Smoothie King, the world’s largest smoothie brand, announced at the end of last year that it has signed a development deal that will greatly increase its footprint in Las Vegas. Franchisee Na’im Muhammad told What Now back in December that plans include as many as ten locations in the Las Vegas area, with more locations planned for the Chicago area as well.
“I personally have been involved in the franchising business since I was kid,” Muhammad said. “My dad had several, and I grew up as a kid working the register. About 15 years ago, I decided I wanted to get into the business as well, in order to enhance my own personal portfolio. I wanted something with a smaller footprint and a simple menu, but something that wasn’t a fad.”
Muhammad says Smoothie King is just such a brand with sticking power, especially as tastes shift nationally in the direction of more health-conscious food—and as the brand has more than 1,400 locations globally, the numbers bear that out.
“I also love that they own 75 stores of their own,” said Muhammad. “That rang a bell for me, that I was dealing with a franchisor that was going to be in tune with what the franchisee is going through.”
The smoothie chain offers a menu of cold drinks in a variety of categories: “Stay Slim” flavors like Greek Yogurt Strawberry Blueberry (Strawberries, Blueberries (Wild), Greek Nonfat Yogurt, Apple Blueberry Juice Blend, Pear Juice Blend, Nonfat Milk, Protein Blend, Fiber Blend Enhancer), “Be Well” flavors like Apple Kiwi Kale (Organic Kale, Bananas, Apple Juice, Kiwi Apple Juice Blend, Electrolyte Blend), and “Take a Break” flavors like Banana Boat (Bananas, Vanilla Frozen Yogurt, Dairy Whey Blend, Turbinado).
“As we continue to grow nationwide, Chicago and Las Vegas remain priority markets and we couldn’t be more excited about expanding our reach in both cities’ vibrant and diverse communities,” Chris Bremer, Chief Development Officer at Smoothie King, said in December’s press release. “Na’im and his team have extensive franchising experience, a deep understanding of the markets and share our commitment to bringing convenient and nutritious dining options to new and loyal Smoothie King guests. We look forward to working with him to open these stores and quickly expand our footprint in and around both regions.”
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