Tropical Smoothie Cafe Targeting Detroit For Franchise Growth

Local Entrepreneurs Invited to Join CEO Mike Rotondo in Dearborn on June 24 to Learn about Business Opportunities

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Jun 05, 2015, 10:09 ET

ATLANTA, June 5, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Tropical Smoothie Cafe, the leading fast casual cafe concept known for its better-for-you food and smoothies with a tropical twist, announced today it is aggressively targeting Detroit for franchise growth. Over the next three years, the sandwich and smoothie franchise aims to open at least six locations throughout Wayne and Washtenaw Counties, including Ypsilanti, Ann Arbor, Canton, Plymouth and more. Currently, there are three Tropical Smoothie Cafe locations in the Detroit area.

Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchise executives, including CEO Mike Rotondo, will host a special event on Wednesday, June 24 from 7 – 9 p.m. 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 cafe, and have the chance to connect in person with Rotondo, as well as Charles Watson, vice president of franchise development, area developers Craig LeMieux and Debbie LeMieux-King, and local franchise owner Jeffrey Lulek. The event will be held at the Tropical Smoothie Cafe located at 22905 Michigan Avenue in Dearborn.

"Healthy lifestyles and better-for-you food choices are important to people in Detroit, and Tropical Smoothie Cafe is just starting to make its mark on the area with three popular locations," said LeMieux. "The region is ripe for development. Detroit residents are increasingly active and consider themselves in good or excellent health, so our healthy, delicious food and smoothie options fit right into their busy lives."

LeMieux and his wife, Dianne, own five locations currently open in Michigan and Ohio, with two under development. As area developers, LeMieux and his sister, LeMieux-King, have guided the opening of 30 Tropical Smoothie Cafes, with another 25 in development, since deciding to become a franchise owner.

"My wife and I know what it takes to start a business from scratch, so following a proven system within a franchise model was very appealing to us when we were looking to start the next chapter in our lives," said LeMieux. "The Tropical Smoothie Cafe system works. One thing we love about our cafes is the traffic we see throughout the day -- breakfast, lunch, dinner and even evening snacks. While most quick-service franchises do most of their business at lunch, we have as much business after 2 p.m. as we do before."

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 healthy fast food franchise currently boasts an average unit volume (AUV) 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.

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. 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.

For more information about opening your own Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchise, please visit http://tropicalsmoothiefranchise.com/detroit-event to register for the upcoming Detroit event.

About Tropical Smoothie Cafe

Founded in 1997, Tropical Smoothie Cafe is a fast-casual restaurant concept inspiring healthy lifestyles across the country, with over 425 locations nationwide. With snack and meal options for any time of day, Tropical Smoothie Cafe serves smoothies, salads, tacos, wraps, sandwiches, and flatbreads. The rapidly growing franchise has received numerous accolades including being ranked on Entrepreneur's 2014 Franchise 500 and Nation's Restaurant News' 2013 Top 200. Tropical Smoothie Cafe is seeking qualified franchisees to expand throughout the United States in markets such as Atlanta, Houston, Dallas, Charlotte and Columbus, Ohio, among others.

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SOURCE Tropical Smoothie Cafe