Get In The Mix With A Smoothie Franchise Opportunity

Posted on September 10, 2008 by Ginger Watford

It may have been only a little over a decade ago that the first smoothie shop was introduced to the neighborhood I grew up in. Everyone in town flocked to the building to get smoothies on a regular basis, especially the kids in town. The shop provided us with cold, sweet drinks that made the hot summer days seem so much easier to tolerate, and we went back for more, day in and day out.

Now smoothie shops are nothing out of the ordinary, and instead of having to wait in line at the only place in town to get a delicious, fruity concoction, Americans now have a choice between which of the dozen stores in the neighborhood to visit, and once they make that decision, then patrons wait in line, because by some business miracle, every smoothie business in town always seems to have a line from the counter to the door. The public cannot seem to get enough of this product that seems to walk the fine line between tasting great and being healthy. In fact, in 2006, it was estimated that the smoothie industry made $2bil off their berry-laden, frozen treats. Menus are constantly expanding, including nutritional "boosts" and even sandwiches in some cases, meaning that the market is primed to make even more money from happy customers. There are roughly 4000 smoothie shops in the United States, and more than ¾ of them are franchise operations, making this powerhouse of an industry a great option to any willing entrepreneur. If a smoothie franchises sounds like an appealing option to you, read on for further information on some business opportunities available within the industry.

One of the greatest smoothie franchises is Planet Smoothie, the 3rd largest in the United States, making up roughly 10% of the market with a business model that is clearly successful. That success starts with expert site selection. With a versatile business model, the team of real estate professionals that the franchisor employs is able to find and develop perfect business locations in downtown areas, suburban neighborhoods, malls, and even airports. Then designing a storefront perfectly suited for the space, they piece together the best place for you to sell not only their product, but their passion for healthy living. That is really what the franchisee sells: a passion for health. Whether the consumer is purchasing a Rasmanian Devil smoothie or a breakfast sandwich, they can be sure they are getting the best food possible which combines great taste and healthy ingredients.

Aimed at the upscale health-conscious consumer, Robeks - Fruist Smoothies & Healthy Eats is another great food franchises for the smoothie-minded entrepreneur. Selling fresh and refreshing fruit smoothies, as well as an array of sandwiches and health food products, Robeks - Fruist Smoothies & Healthy Eats is up to par with every other major smoothie franchise business. Started in Southern California, it has rapidly expanded into 16 other states and even across the Atlantic to Dublin, Ireland. With established store development, training, and marketing systems planted firmly in place, the outlook for success in any state is good.

A relative newcomer to the market, Surf City Squeeze gets points just for having a fun name and logo. But don’t let that fool you into believing that their business isn’t serious. Quite to the contrary, this budding business for sale has already seen good success in its home state of Arizona, and is set to expand across the rest of the country with a new lineup of food products and an array of additives and herbal supplements posed to be the largest selection in the industry.

If what you want is a business utterly focused on making the best possible product known to man, then Juice Heaven is a wonderful franchise choice. Of course, every business on this list is interested in making the best smoothie they can, but Juice Heaven is so concentrated on it that they make it a point to speak of their research and development department, a group that continually analyzes and refines existing recipes and develops new ones so that everything they make will be as healthy as possible for the customer. Even before the first store had opened, the founder was convinced that developing the best possible recipes was of first importance, so that was what he worked on. If that excites you, then Juice Heaven is your choice.

Not everything in the smoothie world is all about smoothies, though. It sounds a little strange, but the hottest trend right now is the Fusion Concept, the idea of a smoothie shop that also sells another product as a core item. A strong leader in this expanding market is Maui Wowi Hawaiian Coffees & Smoothies. Brilliantly, this business has combined 2 of the best selling food products in the US: smoothies (which are growing in the massive popularity) and coffee (which happens to be the 2nd largest US import, just behind oil). When you add full training, ongoing support, and a charming Hawaiian décor to this beverage combination, you’ve got a guaranteed winner at any mall, shopping center, or airport that one of these franchises pops up in.

As the logical crossroads between health, convenience, and taste; the smoothie has become, in only about a decade, not only a staple of the American diet, but also the American economy. For only the cost of startup and a constant supply of fresh fruits and vegetables, you too can get into the mix of the smoothie industry and make your money on one of America’s most profitable health snacks.