By Jonathan Maze on Jan. 24, 2019. So that would be my thoughts. He was previously Tropical Smoothie Cafe's Chief Development Officer since 2016, after serving as VP of Franchise Development since 2010. In July 2018, I was named interim CEO, and then permanent in December 2018.". I have a lot of people that inspire me daily, but I really do think that my parents inspired me to be the leader I am today. In these roles, Charles was responsible for all development of the Tropical Smoothie Cafe brand. 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. 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. *$1,009,803 System Wide Average Net Revenues. You may opt-out by. So I was compelled to ask Mr. Watson his thoughts on the pandemic and the company's response. I would say that understanding the viewpoints and drivers of the different stakeholders I was serving was important. "Tropical Smoothie Cafe is a national fast-casual cafe concept inspiring healthier lifestyles with more than 850 locations in 44 states. 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. jdoe@tropicalsmoothie.com), which is being used by 23.3% of Tropical Smoothie Cafe work email addresses. So we dont have any specific development goals associated, i.e. This information is not intended as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy a franchise. Youre paying for a premium product. Tropical Smoothie Cafe is rounding out yet another year of impressive growth. Chipotle chicken flatbread. Charles Watson is Chief Executive Officer at Tropical Smoothie Cafe Corp. See Charles Watson's compensation, career history, education, & memberships. 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. A veteran franchise professional, Charles has worked for several hospitality-related companies including Intercontinental Hotels Group and US Franchise Systems. If you dont have a good product, it doesnt matter. Tropical Smoothie Cafe, LLC, 1117 Perimeter Center West, Suite W200, Atlanta, GA 30338. By Jonathan Maze on Apr. Excludes non-traditional locations and Restaurants that were not open for at least 357 days in 2021. The initial investment ranges from $246,500 to $580,500. Charles recently joined his team in celebrating the opening of the 1,000th Tropical Smoothie Cafe location. 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. I have a little bit sweeter palate. Franchisee Expands In Milwaukee - Tropical Smoothie Cafe LLC 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. Excludes non-traditional locations and Restaurants that were not open for at least 357 days in 2021. Were proud to report that as of today, weve donated more than 200,000 smoothies to these hometown heroes, and were not done yet! 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. So its got a little bit of indulgence to it. Tropical Smoothie Cafe, LLC, 1117 Perimeter Center West, Suite W200, Atlanta, GA 30338. 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 . Always number one, what I am focused on, is unit-level economics for our Franchise Owners. 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. Charles Watson has been the CEO since . Sure. Call now and speak to a franchise development leader. Prior to that, he was named Chief Development Officer in 2015 after serving as VP of Franchise Development since 2010. SKR Vr Glasses VR Headset Controller with Remote Mr. Watson was appointed the CEO position of Tropical Smoothie Cafe in December 2018. Chief Development Officer since 2016, after serving as VP of Franchise Development since 2010. In these roles, Charles was responsible for all development of the Tropical Smoothie Cafe brand. Smoothie King to Open More Than 100 Stores in 2023 February 3, 2023 Crisp & Green Inks Largest Multi-Unit Deal in Company History with 40 Units Sold February 2, 2023 Dine Brands International Expands with Dual-Brand Locations in the Middle East January 31, 2023 He is directly responsible for selling more than 800 franchises. 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. charles watson tropical smoothie net worth - shantisrl.com For many, many years, its been the Bahama Mama. Were finding ourselves in an environment where people want speed. 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. For more information about owning a Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchise, complete our form! Players MAY win multiple prizes in a. I was originally a quarterback in high school and had my heart set on the same position for college. JDK-8141210 : Very slow loading of JavaScript file with recent JDK 26, 2021. TropicalSmoothie.com. We set company-wide strategic imperatives around these issues immediately.". And theyve been able to do that, which is increased our average unit volume many, many times over the years. 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. And so I dont know. With the fast-casual spot gaining more recognition every year, there's a good chance that you won't be seeing your favorite Tropical Smoothie Cafe going anywhere anytime soon . menu boasts bold, flavorful smoothies with a healthy appeal, all made-to-order with quality ingredients. 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. Areas we wanted to attack immediately with our rapid growth were direct franchisee support as well as technology support and menu innovation. 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. Weve been in partnership with them for over 10 years now. charles watson tropical smoothie net worth - blantyremalaria.org 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. Whats your favorite cuisine outside of Tropical Smoothie? The companys goal is to open 1,500 cafes or more by the year 2024. This information appears in Item 19 of our Franchise Disclosure Document. 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. Youre asking me to pick which kid I like the best. The success of our brand is about the talent and drive of our talented executives and Support Center team. 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. 