developing people skills with a generation used to communicating online, Its an opportunity for us as managers and Franchise Owners to teach the staff how to greet people, look them in the eye, and ask how may I serve you today? Its our job to teach the next generation. Tropical Smoothie Cafe's Profile, Revenue and Employees. Watson discusses how and why the brand has seen a Q3 same-store sales jump of 19.5% during the pandemic Tropical Smoothie Cafe on franchisee success during COVID-19 | Nation's Restaurant News Skip to main content Call now and speak to a franchise development leader. I and/or my business partner(s) have the following financials, Tropical Smoothie Cafe, LLC Charles is a graduate of The Hotel School at Cornell University and holds a Master of Business Administration from The Terry College of Business at The University of Georgia. Early in his career, Mark served the franchise industry as a supplier, delivering innovative technology-enabled marketing strategies to help emerging franchise concepts rapidly scale and grow revenue through local-level marketing and sales. I joined Tropical Smoothie Cafe in 2010 as the Vice President of Franchise Development and, in 2016, became the Chief Development Officer, where I was responsible for all aspects of the development of the brand. ATLANTA, Nov. 10, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Tropical Smoothie Cafe, the fast-growing national franchise brand known for its better-for-you smoothies and food with a tropical . In my case, because I already had nearly a decade with Tropical Smoothie Cafe on the franchise development side, I had the unique advantage of personal relationships with our franchise community. Atlanta, GA 30338 As a 35 year veteran of the restaurant and franchise industry, I have always been fascinated by the challenges, risks, rewards, and day to day "work" a CEO faces when first taking the helm of an ongoing franchise organization. The success of our brand is about the talent and drive of our talented executives and Support Center team. which of the following is not characteristic of groupthink SPEED So just one shy of 100. Atlanta, GA 30338 If your Franchised Business includes a drive-thru, the additional expense (including the cost of leasehold improvements, restaurant fixtures and equipment, and other costs) would be approximately $35,000 to $45,000. charles watson tropical smoothie net worth. 770-821-1928, and a Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchise development leader will reach out to you with more information. As their franchise website states: "Tropical Smoothie Cafes menu boasts bold, flavorful smoothies with a healthy appeal, all made-to-order with quality ingredients. shin numbness after acl surgery; first friday phoenix vendor application; benton high school baseball roster; surprise message link for boyfriend "We were in a good place! Share Tweet Share Pin. We did a fantastic job of that during the pandemic, we gave away a quarter million smoothies to healthcare workers and first-responders. My predecessor did a great job, so most of the hesitancy candidly was, "will this guy be as good, will we have the same amount of success?" Charles Watson, CEO of Tropical Smoothie Cafe, LLC, said, "We were humbled by the incredible response to the 200,000 smoothies our franchisees donated to frontline heroes nationwide. So more knowledge about our great food offerings is something that I would change a little bit. We can make you any smoothie that you like with our whole ingredients and you can mix and match as you see fit. Management can grow a company without having to invest too much money, and . Early in his career, Mark served the franchise industry as a supplier, delivering innovative technology-enabled marketing strategies to help emerging franchise concepts rapidly scale and grow revenue through local-level marketing and sales. Tropical Smoothie Cafe has deals in place for hundreds more locations in the pipeline and is on track to meet Charles aggressive goal to hit 1,500 locations by the end of 2024. Tropical Smoothie Cafe CEO Charles Watson has been with the company for more than 10 years and is passionate about . So our franchisees, if theyre staying on top of their Tropical Smoothie Cafe, theyve got to own that three to five mile radius around there. When Charles Watson became the new Tropical Smoothie Cafe CEO in 2019, the company claimed that it could be looking at $1 billion in sales in the next five years. The fact that nearly 60% of all new Tropical Smoothie Cafe units are opened by existing franchisees underscores the franchise owner's satisfaction with the concept, the company, and it's leadership. In that role, he was responsible for all aspects of franchise development, real estate, design and construction and franchise administration and helped grow the system from 265 open units to 725 open units. One of the biggest expenses seen in the income statement is $12 million spent in . It posted its ninth consecutive year of positive same-store sales, with 2020 same-stores up 7.5%. Von Kutzleben most recently served as vice president of brand strategy, advertising and menu at Arbys. Charles also serves on the boards of the International Franchise Association (IFA) and the Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) program. "I think when taking over any brand where you worked alongside your predecessor, there's a certain level of pressure to continue carrying the torch, but also to make necessary changes to the brand to evolve with the changing economy and consumer trends. It is, however, still a hefty financial investment. We set company-wide strategic imperatives around these issues immediately.". 