charles watson tropical smoothie net worth

In support of National Nurses Appreciation Month in May, we have also pledged to donate $100,000 to the American Nurses Foundations COVID-19 Response Fund upon reaching our goal of giving away 1,000,000 smoothies. My job is to serve them. 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. There is no assurance that you will do as well. Occhiogrosso: How do you see the company moving forward? Tropical Smoothie Cafe CEO Charles Watson has been with the company for more than 10 years and is passionate about . 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. Interested candidates should have business experience, along with a minimum net worth of $350,000 which includes $125,000 in liquid assets. 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. And it has also driven franchise development and growth, so more units coming out. But the Mango Berry Cosmo has overtaken it. 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. And theyre in their communities. Occhiogrosso: What are some of the additional support initiatives you put in place for your franchise community during the pandemic? 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. When I became CEO, I launched a formal franchisee advisory council, known in our organization as the Tropical Franchisee Council (TFC). As you know, the restaurant industry has taken a huge hit. As a brand, we strive for excellence in service and creating a culture of hospitality for our business no matter which location you visit, and this year we're prioritizing them even further by enhancing pillars of our hospitality-centric culture and the technology we use to create convenience for our guests in order to reinforce our position as the leader in our segment. . And those are the most important things that I do.. Currently, the following states regulate the offer and sale of franchises: California, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota (File No. 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. I love that. The success of our brand is about the talent and drive of our talented executives and Support Center team. As their franchise website states: "Tropical Smoothie Cafes menu boasts bold, flavorful smoothies with a healthy appeal, all made-to-order with quality ingredients. 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. 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?" TropicalSmoothie.com. What is the all-time best-selling smoothie the chain offers? Mr. Watson was appointed the CEO position of Tropical Smoothie Cafe in December 2018. I think the greatest thing you can do in life is serve others and reap the reward of knowing youve done something good for someone else. During the current COVID-19 crisis, what steps have you taken to ensure that Tropical Smoothie Cafe supports the local community? Tropical Smoothie Cafe, the leading national fast-casual cafe concept known for both its better-for-you smoothies and food with a tropical twist, announces the appointment of Charles Watson as the new Chief Executive Officer. city of san diego street classification map; blackrock russell 2000 index fund g1; 3610 atlantic ave, long beach, ca 90807; eternal water heater lawsuit; A series of fortunate events July 20, 2020. In this role, he is responsible for the brand's strategic vision and overall franchise performance. Drain-Net Technologies. Cheryl Fletcher joined Tropical Smoothie Cafe in July of 2017. Were 100% focused on domestic right now. I would say that understanding the viewpoints and drivers of the different stakeholders I was serving was important. John Joseph Dallier, 61, passed away suddenly at home after severe health complications. Here's how CEO Charles Watson did it. 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. We can go to camp, we can be counselors. CALIFORNIA DISCLAIMER: THESE FRANCHISES HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE FRANCHISE INVESTMENT LAW OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. And so were going to really get to focus there. We look forward to realizing Charles vision for the company.. 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. Call now and speak to a franchise development leader. 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 a franchise system, without broad franchisee buy-in, you cannot move as efficiently and effectively as is required in today's business environment.". Yes, it has a brand name on it, but it is Bill and Sally Smith on the corner and theyre entrepreneurs. 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. 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. 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 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.". The best smoothie in terms of sales actually going on right now is our Mango Berry Cosmo. What are some of your interests outside of work? 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. Michael Lapid joined Tropical Smoothie Cafe in October of 2019 to the role of Chief Information and Digital Officer. 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. 770-580-2333 Nobody knew what was going to happen. 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. We consider ourselves to be an approachable, healthier option for the average American, and our customer loyalty system-wide continues to climb. I think the biggest shift will take place for those restaurants that can't be open right now. Then we determined two focus areas, giving back to the community and prioritizing support for our franchisees. Paul Marsden oversees development and execution of financial strategies to support the companys business plans. It's tropic time. This information appears in Item 19 of our Franchise Disclosure Document. 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. Charles also serves on the boards of the International Franchise Association (IFA) and the Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) program. 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. When Charles Watson became the new Tropical Smoothie Cafe CEO in 2019, . 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. The way [Tropical Smoothie Cafe works in markets], we work the suburbs and the outskirts, and move our way into cities. So that was helpful! Players MAY win multiple prizes in a. 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. *$1,009,803 System Wide Average Net Revenues. Tropical Smoothie Cafe. Atlanta, GA 30338 Thats our limited-time offer. So Ive got to get them in while I can. . Vice President Franchise Development. Your results may differ. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. My experience with the brand up to that point was beneficial because I was already very immersed in the operations and processes that had contributed to its success at that time. 