Smoothie King was founded in 1973 and has since became the quick-service industry's top smoothie franchise. Thanks to the resurgence in demand for smoothies and several successful franchising campaigns, the juice bar has continued to expand. Restaurant News reports that the industry's first-quarter sales in 2014 increased by 7.16 percent over the previous year, and second-quarter sales jumped by nearly 10 percent. These numbers reflect the strength of the Smoothie King name and an opportunity for franchisees to invest in a brand with staying power.
Cross-country expansion
The smoothie franchise has done more than increase sales in 2014, also establishing franchises across the country in new communities. For example, investors in Mishawka, Indiana, have committed to opening a smoothie franchise location in their town by July of 2015. Franchisees Lauren and Steven Schrimsher were familiar with Smoothie King's selection of healthy, tasty beverages. Their experience with Smoothie King's successful business model helped the couple make their choice when it came to picking a franchise, says the South Bend Tribune.
Omaha, Nebraska residents will enjoy access to a second Smoothie King franchise by early 2015, according to the Omaha World-Herald. The juice bar aims to attract customers to Loveland Centre, a new 44,000-square-foot shopping center where Smoothie King has established its newest Omaha store. Likewise, Bethesda, Maryland is set to receive its second Smoothie King franchise during the same timeframe, notes Bethesda Now.
The reign of Smoothie King
Smoothie King entered the franchising business in 1989, and today the brand operates nearly 700 units in 33 states. The juice bar has even expanded internationally, opening stores in Korea and Singapore. Multiple business publications have recognized the New Orleans-based franchise for the consistent performance of Smoothie King's franchise locations. The 2014 Franchise 500 list ranked Smoothie King at No. 86 among all businesses, while Entrepreneur ranked the brand No. 1 among juice bars, says Restaurant News.
A major contributor to Smoothie King's success is the brand's commitment to empowering and connecting with franchisees. For example, the franchise hosts an annual conference for franchisees and corporate partners, where participants are given access to pertinent data about trends in the industry. Visitors also receive updates on the latest internal company news. Over 1,000 attendees were present at this year's conference, including 50 percent of Smoothie King franchise owners from every corner of the nation.