• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Menu
  • Home
  • About
    • About Franchise Chatter
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Service
    • Affiliate Disclosures
  • Subscribers Only
    • Login
    • New to Franchise Chatter? Start Here
    • America’s Most Lucrative Franchises
    • Franchises Ranked by Average Revenues
    • Franchises Ranked by Average Profits
    • Franchise Winners, Survivors and Losers Last Year
    • FDD Talk
    • Search by Name
  • Top Franchises
  • Franchise Earnings
  • Costs
  • Fees
  • Quiz
  • Search

Why Invest: Smoothie King Executive Richard Leveille Looks Forward to Smooth Transition in Company’s Mission to Become a Global Brand

Published on January 7, 2013 by Brian Bixler Leave a Comment
in Smoothie Franchise, Why Invest

Richard Leveille has been employed by Smoothie King for 23 years and has seen it grow to a national brand with more than 500 stores nationwide. But lately, he feels as though the company has only just begun to franchise, due to a recent deal that will take Smoothie King from an American brand to a global one.

“There’s never been a better time to get involved in this brand,” said Leveille, executive vice president of franchise development and real estate for Smoothie King.

Last July, SK USA Inc., headed by Chief Executive Officer Wan Kim, agreed to purchase Smoothie King Franchises Inc. from the company’s co-founders Steve and Cindy Kuhnau, who opened the first Smoothie King in New Orleans in 1973. The acquisition has resulted in a new business plan that calls for a major expansion of the brand, not only in the United States, but in the Middle East, Korea, and other parts of Asia.

America's Most Lucrative Franchises of the Year

Growth Already Under Way

Smoothie King's Richard Leveille


Learn Which Franchises Can Make You Rich
Richard Leveille, Smoothie King’s Executive Vice President of Franchise Development and Real Estate

And the growth has already begun. In November, the company announced that it saw 51 openings in 2012 and 48 new franchise agreements. The new units include 17 in the U.S., 33 in Korea, and the company’s first store in Singapore. Of the new agreements, 22 will be developed in the U.S. and 26 in Korea.

And even though it has been franchising since 1989 and has units in 32 states, there is still plenty of room for expansion in the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast regions, as well as Texas, according to the company.

“Our business was very profitable and our founder and owner was very content with what we were doing,” Leveille said. “Now, we have new owners who say we have a mission to accomplish.”

That mission is to add 1,000 new franchised and corporate locations domestically over the next five years, with an immediate goal of opening 40 franchises and 20 corporate locations in 2013.


🎯Find GOOD Franchises in Your Target Industries That Are STILL Available in Your Area (Free Tool)



💰How Much Franchise Can You Afford? Use Our Free Financial Calculator


Brand Built on Life-Changing Product

Much has changed since Steve Kuhnau first developed the smoothie in the late 1960s to deal with his allergies and low blood sugar. Today, the smoothie has become part of the mainstream, available at every juice bar in the country, as well as fast food drive-through windows.

But Smoothie King distinguishes itself as the industry’s “premier smoothie bar and nutritional lifestyle center.” It offers guests the original nutritional fresh-blended smoothie and healthy retail products, including sports beverages, energy bars, healthy snacks, vitamin supplements, herbs, minerals, and other sports nutrition products.

“Our point of differentiation is that what we offer in our stores is something that changes your life,” Leveille said. “Not a beverage. Not a fruit drink. Not a milkshake. We sell a life-changing product that usually has to do with some ailment that you have. Maybe you can’t get enough protein. Maybe you’re trying to lose weight. Maybe you’re trying to gain weight.”

“One of the other differentiators for our brand is that typically people will drink us in place of a meal. We’ve taken the smoothie and moved it to the center of the plate. It provides you with the nutrition you need and that’s really been our focus for so many  years. We are a meal in a cup.”

Franchises Ranked by Average Revenues and Profits

Potential franchisees should take note of the company’s strength as indicated by the rankings of various industry publications. In 2013, Smoothie King was ranked No. 1 by Entrepreneur magazine in the juice bar category for the 20th year. It was also ranked No. 104 overall on this year’s Franchise 500 list and was listed as part of the most recent QSR Global 30.

Franchisees Must Carry Mission

Leveille said the company is looking for franchisees to carry on the company’s mission.

“We’re here to relentlessly influence and help more and more people achieve a healthier lifestyle. So, that’s what we try to do with our products, and every franchisee that gets involved in our system must buy into that mission statement,” he said.

The estimated initial investment to own a traditional Smoothie King is between $144,400 and $336,200, including a franchise fee of between $20,000 and $36,000, according to the company’s Franchise Disclosure Document. The total investment to begin operation of a non-traditional Smoothie King is between $100,200 to $196,700, including a franchise fee ranging from $16,000 to $22,000. The average store size is 1,200 square feet, with 8 to 11 part-time employees, one full-time employee, and two people working per shift at all times.

