Tropical Smoothie Cafe, a leading fast casual restaurant brand, announced that it signed 48 franchise agreements and opened 35 new cafes in the third quarter of 2022. As a result, the company drove its year-to-date totals (through Q3) to 186 signed franchise agreements and 119 openings, expanding its footprint in prime markets while setting the stage for additional growth in the final quarter of 2022. The number of locations opened this year represents an increase of 25 percent compared to the number of cafes opened during the same timeframe a year ago.
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Existing Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchisees are generating significant brand growth momentum, broadening their cafe investments with fresh development opportunities. Through the first three quarters of 2022, existing franchisees opened 70 percent of the 119 cafes the brand opened this year.
“The passion that our extremely talented franchisees are showing for Tropical Smoothie Cafe through their interest in opening new cafes is remarkable. I can’t say enough about the level of dedication they have for our brand,” said Charles Watson, CEO of Tropical Smoothie Cafe, LLC. “It is invigorating to have such devoted franchisees building their portfolios with the concept. We have laid the foundation for a strong finish to the year.”
Highlighting growth across the country in 2022, the brand has opened 18 new cafes throughout Texas, a key development region for the company. Likewise, Tropical Smoothie Cafe welcomed more than 15 in the Northeast, and an additional 25 cafes in the Southeast, many in existing Florida and North Carolina markets. In the Midwest, the brand continued to focus development in Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan during Q3, increasing the total number of openings for the year also to more than 25 cafes in the region.
Salem Najjar, a franchisee since July of 2015, operates 17 locations in Michigan, Illinois and Wisconsin, and is continuing to expand his footprint with the brand. This year alone, Najjar opened three new cafes, and has additional units in development that will contribute to the brand’s growth in Illinois and Wisconsin.
“As an entrepreneur, I only invest in businesses and brands that I am passionate about—Tropical Smoothie Cafe checked all the main boxes for me, and I knew it was a perfect fit for not only our group, but for our guests as well,” said Najjar. “It’s always exciting opening a new restaurant, and we are thrilled to continue growing with Tropical Smoothie Cafe. Our mission is to provide a great customer experience and make a strong impact on the communities we serve.”