He was previously. *$1,009,803 System Wide Average Net Revenues. 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. The Tropical Franchisee Council (TFC) was established in 2018 and has been invaluable for our growth. Really trying to understand how to see the world through a different stakeholders' eyes is something I still work on.". New York State Disclaimer: This advertisement is not an offering. Again, the franchising, especially in Tropical Smoothie, it is a local business. Watson:"At Tropical Smoothie Cafe, it's our mission to inspire a healthier lifestyle by serving amazing food and smoothies, with a bit of tropical fun. The Tropical Franchisee Council (TFC) was established in 2018 and has been invaluable for our growth. And by the way, thats one way Tropical Smoothie Cafe has grown so big so fast the food. 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. He has been the Chief Development Officer since 2015 and directly responsible for selling more than 800 franchises during his tenure. 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. Charles Watson has been the CEO since . Its getting involved in the local community. Please give our readers the "Elevator Pitch" for Tropical Smoothie Cafe? 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. 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.". A veteran franchise professional, Charles has worked for several hospitality-related companies including Intercontinental Hotels Group and US Franchise Systems. Previously with Papa Johns International as the Vice President, Global Digital Technology, Michael is a seasoned technology executive with vast engineering and operations expertise, leadership, and a deep understanding of digital technology and guest experiences. 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. Mr. Watson was appointed the CEO position of Tropical Smoothie Cafe in December 2018. Day-to-day I would say my favorite is the Avocolada Smoothie. Prior to joining Tropical Smoothie Cafe, I worked for several hotel and hospitality-centric companies, including Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Intercontinental Hotels Group, US Franchise Systems, Inc. and Hospitality Real Estate Counselors. Jan 2010 - Nov 20155 years 11 months. 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?" I think the biggest shift will take place for those restaurants that can't be open right now. Complete the form or call. 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. And it has been a fantastic partnership because we can see the benefit of the dollars that were putting in. Were proud to report that as of today, weve donated more than 200,000 smoothies to these hometown heroes, and were not done yet! And so we are rolling out this fall, what were calling it, our Inspire Better, right? Occhiogrosso: How do you feel about franchise advisory councils? We add some spice to it. 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. In July 2018, I was named interim CEO, and then permanent in December 2018.". 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. I started working at a young age and because of my early drive, have been involved in a variety of industries and performed many different jobs. Currently, the following states regulate the offer and sale of franchises: California, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota (File No. For me, my entrepreneurial passion really came from my parents. *$1,009,803 System Wide Average Net Revenues. It's tropic time. But I would tell you that what has ultimately driven this brand is our franchisees and it is our culture, right? Charles Watson, CEO of Tropical Smoothie Cafe, LLC, said, "It's inspiring to be part of the growth that Tropical Smoothie Cafe has . Yes, we have some great products on our menu that weve crafted, but you can go off script. Atlanta, GA ( RestaurantNews.com ) Tropical Smoothie Cafe, a leading national fast-casual cafe franchise known for both its better-for-you smoothies and food with a tropical twist, continues its . And its the high quality food. final four 2022 euroleague tickets. "At Tropical Smoothie Cafe, it's our mission to inspire a healthier lifestyle by serving amazing food and smoothies, with a bit of tropical fun. Occhiogrosso:What was your plan for the first 90 days? CALIFORNIA DISCLAIMER: THESE FRANCHISES HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE FRANCHISE INVESTMENT LAW OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. We figured a good person to ask might be the CEO of Tropical Smoothie Cafe, Charles Watson. 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. Its a fantastic organization that weve enjoyed immensely being part of. As you know, the restaurant industry has taken a huge hit. 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?" 770-580-2333, Tropical Smoothie Cafe Achieves New Milestones in 2022, These Will Be The 10 Fastest-Growing Restaurant Chains In 2023, Tropical Smoothie Cafe Propels Franchise Momentum in Q3. No credit card required. 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. Beyond just smoothies, we serve better-for-you . CLOSE. F-9894), New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin. 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. Our relationships are founded on trust and respect for the unique talents of our teams, franchisees, and vendors alike. Watson: "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. Share Tweet Share Pin. The success of our brand is about the talent and drive of our talented executives and Support Center team. 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. Mark Montini joined Tropical Smoothie Cafe as Chief Marketing Officer in October 2019. Why The IFA Convention Is A Cant-Miss Event For Anyone In Franchising, The Automated Dumpling Restaurant Franchise That Could Turn Quick Service Dining On Its Head. So in cities where you see a lot of brand-awareness and a lot of units, we will have moved into the core center-city demographics, but we typically work outside in. In 2018, when I was named CEO, we had more than 720 locations open nationwide. Thats our limited-time offer. Tropical Smoothie Cafe, LLC, 1117 Perimeter Center West, Suite W200, Atlanta, GA 30338. By year-end 2018 we opened 110 cafes and signed 191 new franchise agreements. Well, we just talked about Camp Sunshine and we have a smoothie called the Sunshine Smoothie that is orange and mango based. Within the first day, several local franchisees jumped on board and donated more than 600 smoothies each, and the donations just kept growing from there. ", Charles Watson was named CEO in December 2018. Were any of the franchisees reluctant to follow the system or embrace a new direction? 1117 Perimeter Center West, Suite W200 *. 