Dive Brief:
- Smoothie King’s same-store sales rose 9% in July, marking the highest monthly growth in this metric year-to-date, the company said in a press release this week.
- From 2020 through 2025, system sales jumped nearly 64%, while average unit volumes increased 27%.
- Smoothie King said July had the strongest monthly sales growth of this year, attributing the rise to the June launch of Chicken Flatbreads.
Dive Insight:
Smoothie King saw a similar boost in same-store sales following its launch of Smoothie Bowls in 2023. In the months following that launch, the chain sold over 4.5 million bowls, helping it achieve its highest sales period in its history.
Last year, Smoothie King debuted its “Power Eats” menu with loaded toasts and protein boxes. This year’s Chicken Flatbreads rollout marked the chain’s biggest oven-based food innovation to date, the company said, adding that it provided ovens to its franchisees at no additional cost.
The Chicken Flatbreads launch is part of the chain’s broader brand evolution that also includes national advertising and changes to in-store design and the guest experience.
“With lower investment costs than many traditional QSR concepts, continued focus on product innovation, store growth and the guest experience, we're engaging with our franchisees to build a business that's designed to lead the category for years to come,” Gavin Felder, Smoothie King president and CFO, said in a statement.
The chain is also growing its unit count at a steady pace. During the second quarter, Smoothie King opened 19 units across states such as Minnesota, Michigan, Colorado and New York. It also added 32 new store commitments to its pipeline, with several multi-unit agreements for Arkansas, Ohio and Florida. Unit count has grown 76% over the past 10 years at a compound annual growth rate of 6%, according to the press release. Smoothie King currently has over 1,250 units.
“As Smoothie King continues executing its long-term growth strategy, the brand remains focused on investing in menu innovation, strengthening franchisee success and bringing its purpose-driven approach to nutrition to more communities nationwide,” the company said.
Smoothie King has been growing at a similar rate as competitor Tropical Smoothie Cafe, which is expected to reach 1,800 units this year and has a pipeline of over 900 units to open after 2026. Both chains have also seen significant investment from private equity firms. Blackstone bought Tropical Smoothie Cafe in 2024 and Smoothie King received an infusion of fresh capital from Main Post Partners through a minority investment last year.
