It is for information purposes only. The smiles we saw and stories we heard inspired us to think bigger and explore how we could do even more to support the communities we serve. What were the one or two unique challenges that you faced upon taking over as CEO? When I became CEO, I launched a formal franchisee advisory council, known in our organization as the Tropical Franchisee Council (TFC). The Tropical Franchisee Council (TFC) was established in 2018 and has been invaluable for our growth. 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. Weve implemented various franchisee support initiatives, including decreased royalties by 50%, ongoing support with PPP loans and real estate deferrals and abatements, rolling out curbside delivery systemwide, deployed hyper-local marketing strategies to drive business within a 12-mile radius of cafes, among many others. Chipotle chicken flatbread. These early experiences in the workforce are what ignited my entrepreneurial spirit. Tropical Smoothie Cafe has relationships with third-party sources which offer financing to cover the following: startup . Yeah. I may have been, in fact, the person responsible for awarding them a franchise! Prior to that, she spent 22 years at BBDO Worldwide, where she was executive vice president and senior director for the global advertising powerhouse, leading campaign strategy and execution for many large national brands. So more knowledge about our great food offerings is something that I would change a little bit. 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. 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. Charles recently joined his team in celebrating the opening of the 1,000th Tropical Smoothie Cafe location. 1117 Perimeter Center West, Suite W200 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. 2~10() . Richard has served in a franchise operations capacity for more than 20 years with brands such as TCBY, Carvel, and Moes Southwest Grill. Charles is a graduate of The Hotel School at Cornell University and also holds a Masters of Business Administration from The Terry School of Business at The University of Georgia. Theres an obvious answer for me here, and thats to put your heart into what you do. I lean into that so that our employees can feel good about what they do.. Charles is directly responsible for selling more than 800 franchises during his tenure. Paul Marsden oversees development and execution of financial strategies to support the companys business plans. Occhiogrosso: How is taking the reins of an existing company different than being part of a startup or a founder? Whats the best piece of advice that other restaurant executives should hear? Nobody knew what was going to happen. The impact of the more formalized committees we have set up, and the close connection I have with TFC has gotten the system more comfortable with my style and thinking, and I believe, since trust is earned, I still have a long way to go, but am off to a good start. 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 . Our consumers really like our food. This information is not intended as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy a franchise. Were any of the franchisees reluctant to follow the system or embrace a new direction? See where were looking to grow to meet the incredible demand. We loved the idea so much we launched a nationwide campaign to donate 100,000 smoothies across the country and the response has been incredible. Occhiogrosso: What challenges, if any, did you face in getting "buy-in" from the existing franchise community once you became CEO? Mark serves on the board of the Institute of Certified Franchise Executives. The success of our brand is about the talent and drive of our talented executives and Support Center team. Such filing does not constitute approval by the Department of Law. Prior to joining Tropical Smoothie Cafe, Richard was the Vice President of Operations, West Division, for Papa Murphys International where he was responsible for field operations and marketing. So I think a great franchisee base, and products and innovation that people want. So we have a broad array of food products that are both healthier and theyre more boldly flavored. 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. 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.". A presentation for a board is focused on very different things than a franchisee roadshow. 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. 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. How Much Do You Make Owning A Tropical Smoothie. I worked for my father throughout my teenage years, and those years were my first taste of what the industry was all about. 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. Sure. The companys goal is to open 1,500 cafes or more by the year 2024. So weve been able to do that. A veteran hospitality professional . An offering can only be made by prospectus filed first with the Department of Law of the State of New York. Complete the form or call 770-821-1928, and a Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchise development leader will reach out to you with more information. 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. Charles recently joined his team in celebrating the opening of the 1,000th Tropical Smoothie Cafe location. But the Mango Berry Cosmo has overtaken it. While the pandemic destroyed thousands of restaurants last year, Atlanta-based Tropical Smoothie Cafe had one of its best years to date. charles watson tropical smoothie cafe. If you dont have a Tropical Smoothie Cafe near your home yet, just wait a bit. It posted its ninth consecutive year of positive same-store sales, with 2020 same-stores up 7.5%. 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. Right now we have a BLT quesadilla. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. 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. Although COVID-19 has directly impacted our business, some days being down more than 50 percent, we consider ourselves lucky to have a business model that allowed us to easily transition to grab-and-go, curbside, and delivery only. Then we determined two focus areas, giving back to the community and prioritizing support for our franchisees. How are we purpose-driven? And were rolling that out under our tagline of Inspire Better. Start Now! At the start of his career, Michaels ambitious spirit led him to develop a point of sale system, Hot Sauce. Our company sells about 200 franchises, opens over 120 cafes a year, and has more than 500 locations in the pipeline. 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. Players MAY win multiple prizes in a. 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. 