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. Richard has served in a franchise operations capacity for more than 20 years with brands such as TCBY, Carvel, and Moes Southwest Grill. The brands dedication to Inspire Better in all aspects of the business resonated with me from day one. He has been instrumental in developing the culture of Tropical Smoothie Cafe and earning the trust of our franchisees. So weve been able to do that. Both of my parents had the entrepreneur bug and they definitely passed that on to me. Charles recently joined his team in celebrating the opening of the 1,000th Tropical Smoothie Cafe location. Watson: 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. It is for information purposes only. There are currently 913 franchised locations and 1 company-owned restaurant. Charles has the tenacity, vision and passion this brand needs to continue our upward trajectory and will ensure the success of our franchisees is at the center of every decision we make, said Scott Pressly, Chairman of the Board, Tropical Smoothie Cafe. Start Now! Charles Watson is currently an Atlanta-based correspondent for Fox News Mediacovering the southeastern portion of the United States. Currently, the following states regulate the offer and sale of franchises: California, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota (File No. It is for information purposes only. Theres an obvious answer for me here, and thats to put your heart into what you do. With 2011 winding down, how are you leveraging people, budgets, brands, and resources to meet development goals? 770-580-2333 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. SUCH REGISTRATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE APPROVAL, RECOMMENDATION OR ENDORSEMENT BY THE COMMISSIONER OF CORPORATIONS NOR A FINDING BY THE COMMISSIONER THAT THE INFORMATION PROVIDED HEREIN IS TRUE, COMPLETE AND NOT MISLEADING. For the fiscal year 2021, these End-Cap and In-Line Tropical Smoothie Cafe Restaurants typically ranged in size from 1,200 to 1,900 square feet. Charles is directly responsible for selling more than 800 franchises during his tenure. Really trying to understand how to see the world through a different stakeholders' eyes is something I still work on.". Currently, the following states regulate the offer and sale of franchises: California, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota (File No. This process only helps our individual franchisees and their bottom line, respectively.". And then number two, I would say a franchisee base that is second to none. So we have a broad array of food products that are both healthier and theyre more boldly flavored. 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. See where were looking to grow to meet the incredible demand. Those interested in becoming a franchisee should have $125,000 in liquid assets and a minimum net worth of $350,000. In a franchise system, without broad franchisee buy-in, you cannot move as efficiently and effectively as is required in today's business environment.". From there, we set up committees, reporting into our TFC, around the major parts of our business, and included more franchisees to provide feedback and work with us on further improving IT, Marketing, Design, and Construction, etc. And those are the most important things that I do.. Paul Marsden oversees development and execution of financial strategies to support the companys business plans. 5 free lookups per month. Its only here until August. For me, its about really making sure that those DMAs [distinct market areas] or those different cities are all well represented and well connected so that our brand can compete in those different cities. So thats always up there. Now were really taking the lead from our franchisees and building out DMAs organically from outside them. The offerings have evolved over the years to include a menu of breakfast and lunch items beyond smoothies. What was your plan for the first 90 days? We can go to camp, we can be counselors. Ill start with the fact that I believe that convenience is king. 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. We have three tenets in how we serve our Franchise Owners. When our franchisees are successful, the brand is successful. 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. "Like I said, I was very fortunate to have had already developed relationships with our franchise community prior to becoming CEO. charles watson tropical smoothie net worth. Areas we wanted to attack immediately with our rapid growth were direct franchisee support as well as technology support and menu innovation. Today's post focus' on that topic in an interview with Charles Watson, the CEO of Tropical Smoothie Caf. 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. Michael Lapid joined Tropical Smoothie Cafe in October of 2019 to the role of Chief Information and Digital Officer. in December 2018. Were 100% focused on domestic right now. See where were looking to grow to meet the incredible demand. And thats like: Whos the bad kid in the family! Weve got everything right from Island Green Detox, with zero sugar, and ginger, and everything. NET WORTH * LIQUID CAPITAL/CASH . Occhiogrosso: What challenges, if any, did you face in getting "buy-in" from the existing franchise community once you became CEO? Chief Development Officer since 2016, after serving as VP of Franchise Development since 2010. Every day is a day to celebrate at Tropical Smoothie Cafe, with all the success were having. 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. menu boasts bold, flavorful smoothies with a healthy appeal, all made-to-order with quality ingredients. . I was born with a strong work ethic. Tropical Smoothie Cafe is rounding out yet another year of impressive growth. Occhiogrosso: What are some of the additional support initiatives you put in place for your franchise community during the pandemic? 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. This information appears in Item 19 of our Franchise Disclosure Document. Youre paying for a premium product. He is survived by his children Kayla (Jason), Kelsey (Billy), John (Stephanie), Kincaid (Cecilia), his siblings Orville Dallier (Angela), Sue Dorey (Tom), Donna Tropical Smoothie Cafe CEO Charles Watson has been with the company for more than 10 years and is passionate about supporting the franchise system's sustainable growth, the success of its franchisees, and the execution of the brand's Inspire Better mission. 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. Show them that we care. In her role as Chief Development Officer, Cheryl drives the brands franchise development sales, real estate and design and construction. The smoothie-and-food chain has been a strong grower for years and turned on the jets so far in 2021. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Watson: "Like I said, I was very fortunate to have had already developed relationships with our franchise community prior to becoming CEO. 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. Unresolved: Release in which this issue/RFE will be addressed. And provide technology.. The offering is by prospectus only. In a highly competitive segment, we're one of the fastest-growing quick-casual brands, opening 124 new locations in 2019 alone and singing 213 development agreements to open hundreds of businesses over the next few years.".