With tons of quick-service restaurant brands in the market, it can be a long process for aspiring entrepreneurs to decide which ones to invest in. From the research phase to meeting with the corporate team, attending Discovery Day, and speaking with other franchisees, many factors are to consider.
At Smoothie King, we do everything possible to provide a unique opportunity for franchisees. We set ourselves apart from other QSR franchises with the products we sell and the versatile options and support we offer franchisees.
A Health-Focused Product Line
One of the reasons for our tremendous growth is the demand for healthy alternatives to products such as sandwiches and sweets. Smoothies are versatile, and our Clean Blends are made with more than enough nutrients to serve as a meal replacement or as a delicious, healthy snack option.
According to a recent survey, 54% of consumers cared more about how healthy their food and beverage choices were in 2020 than they did in 2010, and that number is only expected to grow. Last year, a report projected that the health food market will see a 4.91% Compound Annual Growth Rate between 2021 and 2027.
Some of the biggest trends stemming from the desire to be healthy are increased demand for plant-based proteins and dairy alternatives. With more consumers turning to vegetarian and vegan diets, the plant-based protein market is expected to reach over $40 billion by 2025, with an impressive CAGR of 13.75%.
Our Clean Blends set us apart from other franchises that serve food and beverages full of added sugar, high fructose corn syrup and other unhealthy ingredients. By using whole fruits and organic veggies, we can offer our guests natural ingredients with several health benefits. We have taken our dedication to wellness to the next level with our “No-No List,” containing dozens of unhealthy ingredients that many of our competitors use, which cannot be found in any of our products.
Our blends were created specifically with our guests in mind and are backed by years of research. Overall, it took over 15,000 hours and 150 changes to create them. We even make our ordering process 100% customizable, with nutritional enhancers for guests focusing on fitness, energy, getting slim or overall wellness. We also offer dairy alternatives such as almond milk and oat milk.
The versatility of our product line does not stop there- we also offer Kids Blends so that the whole family can take the path to wellness together. Over the years, several of our guests have credited our smoothies with providing the nutritional value they needed- from athletes to Cancer survivors to proactive guests who wanted to turn their life around and get healthy.
A Smoothie Franchise Made For Guests On-The-Go
Another detail that sets our smoothie franchise apart from other food and beverage franchises is how easy smoothies are for people on the go.
These days, customers value convenience over everything else. They want to get their products quickly and easily, consume them in the car on the way to their destination or have them delivered to their doorstep.
Our smoothies not only make life healthier, but they make it easier for busy parents, students, corporate professionals, fitness gurus and travelers alike. When you think about the difference between trying to eat a sandwich while driving or working and drinking a smoothie full of just as much, if not more, nutrients, it is simple to see why smoothies dominate.
We’ve taken convenience a step further by offering mobile ordering through our app, in-restaurant or curbside pickup and delivery. Our mobile app even rewards our users– offering superior value for our millions of regular guests.
Speaking of regular guests, because so many of our smoothie lovers use our products for their daily nutrients and stop by daily on their way to the gym, school, work or home, our franchise is resilient during economic uncertainty.
This has been most apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic. While other QSR franchises were closing their doors, we set records and opened more stores. In 2021, we experienced a double-digit increase in sales by 16.5% from 2020, and that’s just in the U.S.
A Flexible Model Focused on Profitability
Speaking of sales, in 2022, the smoothie market is valued at $2.5 billion. Still, consumer trends and regular guests are not the only factors driving our profitability. We also offer a flexible franchise model that provides franchisees with solid and unique investing opportunities.
For instance, a smoothie franchise is one of the ideal business models for nontraditional locations. These smaller locations, such as a Smoothie King on a college campus, require less space and fewer employees to operate, making for a lower investment with just as much, if not more, potential for profitability.
A few years ago, Sean Cangelosi opened a wildly successful Smoothie King location at his alma mater, Louisiana State University.
“I thought there would definitely be a lot of demand for a concept like ours if we were just able to open up inside the school. I knew I would have loved something like that when I was in college, so I wanted to make it happen,” Cangelosi explained.
In addition to franchisees looking to open nontraditional locations, we also have plenty who open multiple units. Of the 196 commitments signed in, 63% were made up of existing franchisees wanting to expand with additional locations.
A Smoothie Franchise Full of Opportunity
At Smoothie King, we pride ourselves on offering such a strong investment opportunity for franchisees by focusing on areas like wellness, flexibility, technology and, of course, profitability.
In fact, we recently ranked No. 13 on Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500 list, along with being named one of the Top Franchises for 2022 by Franchise Business Review.
With over 1,300 locations worldwide and a booming smoothie market, our franchise shows no signs of slowing down.