1117 Perimeter Center West, Suite W200 Currently, the following states regulate the offer and sale of franchises: California, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota (File No. For many, many years, its been the Bahama Mama. We figured a good person to ask might be the CEO of Tropical Smoothie Cafe, Charles Watson. What sets your smoothies apart from smoothies from competitors? Prior to Tropical Smoothie Cafe, Mark served as Chief Marketing Officer with Floor Coverings International where he was responsible for driving the brands digital transformation and leadership position in service-based franchising. If its not run-of-the-mill bland food, we want to bring a little bit of a culinary experience to quick casual, and still provide convenience, and value, and all those kinds of things. Early in his career, Mark served the franchise industry as a supplier, delivering innovative technology-enabled marketing strategies to help emerging franchise concepts rapidly scale and grow revenue through local-level marketing and sales. Every day is a day to celebrate at Tropical Smoothie Cafe, with all the success were having. Tropical Smoothie Cafe CEO Charles Watson Tells Us Everything About The Franchise - Exclusive Interview. *$1,009,803 System Wide Average Net Revenues. The offering is by prospectus only. Such filing does not constitute approval by the Department of Law. The TFC works hand-in-hand with Tropical Smoothie on all facets of the business from operations, IT, marketing, construction, and beyond, and their genuine feedback continues to establish the open communication we strive for, helping us to enhance our business model on an ongoing basis. Looking ahead to twelve months or two years down the road, Watson had this to say: Tropical Smoothie Cafe is in an incredible growth phase. As reopening guidelines are being determined, we plan to move forward with an abundance of caution. When I became CEO, I launched a formal franchisee advisory council, known in our organization as the Tropical Franchisee Council (TFC). In this role, Mark leads brand, marketing, product, and digital innovations core functions of delivering the remarkable guest experience that drives Tropical Smoothie Cafes success. Yes, we have some great products on our menu that weve crafted, but you can go off script. The company's goal is to . I think all natural, whole fruit, and the ability to substitute while also having some really great baseline recipes that we have out there. 770-580-2333, NRN Editors Discuss Digital Engagement with CMO Deborah von Kutzleben, Tropical Smoothie Cafe Achieves New Milestones in 2022, These Will Be The 10 Fastest-Growing Restaurant Chains In 2023. Find contact details for 700 million professionals. As a restaurant executive, hospitality should be in your blood. If you are a resident of or want to locate a franchise in one of these states, we will not offer you a franchise unless and until we have complied with applicable pre-sale registration and disclosure requirements in your state. Its getting involved in the local community. This information is not intended as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy a franchise. Were right, exactly where It was a little bit of a step back in 2020, but in 2021, our year-to-date comparative sales are [up] almost 30%. We had a high level of mutual trust and respect for each other that existed before I assumed the role of CEO. We have three tenets in how we serve our Franchise Owners. He is directly responsible for selling more than 800 franchises. And now is the right time to buy." . Then we determined two focus areas, giving back to the community and prioritizing support for our franchisees. CEO Charles Watson says that the company is "99.9 percent franchise," which means that most of the locations are owned independently. The impact of technology on the restaurant business and how Tropical Smoothie Cafe is adapting to a changing landscape in hospitality. I have a little bit sweeter palate. Theres an obvious answer for me here, and thats to put your heart into what you do. Von Kutzleben most recently served as vice president of brand strategy, advertising and menu at Arbys. NET WORTH * LIQUID CAPITAL/CASH AVAILABLE FOR INVESTMENT * *All fields required. Prior to joining Tropical Smoothie Cafe, Pete served as the Deputy General Counsel and Chief Compliance/Risk Officer at Popeyes for over 10 years and has extensive experience handling corporate