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. His goal is to achieve $1 billion in sales and 1,500+ cafes by 2023. . Youre asking me to pick which kid I like the best. Michael Lapid joined Tropical Smoothie Cafe in October of 2019 to the role of Chief Information and Digital Officer. charles watson tropical smoothie net worth 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. ATLANTA, July 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Tropical Smoothie Cafe, a leading national fast-casual cafe franchise known for both its better-for-you smoothies and food with a . It is for information purposes only. During the current COVID-19 crisis, what steps have you taken to ensure that Tropical Smoothie Cafe supports the local community? Although I did not want to focus on COVID-19 in this interview, it is difficult to ignore its impact on the restaurant community as well as franchisees in general. NJ. Such filing does not constitute approval by the Department of Law. Because of our amazing guests, our franchisees, and the communities they serve, including those on the front lines of this pandemic, we will get through this. When Charles Watson became the new Tropical Smoothie Cafe CEO in 2019, . Excludes non-traditional locations and Restaurants that were not open for at least 357 days in 2021. Get Verified Emails for 1,980 Tropical Smoothie Cafe Employees. Your results may differ. Franchising offers multiple benefits to a business as a whole. A veteran franchise professional, Charles has worked for several hospitality-related companies including Intercontinental Hotels Group and US Franchise Systems. At the start of his career, Michaels ambitious spirit led him to develop a point of sale system, Hot Sauce. Tang asked Watson what support his Franchise Owners need from Tropical Smoothie Cafe. Well, Tropical Smoothie Cafe, we've got 850 locations in 44 states. Were any of the franchisees reluctant to follow the system or embrace a new direction? 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. Charles Watson:"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. Each year, franchisees complete the Franchise Business Review to essentially grade us here at the Support Center on how we're serving them. CHARLES WATSON: Sure, absolutely. He was previously Tropical Smoothie Cafe's Chief Development Officer since 2016, after serving as VP of Franchise Development since 2010. Atlanta, GA 30338 What are the brands plans for expansion and are you eyeing an international presence? Tropical Smoothie Caf works to keep its momentum. We find that real fruits, veggies, and juices just taste better.". He is a general assignment reporter and has covered a range . Areas we wanted to attack immediately with our rapid growth were direct franchisee support as well as technology support and menu innovation. I wont lie, it was a blow to the ego at first, but it taught me what being a role player means and how important every role is to the bigger picture. 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. Watson:"When COVID-19 struck the restaurant landscape in mid-March, we closed all dining rooms and shifted our focus to drive-thru, curbside pickup, and delivery where available. "Relationships Rule" is one of our core values, and because of that, people are at the heart of our company. Weve been in partnership with them for over 10 years now. From wraps to flatbreads to salads, Mr. Watson continues to solidly position Tropical Smoothie Cafe as a leader in the fast-casual, healthier lifestyle food category. Tropical Smoothie Cafe CEO Charles Watson Tells Us Everything About The Franchise - Exclusive Interview. Von Kutzleben most recently served as vice president of brand strategy, advertising and menu at Arbys. 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. A veteran franchise professional, Charles has worked for several hospitality-related companies including Intercontinental Hotels Group and US Franchise Systems. Prior to joining Tropical Smoothie Cafe, Richard was the Vice President of Operations, West Division, for Papa Murphys International where he was responsible for field operations and marketing. Such filing does not constitute approval by the Department of Law. We set company-wide strategic imperatives around these issues immediately.". 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. The offerings have evolved over the years to include a menu of breakfast and lunch items beyond smoothies. 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. What is the all-time best-selling smoothie the chain offers? Mr. Watson was appointed the CEO position of. I was born with a strong work ethic. Prior to that, she spent 22 years at BBDO Worldwide, where she was executive vice president and senior director for the global advertising powerhouse, leading campaign strategy and execution for many large national brands. Its getting involved in the local community. And was one in place already? Nov 10, 2021, 09:36 ET. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. I love that. So theres a lot of involvement. A minimum net worth of $350,000, which includes $125,000 in liquid assets; Investment and Fee Structure: Start-up fees: A new Cafe investment is between $198,500 and $543,500. Was it a pleasant surprise, expected, or was it a bit of both? 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. shin numbness after acl surgery; first friday phoenix vendor application; benton high school baseball roster; surprise message link for boyfriend And so the way that they impact the communities where they operate is a really big part. Charles Watson serves as CEO for Tropical Smoothie Cafe. Mark Montini joined Tropical Smoothie Cafe as Chief Marketing Officer in October 2019. We want to capture both the head and the heart of our consumers. Ill start with the fact that I believe that convenience is king. 770-580-2333, Bold Women in the C-Suite: Cheryl Fletcher, Connect with People Who Have More Experience: Interview with Charles Watson, CEO of Tropical Smoothie Cafe, Tropical Smoothie Cafe Celebrates Spring With The Return Of Superfruit Smoothies. The first thing is to be a business partner. Charles recently joined his team in celebrating the opening of the 1,000th Tropical Smoothie Cafe location. Over the years, weve learned that our innovative and versatile menu, featuring a wide variety of food items in addition to smoothies, has brought tremendous success to our brand and to our incredible franchisees. I dont believe that the people side of our business is dead.. One of the biggest expenses seen in the income statement is $12 million spent in . F-9894), New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin. Paul Marsden oversees development and execution of financial strategies to support the companys business plans. Currently, the following states regulate the offer and sale of franchises: California, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota (File No.

Scotland Rugby Captains, Syracuse, Ny Obituaries This Past Week, Former Restaurants In Buffalo, Ny, Nicole Brown Simpson Family, Clinkingbeard Funeral Home Obituaries, Articles C