Planet Smoothie Is Poised For Growth
Growth is no stranger to the premier smoothie franchise
A fun business that appeals to every demographic? A simple food business model with low start-up costs and no prior restaurant experience? An eye-catching venue that pulls in traffic all day long, with no peaks and valleys in traffic? These are just a few reasons why Planet Smoothie™ continues to enjoy expansion across the United States and is poised for even more growth in 2023.
“There is a lot of interest in Planet Smoothie, because entrepreneurs are realizing how durable the $2 billion smoothie segment of the fast-casual restaurant industry is,” says Doug Merenda, Director of Franchise Development. “Planet Smoothie has been a leader in the industry for almost 30 years and has built the kind of consumer and franchise-owner loyalty that other players in the space can only dream of. It’s also a brand that has expanded nationwide in all kinds of settings, so it’s uniquely customizable for what that would-be franchise owner has in mind.”
Planet Smoothie sets franchise owners up for success
Just like customers can create their own smoothie, Planet Smoothie gives franchise owners a lot of options when it comes to where they’d like to operate. That’s because this is a business with a flexible footprint that works well everywhere, from traditional shopping-center food court locations to street-level retail centers. Flexibility is a cornerstone of what makes Planet Smoothie such a valuable brand.
Another benefit to owning a Planet Smoothie franchise? Affordability. A Planet Smoothie franchise can be purchased for as low as $193,150, which is more than a third less than the current lowest entry point of $320,301 for a Smoothie King franchise.
Then there’s the chance for input. Planet Smoothie’s menu doesn’t happen in a vacuum. In addition to many franchise owner advisory boards for marketing and other functions, there’s also plenty of opportunity to work with the R&D team in the test kitchens. Creativity is the name of the game, and all ideas are welcome, Merenda says.
“Many of our vendors have their own innovative chefs, and they’ll bring things to us to try out,” he says. “They often have a new fruit, or a new supplement, that they want us to try. We also create our own products in the test kitchen and roll them out as a limited time offering to see how they do. If they work, we keep them on the menu. And of course, when franchise owners, and their customers, submit a concept, we are eager to try it and see if it has potential as well. Designing a new smoothie is fun for everyone.”
Kahala Brands is at the forefront of the franchise industry
Planet Smoothie also changes the game when it comes to support — both at the beginning, and on going through the life of the business. Franchise owners are in business for themselves — not by themselves. They have access to the skilled professionals at Kahala Brands™ from the very beginning, with training that helps them start strong and confidently.
Ongoing Planet Smoothie franchise marketing support ensures franchise owners are poised for growth by learning how to tap into social media and other awareness avenues, and operational support means that everything from point-of-sale systems to back-office functions like financial management and payroll are the best available.
Onboarding takes place several weeks before your store opens, and includes five days of classroom training at Kahala’s Scottsdale, AZ, headquarters, as well as three days of in-store training alongside ongoing support and mentoring. After receiving extensive training there, they head home with ongoing coaching and operations manuals that help them master the operations of a Planet Smoothie store well before opening.
The smoothie industry is rapidly expanding
Smoothies have grown from a niche market in the 1990s to a more than $12 billion industry today, according to Market Data Forecast. They are a mainstream snack, post-workout staple, or meal replacement for millions of people every day. The demand for them is only increasing, and the Planet Smoothie franchise is taking advantage of that growth opportunity.
There is no such thing as oversaturation when it comes to Planet Smoothie locations in a community. Quite the opposite, in fact. Many franchise owners will team up for advertising co-ops, sharing expenses while elevating the brand. That’s especially true in regions where an Area Developer is helping to build a network of connected stores that support each other and spur strong sales across the area.
Start a franchise poised for growth today!
Planet Smoothie is a smoothie franchise that sets itself apart by offering great-tasting smoothies that use healthier, natural ingredients. In a side-by-side comparison, our smoothies generally have less sugar and fewer calories — a big competitive advantage as Americans actively seek out healthier options.
Planet Smoothie is led by a veteran franchise team and dedicated brand support team as part of the Kahala Brands™ family. To learn more about Planet Smoothie franchise options, please visit our research pages here, or read the latest news on our blog here. If you’re ready to start a conversation with our franchise team, fill out our form here.