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. So again, I mentioned earlier menu innovation. Tropical Smoothie Cafe announces Charles Watson as the new Chief Executive Officer. Skip to main content Call now and speak to a franchise development leader. Both of my parents had the entrepreneur bug and they definitely passed that on to me. I am overjoyed to have the opportunity to lead such an incredible brand that has truly become a part of my DNA over many years, said Watson. What are the brands plans for expansion and are you eyeing an international presence? What was the condition of the company before you were named CEO? wills o' nats last of the summer wine. As a restaurant executive, hospitality should be in your blood. Weve done different promotions and summertime promotions to raise dollars for Camp Sunshine and have one more coming up this fall for them. 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.". Were any of the franchisees reluctant to follow the system or embrace a new direction? Such filing does not constitute approval by the Department of Law. A shift leaders hourly wage is an average of $11. Charles recently joined his team in celebrating the opening of the 1,000th Tropical Smoothie Cafe location. Such filing does not constitute approval by the Department of Law. The success of our brand is about the talent and drive of our talented executives and Support Center team. Call now and speak to a franchise development leader. 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. Start to Finish: What Inspires Execs | September 14, 2022 | QSR Staff. And so we are rolling out this fall, what were calling it, our Inspire Better, right? The way [Tropical Smoothie Cafe works in markets], we work the suburbs and the outskirts, and move our way into cities. 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. Occhiogrosso: How is taking the reins of an existing company different than being part of a startup or a founder? 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.". Then we determined two focus areas, giving back to the community and prioritizing support for our franchisees. Your results may differ. "I wanted to further instill a franchisee-first mentality. Communicate deeply. Tropical Smoothie Prioritizes Franchisees to Inspire Growth While we had always involved franchisees, I felt it needed to be formalized and more visible to our franchise system. And theyre in their communities. Occhiogrosso: What challenges, if any, did you face in getting "buy-in" from the existing franchise community once you became CEO? 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. 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. F-9894), New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin. Von Kutzleben most recently served as vice president of brand strategy, advertising and menu at Arbys. "Tropical Smoothie Cafe is in a perfect position for the future. 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. 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. 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. 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. And is there a smoothie that you wish to see added to the menu in the future? We decreased royalties and deployed hyper-local marketing strategies to drive business within a 1to 2-mile radius of cafes. 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 recently joined his team in celebrating the opening of the 1,000th Tropical Smoothie Cafe location. "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. 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. Occhiogrosso:What was your plan for the first 90 days? These early experiences in the workforce are what ignited my entrepreneurial spirit. Tropical Smoothie Cafe Similar Companies - SmoothieProClub.com Luckily in my first two years as CEO, we continued to expand the footprint of the brand, and increase brand awareness, drive profitability for our franchisees and drive our comp sales. Complete the form or call 770-821-1928, and a Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchise development leader will reach out to you with more information. Camp Sunshine is a camp for kids and their families that have life-threatening illnesses. 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. 770-580-2333 What were the one or two unique challenges that you faced upon taking over as CEO? The Tropical Franchisee Council (TFC) was established in 2018 and has been invaluable for our growth. Watson has worked for the brand for more than 10 years and has been its chief development officer since 2015. Every day is a day to celebrate at Tropical Smoothie Cafe, with all the success were having. Mark serves on the board of the Institute of Certified Franchise Executives. Jul. 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. in December 2018. . Paul Marsden oversees development and execution of financial strategies to support the companys business plans. "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. How Tropical Smoothie pulled off record-breaking year during COVID-19 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. 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 . Well, Tropical Smoothie Cafe, we've got 850 locations in 44 states. 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. Yes, we have some great products on our menu that weve crafted, but you can go off script. With 2011 winding down, how are you leveraging people, budgets, brands, and resources to meet development goals? And they want what they want when they want it, and thats usually right now. 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. However, I ended up a punter at Cornell. The offering is by prospectus only. How Much Does A Tropical Smoothie Owner Make TropicalSmoothie.com. 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. We want to capture both the head and the heart of our consumers. As their franchise website states: "Tropical Smoothie Cafes menu boasts bold, flavorful smoothies with a healthy appeal, all made-to-order with quality ingredients. Husband-And-Wife Team Inspire Better | Tropical Smoothie Cafe 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. Were implementing a new point-of-sale system that acts as a hub and enables all third-party delivery, white label delivery, online ordering, etc. In her role as Chief Development Officer, Cheryl drives the brands franchise development sales, real estate and design and construction.