Franchising

Tropical Smoothie CEO: '2021 was best year yet'

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January 11, 2022

Although many brands would say 2021 was one of its most challenging years, Tropical Smoothie Cafe isn't one of them.

Instead, the year marked the brand's 10th consecutive year of positive same-store sales growth, as well as additional milestones that included opening its 1,000th location, opening more cafes than any prior year and introducing its top-selling limited-time smoothie in company history.

"Our franchisees, our field teams and the support center team have worked incredibly hard to make 2021 our best year yet by so many measures, and the brand's success is a testament to their passion for excellent guest experience and inspiring better in their communities," Charles Watson, CEO of Tropical Smoothie Cafe, said in a company press release. "We are committed to carrying our phenomenal momentum into 2022. We're not planning on slowing down."

The chain reported same-store sales are up 22% over 2020, with a two-year increase of 29.4% over 2019. Digital sales accounted for 76% of that growth, driven by the brand's 2021 introduction of customizable online and mobile ordering that added another layer of convenience for guests. The company also opened 133 cafes in 2021, a company record. In addition to new openings, it signed the highest number of franchise agreements in its history, with 332 new agreements. Over 70% were signed with existing franchisees.

The brand also crowned a new top-selling LTO smoothie of all time in 2021 when its cocktail-inspired Mango Berry Cosmo Smoothie topped the former bestseller and fan-favorite Watermelon Mojito Smoothie. The two are now the brand's top sellers of all time, with one in five guest orders including at least one of them throughout the LTOs' availability, according to the release.