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Tropical Smoothie targeting Denver

Over the next 10 years, the sandwich and smoothie franchise aims to open 25 locations throughout the city, including Colorado Springs, Highlands Ranch, Boulder, Lakewood and Westminster.

May 27, 2015

Tropical Smoothie Café is targeting Denver for franchise growth. Over the next 10 years, the sandwich and smoothie franchise aims to open 25 locations throughout the city, including Colorado Springs, Highlands Ranch, Boulder, Lakewood and Westminster, according to a company press release. There are three Tropical Smoothie Cafe locations in the Denver area.

Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchise executives, including CEO Mike Rotondo, will host a special event on Tuesday, June 16 for local entrepreneurs to learn about franchise opportunities with the fast casual brand. Attendees will be treated to food and smoothie samples and a tour of the café and have the chance to connect in person with Rotondo, as well as Charles Watson, vice president of franchise development, and Kriss and Michelle Shriver, area developers and local franchisees. The event will be held at the Tropical Smoothie Cafe located in the Centennial Promenade at 9615 D.E. County Line Road in Centennial.

"Healthy lifestyles and better-for-you food choices are important to people in Denver, and Tropical Smoothie Cafe is just starting to make its mark on the area with three popular locations," said Michelle Shriver. "The region is ripe for development. According to QSR magazine, Denver is the No. 1 large market in the U.S. for quick service restaurant growth potential. Couple that with the fact that Denver is consistently in the top five healthiest cities in the U.S., and you have the perfect place to open Tropical Smoothie Cafes."

Michelle Shriver owns three locations south of Denver and three in the Las Vegas market. She worked in the casino resort industry for 18 years before deciding to become a franchise owner with her husband, Kriss.

"We were attracted to the franchise business model and Tropical Smoothie Cafe's strong brand," said Shriver. "Franchising means there is an entire company behind me that is committed to my success. We really enjoy the networking opportunities we have to learn from others' successes, and the pride that comes from growing this brand together with a team."    

Candidates should have business experience, preferably in the restaurant industry; $100,000 in liquid assets and a minimum net worth of $300,000; and an initial investment of between $165,940 and $414,685. The chain currently boasts an average unit volume of more than $578,000 — the highest in the company's 18-year history — with the top 50 percent reporting an AUV of $734,000, according to the company.

In the first quarter of 2015, Tropical Smoothie Cafe reported a 12.31-percent growth in same-store sales and franchise agreements to open 51 new cafes across the U.S. This year, Tropical Smoothie Cafe plans to exceed 500 stores nationwide and sign franchise agreements for 150 new locations, according to the release. The brand currently has franchise opportunities across the U.S. in markets such as Atlanta, Houston, Dallas, Charlotte, Philadelphia, Boston, Portland and Columbus, Ohio, among others. By 2018, Tropical Smoothie Cafe plans to have 800 stores open across the U.S.