Smoothie King Ranked Number One Juice Bar for Eighteenth Time

NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 20, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Smoothie King, the originator of the nutritional fruit smoothie, holds onto its seat on the throne as Entrepreneur Magazine releases its annual Franchise 500 list. The 32nd annual Franchise 500 list crowns Smoothie King as number one in the juice bar category for the eighteenth time. Additionally, Smoothie King is ranked as number 70 overall, up 10 spots from number 80 in last year's ranking.

Entrepreneur magazine's Franchise 500 list is designed to highlight the best new opportunities for potential franchisees, with all companies judged by the same criteria – objective, quantifiable measures of a franchise operation, including financial strength and stability, growth rate and size of the system.  

A worldwide demand for healthy, fast, functional food is helping drive Smoothie King's success, as is a growing trend toward snacking during the day. In 2010, the company continued to expand its own premium line of Smoothie King vitamins and supplements. The company also continued international expansion in 2010, most recently with the first location in The Cayman Islands which opened in early December.

"Receiving top recognition in these categories for the eighteenth time is an honor and a testament to our commitment to providing a healthy fast-food alternative," said Steve Kuhnau, founder and CEO, Smoothie King. "Thanks go out to our loyal guests who, since 1973, have chosen Smoothie King as a part of their healthy lifestyle."

Smoothie King continues to open new stores and markets, serving up a wide selection of products for healthy living; including more than 80 smoothies made to order with real fruit, all-natural juices and a functional mix of vitamins and nutrients.

About Smoothie King Franchises, Inc.

Smoothie King is a privately held, New Orleans-area-based franchise company and the premier Smoothie Bar and Nutritional Lifestyle Center in the industry. Smoothie King offers guests the original nutritional fresh-blended smoothie and healthy retail products, including sports beverages, energy bars, healthy snacks, vitamin supplements, herbs, minerals and other sports nutrition products. Smoothie King opened its first store in 1973 and started as the first franchised smoothie bar/health food store in the United States in 1989, and currently has more than 600 units operating in 32 states, the Republic of Korea and the Caymans. Additional outlets will soon be opening in Japan, Egypt and Turkey. In 2010, Smoothie King was ranked number one by Entrepreneur magazine in the juice bar category for the eighteenth time and number 70 overall on the 2011 Franchise 500 list. Visit www.smoothieking.com; engage on Facebook www.facebook.com/SmoothieKing; follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/smoothieking

SOURCE Smoothie King Franchises, Inc.