Until last summer’s sale of the company, Smoothie King did not aggressively recruit new franchisees, Leveille said. Most of its candidates were customers who became passionate about the concept, or were existing single-unit franchisees interested in opening additional stores. The company generated leads from a phone number printed on Smoothie King cups, he added.

“I’d say 90 percent of our franchisees started out as smoothie drinkers in a store, got passionate about the product, and said this is a business that they could put their name on, get behind, and feel good about using as a vehicle to make money for their families.”



To Access the Rest of This Article and Other Premium, Income-Enhancing Content, Subscribe Now or Log In.

Gain the Insider Information (and Actual Earnings Data) You Need to Make a Safe and Smart Franchise Investment. Click Here to Learn More.



Gain the Insider Information (and Actual Earnings Data) You Need to Make a Safe and Smart Franchise Investment - See more at: https://www.franchisechatter.com/register/#sthash.le7wKJKM.dpuf

🎯Find GOOD Franchises in Your Target Industries That Are STILL Available in Your Area (Free Tool)



💰How Much Franchise Can You Afford? Use Our Free Financial Calculator





Franchise Winners and Losers Last Year

Tagged as: Smoothie King

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Previous post: FDD Talk Daily: Weekly Average Unit Volume for Firehouse Subs Restaurants in 2011, 2010, and 2009

Next post: FDD Talk Daily: Average Revenue, Expenses, and Operating Profits of Affiliate-Owned Firehouse Subs Restaurants (2011)

Primary Sidebar

🎯Find GOOD Franchises in Your Target Industries That Are STILL Available in Your Area (Free Tool)

💰How Much Franchise Can You Afford? Use Our Free Financial Calculator

As seen in:  New York Times, Bloomberg Businessweek, and CNBC

Login

Remember Me
Register | Lost your Password?
Reminder: Your username and password are case-sensitive.

Need help? Email franchisechatterblog@gmail.com

🚀 Daily FDD Talk Posts

Jiffy Lube Franchise

DQ Grill & Chill Franchise

College HUNKS Hauling Junk & Moving Franchise

Sport Clips Franchise

QC Kinetix Franchise

Annex Brands Franchise

Steak ‘n Shake Franchise

Garage Force Franchise

Pet Butler Franchise

Kilwins Chocolates Franchise

Matco Tools Franchise

Firehouse Subs Franchise

Mr. Handyman Franchise

GarageExperts Franchise

Tropical Smoothie Cafe Franchise

Moe’s Southwest Grill Franchise

Tim Hortons Franchise

Toppers Pizza Franchise

Sonic Drive-In Franchise

Elements Massage Franchise

Wild Birds Unlimited Franchise

Qdoba Mexican Eats Franchise

Great Harvest Franchise

Snap-On Franchise

Mathnasium Franchise

Beef Jerky Experience Franchise

Ellie Mental Health Franchise

Miracle Method Franchise

LearningRx Franchise

Ellianos Coffee Franchise

The Patch Boys Franchise

Grasons Estate Sales Franchise

Style Encore Franchise

Music Go Round Franchise

Play It Again Sports Franchise

Plato’s Closet Franchise

🏆 Best Franchises by Industry

Best Franchises by Industry (All Lists)

Best Laundromat Franchises

Best Storage Unit Franchises

Best Car Wash Service Franchises

Best Gym and Fitness Franchises

Best Pizza Franchises

Best Sandwich Franchises

Best Childcare Franchises

Best Ice Cream Franchises

Best Coffee Franchises

Best Hamburger Franchises

Best Salon and Beauty Franchises

Best Chicken Franchises

Best Smoothie and Juice Franchises

Best Maid Service Franchises

Best Mexican Restaurant Franchises

Best Massage Service Franchises

Best Tutoring Franchises

Best Auto Repair Franchises

Best Auto Oil Change Franchises

Best Asian Restaurant Franchises

Best Pet Franchises

Best Commercial Cleaning Franchises

Best Sports Bar Franchises

Best Baked Goods Franchises

Best Moving/Junk Removal Franchises

Best Mailbox Franchises

Best Apparel Retail Franchises

Best Senior Care Franchises

Best Restoration Franchises

Best Tech Franchises

Best Travel Agency Franchises

Best Trampoline Park Franchises

Best Tools Distribution Franchises

Best Salon Suites Franchises

Best Property Management Franchises

Best Laboratory Services Franchises

Best Staffing/Recruiting Franchises

Best Real Estate Franchises

Most Profitable Franchises

Top Low Cost Franchises

Franchise Chatter uses affiliate links for Franchise Help and Franchise Brokers Association.

Franchise Chatter © 2022