News

Tropical Smoothie signs multi-unit franchise deal

July 3, 2013

Tropical Smoothie Café has announced the signing of a multi-unit development deal with Raleigh, N.C.,  entrepreneur Sherman Dye to bring five Tropical Smoothie Café restaurants to the city in the next three years.

Dye, a 32-year veteran of the restaurant industry, spent 28 years with the Burger King Corporation serving in various roles and capacities including franchisee, director of operations and market manager. Other past positions include director of operations for Deliverance, Ltd of London and VP of installation and service at Wentworth Technology, a restaurant technology company Dye co-founded that created a cutting-edge headset system for QSRs.

"It's a fun and healthy concept that serves some of the best food and real-fruit smoothies I have ever tasted," said Dye. "I also love the simplicity of the Tropical Smoothie Café business model and the fact that it is a healthier alternative to typical fast food that I can feel good about serving to customers."

Tropical Smoothie Café operates nine cafés across North Carolina, three locations in the Raleigh-Durham market, and others in Nags Head, Southern Shores, Greenville, Winston-Salem and Southport.

"This deal proves that demand for our brand is growing," said Tropical Smoothie Café CEO Mike Rotondo. "In addition to single-unit operators, we are continuing to attract growth-minded, experienced restaurateurs that are looking for a fun, lucrative investment."

The new Raleigh deal is part of the 341-unit brand's nationwide growth strategy to open 40 additional locations throughout the U.S. in 2013.

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