Tropical Smoothie Cafe

Leadership

Max Wetzel named CEO of Tropical Smoothie Café

Wetzel replaces outgoing CEO Charles Watson, who led the rapidly growing healthful fast-casual concept for six years through an acquisition.

Financing

Fast-growing Tropical Smoothie is being sold to Blackstone

The Atlanta-based fast-casual smoothie chain, which has thrived in recent years, is being sold to the private-equity giant for $2 billion.

The smoothie chain is reportedly exploring a sale for as much as $2 billion, the latest indication of a warming restaurant M&A market.

The Bottom Line: Tropical Smoothie Café and Coopers Hawk are both reportedly planning upcoming IPOs, adding to a growing list. But some recent offerings haven’t fared well.

Deborah von Kutzleben also spent more than two decades at global advertising firm BBDO Worldwide.

Richard Key has been with the fast-growing smoothie chain since 2018. The fast casual recently opened its 1,000th store.

The take-and-bake pizza chain’s new design shrinks the customer area and moves the assembly line to the back. It is using incentives to get franchisees to remodel their stores quickly.

The smoothie-and-food chain has been a strong grower for years and turned on the jets so far in 2021. It hopes to keep all its new customers.

The private equity firm partnered with management on the deal for the fast-growing chain.

Here’s a roundup of current menu highlights and LTOs.

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