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. The initial investment ranges from $246,500 to $580,500. Weve done different promotions and summertime promotions to raise dollars for Camp Sunshine and have one more coming up this fall for them. We can make you any smoothie that you like with our whole ingredients and you can mix and match as you see fit. A presentation for a board is focused on very different things than a franchisee roadshow. In these roles, Charles was responsible for all development of the Tropical Smoothie Cafe brand. Theyre not just a snack day part, etc. 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. Since that time, he has led the company on its quest towards $1billion in sales by 2023. Our consumers really like our food. I think all natural, whole fruit, and the ability to substitute while also having some really great baseline recipes that we have out there. 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. Tropical Smoothie Cafe. When our franchisees are successful, the brand is successful. Charles Watson, CEO of Tropical Smoothie Cafe, LLC, said, "It's inspiring to be part of the growth that Tropical Smoothie Cafe has . Watson:"We were in a good place! Your results may differ. In my experience, making franchisee success and profitability the priority is the key to the longevity of any franchised brand. We really call Tropical Smoothie Cafe a street corner business. The offering is by prospectus only. And so I dont know. Watson has been with Tropical Smoothie Cafe for many years now, so he has seen the growth up close. Occhiogrosso: What were the one or two unique challenges that you faced upon taking over as CEO? 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. It is for information purposes only. This information is not intended as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy a franchise. TropicalSmoothie.com. Watson: "Tropical Smoothie Cafe is a national fast-casual cafe concept inspiring healthier lifestyles with more than 850 locations in 44 states. And we actually drove our comparative sales versus 2019 by 7.5%. So again, I mentioned earlier menu innovation. Not the Charles Watson you were looking for? We want to be an escape for our consumers in this hectic world we live, and an incredible business model for our franchise partners It's an exciting time to be a fast-casual concept within this segment, specifically as the market size of the juice and smoothie bars industry is expected to increase by 2.3% in 2020, reaching nearly $3 billion in revenue across the globe. Our annual tactics are focused around delivering those results.". Tropical Smoothie Cafe, LLC, 1117 Perimeter Center West, Suite W200, Atlanta, GA 30338. Always number one, what I am focused on, is unit-level economics for our Franchise Owners. Chipotle chicken flatbread. 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. I think the biggest shift will take place for those restaurants that can't be open right now. Our annual tactics are focused around delivering those results.". Prior to that, he was named Chief Development Officer in 2015 after serving as VP of Franchise Development since 2010. Charles also serves on the boards of the International Franchise Association (IFA) and the Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) program. "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. Areas we wanted to attack immediately with our rapid growth were direct franchisee support as well as technology support and menu innovation. You know, this is terrible, but Ive never gone through a pandemic before obviously, and I would have to say Im pretty pleased I think we did a very nice job during 2020, we opened 99 new restaurants. CEO Charles Watson, . Such filing does not constitute approval by the Department of Law. 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. Without our franchisees, committees, and council, I simply could not do this job. And what we were able to do is to take a smaller organization that was scrappy, just like Tropical Smoothie Cafe, and really build their endowment and really serve a lot of families. Excludes non-traditional locations and Restaurants that were not open for at least 357 days in 2021. See where were looking to grow to meet the incredible demand. Well see, I may have to bring that one back. CLOSE. A veteran franchise professional, Charles has worked for several hospitality-related companies including Intercontinental Hotels Group and US Franchise Systems. 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. CEO Charles Watson, who took the reins in 2019, said Tropical Smoothie's goal was to eclipse 1,000 restaurants by 2021 and 1,500 locations with AUVs of $1 million in the next five years. In her role as Chief Development Officer, Cheryl drives the brands franchise development sales, real estate and design and construction. A veteran franchise professional, Charles has worked for several hospitality-related companies including Intercontinental Hotels Group and US Franchise Systems. We have quesadillas, we have flatbread sandwiches, we have sandwiches, we have salads. 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. What was the condition of the company before you were named CEO? Our relationships are founded on trust and respect for the unique talents of our teams, franchisees, and vendors alike. Its been quite the adventure since becoming the CEO in 2018, and Ive enjoyed every twist and turn in the road. Those franchisees are serving our guests on the front lines I can't run this business without their candid feedback.". Provide product innovation and innovation in general. These early experiences in the workforce are what ignited my entrepreneurial spirit. We decreased royalties and deployed hyper-local marketing strategies to drive business within a 1to 2-mile radius of cafes. 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. Such filing does not constitute approval by the Department of Law. Beyond that, we need to provide training. Other common Tropical Smoothie Cafe email . 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. But its the freshness. You may opt-out by. We had a high level of mutual trust and respect for each other that existed before I assumed the role of CEO. Get Verified Emails for 1,980 Tropical Smoothie Cafe Employees. 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. 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. What is something you wish more people knew about the chain and its products? 770-580-2333 Von Kutzleben most recently served as vice president of brand strategy, advertising and menu at Arbys. 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. It is, however, still a hefty financial investment. And the other misconception, whether you think its uber healthy or not so healthy, is that you, the consumer, the guest have all the choice in the world. Beyond just smoothies, we serve better-for-you . 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. Watson:"I wanted to further instill a franchisee-first mentality. Outside of smoothies, whats the top-selling non-smoothie product? 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.