transactions, both in-house and in private practice. Cheryl Fletcher joined Tropical Smoothie Cafe in July of 2017. With 2011 winding down, how are you leveraging people, budgets, brands, and resources to meet development goals? Charles is a graduate of The Hotel School at Cornell University and holds a Master of Business Administration from The Terry College of Business at The University of Georgia. . Net Worth Requirement $350,000 . Prior to being named CEO in 2018, Charles served as the chief development officer for Tropical Smoothie Cafe. There is no assurance that you will do as well. When our franchisees are successful, the brand is successful. Watson:"I wanted to further instill a franchisee-first mentality. Over the next five years, our goals are to reach 1,500 cafes open across the U.S., with over 18% profitability for our franchisees on average volumes in excess of $1M, all with very high operational satisfaction for our guests. Each year, franchisees complete the Franchise Business Review to essentially grade us here at the Support Center on how we're serving them. "Our franchisees are the heart of our brand, so we wanted to make sure we were doing everything we could to help them stay afloat through the crisis. We look forward to realizing Charles vision for the company.. We consider ourselves to be an approachable, healthier option for the average American, and our customer loyalty system-wide continues to climb. And if you do that well, then your top-sellers, sometimes you beat them. Pete Ward advises Tropical Smoothie Cafe on all legal and business matters, including franchising, real estate, labor and employment, litigation, intellectual property, licensing, and other commercial matters. Ill start with the fact that I believe that convenience is king. Ivebeen with Tropical Smoothie since 2010 and was [first] our vice president of franchise development, he told Mashed. Were any of the franchisees reluctant to follow the system or embrace a new direction? The number one seller from a limited time offer perspective has always been our summertime Watermelon Mojito, its incredibly popular, 20 to 25 sales per cafe per day, with that Watermelon Mojito, everyone looks forward to it. Tropical Smoothie Cafe. 1117 Perimeter Center West, Suite W200 Cheryl Fletcher joined Tropical Smoothie Cafe in July of 2017. webtv.net; 5+ 404-210-XXXX; 770-670-XXXX; 770-821-XXXX; 770-580-XXXX; 770-821-XXXX; 678949XXXX; Paul Marsden Chief Financial Officer . Other common Tropical Smoothie Cafe email . Jul. Pete Ward advises Tropical Smoothie Cafe on all legal and business matters, including franchising, real estate, labor and employment, litigation, intellectual property, licensing, and other commercial matters. Areas we wanted to attack immediately with our rapid growth were direct franchisee support as well as technology support and menu innovation. Cheryl Fletcher, Chief Development Officer of Tropical Smoothie Cafe, shares highlights of her career and leadership style in Franchising. We must be able to service the guests who want to be on demand.. Charles Watson, the CEO of Tropical Smoothie Care, was thrilled with his companys performance so far this year, which is what youd expect from a chain whose. If you are a resident of or want to locate a franchise in one of these states, we will not offer you a franchise unless and until we have complied with applicable pre-sale registration and disclosure requirements in your state. A veteran franchise professional, Charles has worked for several hospitality-related companies including Intercontinental Hotels Group and US Franchise Systems. Were in 44 states, and Tropical Smoothie Cafe does not currently have an international presence. Charles is directly responsible for selling more than 800 franchises during his tenure. Not the Charles Watson you were looking for? So well get to 50, but Im not focused on about five or six of them right now. A veteran hospitality professional, Charles has worked for several hospitality-related companies, including Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Intercontinental Hotels Group, US Franchise Systems, Inc., and Hospitality Real Estate Counselors. Tropical Smoothie Cafe CEO Charles Watson has been with the company for more than 10 years and is passionate about supporting the franchise systems sustainable growth, the success of its franchisees, and the execution of the brands Inspire Better mission. Watch the complete interview here or start your journey in becoming a Tropical Smoothie Cafe Franchise Owner by completing our form. Mark Montini joined Tropical Smoothie Cafe as Chief Marketing Officer in October 2019. "Tropical Smoothie Cafe is in a perfect position for the future. I love that. I lean into that so that our employees can feel good about what they do.. The company planned 130 in just 2020; signed 36 of a hopeful 200 franchise agreements by March; and was well on its way to adding five units to its annual . The guests who support local businesses in and around their communities are the ones we give the credit to because their