Tropical Smoothie Cafe facts for kids
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Exterior of a franchise in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
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Trade name
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Tropical Smoothie Café |
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| Private | |
| Industry | Cafe |
| Genre | Fast casual |
| Founded | 1993 in Destin, Florida, U.S. |
| Founders |
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| Headquarters |
Atlanta, Georgia
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U.S.
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Number of locations
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1,150+ (2023) |
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Area served
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United States |
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Key people
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| Products |
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| Revenue | $500 million |
| Owner | Levine Leichtman Capital Partners |
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Number of employees
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2,000+ (2018) |
Tropical Smoothie Cafe, also known as Tropical Smoothie, is a popular restaurant chain in the United States. It has more than 1,150 locations across the country. These restaurants are called franchises, which means different people own and run each location, but they all follow the same rules and use the same brand name.
How Tropical Smoothie Cafe Started
Tropical Smoothie Cafe began as a simple smoothie shop in 1993. It opened in Florida, a sunny state in the U.S. The idea was to offer tasty, healthy drinks.
In 1997, the company that helps people open new Tropical Smoothie Cafe locations was created. The very first franchised store opened in 1998 in Tallahassee, Florida. Today, the main office for Tropical Smoothie Cafe is in Atlanta, Georgia.
Growing Across the Country
In 1999, Tropical Smoothie Cafe started to offer more than just smoothies. They added food items like sandwiches and wraps to their menu. This made the cafes a place where people could get a full meal.
As more cafes opened, they changed their look to feel like a beach house. They used bright white walls, open kitchens, and colorful decorations. This made the cafes feel fun and tropical.
The company grew quickly over the years:
- By 2006, they had 200 stores.
- By 2011, they reached 300 stores.
- By 2017, they had opened their 600th location.
- In 2019, they celebrated opening their 800th store.
The people who started Tropical Smoothie Cafe, Eric and Delora Jenrich and David Walker, knew a lot about how to grow a business with franchises. They used their experience to help the company expand.
What's on the Menu?
At Tropical Smoothie Cafe, sales are split evenly: about half come from smoothies and half from food items. This means their food is just as popular as their drinks!
In 2013, Tropical Smoothie Cafe started offering a special meat substitute called Beyond Meat. This plant-based option is great for people who want to eat less meat. Beyond Meat is made from things like fava bean and pea protein. It became a regular item on the menu at many locations.
