Smoothie King sees growth potential in Oklahoma | The Journal Record

Smoothie King has focused Oklahoma for development with plans to open retailers in additional than 30 new areas within the state within the subsequent 5 years.

The corporate – with 1,100 areas in 33 states – opened its first Oklahoma franchise 20 years in the past and at the moment has 4 Oklahoma Metropolis metro areas and one in Tulsa.

4 new franchises are below contract within the Oklahoma Metropolis metro space – together with one in Norman, stated Shawn Caric, vice chairman of franchise growth.

As well as, the corporate is recruiting franchisees for 30 extra focused intersections within the two metro areas and in locations like Ardmore, Enid, Lawton and Muskogee.

Smoothie King, based mostly in Dallas, was based in 1973 in New Orleans and now’s closing in on 1,400 retailers within the U.S. and overseas.

“The smoothie trade is a $2 billion trade and we’re attempting to get our fair proportion of that,” Caric stated.

Smoothie King is seeing an elevated demand for more healthy meal choices in Oklahoma Metropolis and elsewhere. “We consider maintaining a healthy diet on the go is correct for each market and each season,” Caric stated.

The franchisee who has led the event in Oklahoma Metropolis and Tulsa is Omar Janjua, the president of Sonic Drive-In from 2009 to 2015 and at present is president of Zefer Investments. After holding a number of management positions throughout the quick-service restaurant trade, he elected to construct Smoothie King retailers.

The corporate affords franchisees versatile codecs. They will open inline or free-standing drive-thru shops, in addition to retailers in airports or on faculty campuses. The funding ranges from $400,000 to $1 million plus.

“We like to convert present areas, particularly these with a drive-thru,” Caric stated.

“Franchising resonates with at the moment’s enterprise market,” he stated. “It takes a number of danger out of beginning a enterprise.”

Smoothie King has a primary buildout, low labor necessities and a easy enterprise mannequin that make it “nice for a first-time franchisee,” Caric stated. “It actually come right down to following the prescription.”

It additionally has attracted enterprise house owners with a number of franchises who wish to add to their portfolio, he stated.

The menu affords smoothies made with recent vegetables and fruit and elective vitamin enhancers – most with no added sugar. They’re customizable to satisfy particular person objectives, whether or not that’s to remain wholesome, increase power, handle weight or take pleasure in a deal with.

Workers can be taught shortly easy methods to make the personalised drink a buyer desires for dine-in, drive-thru or supply service, Caric stated.

“Everybody is available in with a unique objective and we are able to fulfill that objective,” he stated.

Smoothie King customizes its smoothies to satisfy the client’s objectives.  (Courtesy photograph)