loyalty to our cafes is what has ultimately maintained our ability to serve. Paul Marsden oversees development and execution of financial strategies to support the companys business plans. TropicalSmoothie.com. We can go to camp, we can be counselors. I would say that understanding the viewpoints and drivers of the different stakeholders I was serving was important. While the pandemic destroyed thousands of restaurants last year, Atlanta-based Tropical Smoothie Cafe had one of its best years to date. It is the food. And that really got us down this road of: What is our purpose? My job is to serve them. A veteran franchise professional, Charles has worked for several hospitality-related companies including Intercontinental Hotels Group and US Franchise Systems. So weve been able to do that. An offering can only be made by prospectus filed first with the Department of Law of the State of New York. He is survived by his children Kayla (Jason), Kelsey (Billy), John (Stephanie), Kincaid (Cecilia), his siblings Orville Dallier (Angela), Sue Dorey (Tom), Donna And it has been a fantastic partnership because we can see the benefit of the dollars that were putting in. While our projected 2020 growth might take a step back due to the coronavirus, I believe our approach to navigating through this will help us emerge quickly once it passes.". Jan 2010 - Nov 20155 years 11 months. And we actually drove our comparative sales versus 2019 by 7.5%. Michael Lapid joined Tropical Smoothie Cafe in October of 2019 to the role of Chief Information and Digital Officer. Tang asked Watson what support his Franchise Owners need from Tropical Smoothie Cafe. I dont believe that the people side of our business is dead.. Right now Im on a Mango Berry Cosmo kick. Day-to-day I would say my favorite is the Avocolada Smoothie. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. F-9894), New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin. 2020, 2019, and 2018 average, median, highest, and lowest net revenues, number of stores, and number and percentage of stores that surpassed the average net revenues in the category for the top 10%, top 25%, . CHARLES WATSON: Sure, absolutely. Based on our fiscal year ending 12/26/2021 and includes 768 Restaurants that were open for at least 12 months as of 12/26/2021. Yes, I am putting my mark on the brand and culture, but I have been around long enough not to stray too far from the DNA of the brand.". 770-580-2333, NRN Editors Discuss Digital Engagement with CMO Deborah von Kutzleben, In Her Own Words: Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchisees gain Cheryl Fletchers support, Tropical Smoothie Cafe Opens First Double Drive-Thru Location. "I'm a huge advocate for franchise advisory councils, specifically when nearly 60% of all franchise agreements at Tropical Smoothie Cafe come from existing franchisees. In her role as Chief Development Officer, Cheryl drives the brands franchise development sales, real estate and design and construction. Building off this momentum, in 2019, we celebrated the openings of our 750th and 800th locations, but taking over during such a monumental time for our brand certainly brought opportunities to improve. It was important to me that we have franchisees themselves share their feedback and align on system initiatives and goals. Michael Lapid joined Tropical Smoothie Cafe in October of 2019 to the role of Chief Information and Digital Officer. Charles recently joined his team in celebrating the opening of the 1,000th Tropical Smoothie Cafe location. But we want to also have a higher calling of what were doing to be great individuals and great corporate citizens. Now were really taking the lead from our franchisees and building out DMAs organically from outside them. *$1,009,803 System Wide Average Net Revenues. Because 99% of Tropical Smoothie Cafe's system is franchisee-owned and operated, it was my goal to maintain consistency for them and move the company forward in the right direction, with a lot of reverence and respect for the past. Richard Key serves as the Chief Operations Officer, responsible for overseeing the operations team and its support and training of the Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchise community. Gosh, I would say the first things that come to mind for me are menu innovation and products. . Previously, Cheryl held a 17-year tenure with Popeyes, during which she served as Vice President of Franchise Development, Vice President of Development Strategic Planning, and Director of Investor Relations and Finance. Mark Montini joined Tropical Smoothie Cafe as Chief Marketing Officer in October 2019. I may have been the smallest employee there (I had to stand on a tub used for busing tables just to reach the sink) but I had the biggest ambition. I was lucky enough to work with the founders of the business (and still do as they are board members) as well as work under our first CEO, who did an amazing job. Watson has more than 10 years of experience with Tropical Smoothie Cafe and led our franchise development efforts since 2010.