ATLANTA, April 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Tropical Smoothie Café, the leading fast casual café concept known for its better-for-you food and smoothies with a tropical twist, announced today it will open its newest locations in Mission Viejo and Ladera Ranch, owned by local franchisee RanaKaran "R.K." Sidhu, on May 24 and June 28, respectively. The openings are part of the brand's aggressive franchise development plans for the state, which includes future locations in Fountain Valley, Orange and Rancho Santa Margarita. Since January, the food and smoothie franchise has opened cafés in Lake Forest, Rancho Cucamonga, Foothill Ranch and Irvine, and will open nearly 20 more locations over the next five years.

"The first few months of 2016 have been incredibly busy and exciting since we introduced Tropical Smoothie Café in the state. Guests have absolutely loved our variety of smoothies, salads, wraps, flatbreads, bowls and more, showing there has been pent-up demand for a concept that serves delicious, healthier options in the region," said Sidhu, who signed a franchise agreement last year to develop 20 cafés across Southern California. "We're looking forward to bringing the brand to Mission Viejo and Ladera Ranch and continuing our growth throughout the state."

Tropical Smoothie Café's new location in Mission Viejo will be located at 28181 Marguerite Parkway, Suite 23. The café's grand opening will be held May 24 from 7 a.m. – 9 p.m. and the first 100 guests in line will receive free smoothies for a year.

The new café in Ladera Ranch, located in the Mercantile East Shopping Center at 27412 Antonio Parkway, Suite R2, will host its grand opening celebration on June 28 from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. The first 100 guests in line also will receive free smoothies for a year.

Additional locations slated to open later this year include:

• 9480 Talbert Avenue, Fountain Valley, CA 92708
• Orange City Square – 840 The City Drive, Suites A-C, Orange, CA 92868
• Santa Margarita Marketplace – 30451 Avenida De Las Flores, Suite C, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688

The cafés in California will feature Tropical Smoothie Café's new menu, featuring toasted wraps and flatbreads, bowls, salads, house-made sides, all-day breakfast, a kids menu and, of course, the brand's delicious smoothies. Guests can select from a menu of Superfood Smoothies that feature ingredients such as spinach, kale, acai, pomegranate, ginger and avocado; Supercharged Smoothies like the Chia Banana Boost and Muscle Blaster; and many more. Additionally, Tropical Smoothie Café offers a wide variety of supplements like probiotics and whey protein, as well as fresh add-ins like granola, whole grain oats and ginger.

Tropical Smoothie Café reported its strongest year of growth in 2015 with same-stores sales of 11.25 percent and signed franchise agreements to develop 199 new cafés across the U.S. The brand recently reported its seventh consecutive quarter of double-digit positive comp sales. This year, the food and smoothie franchise plans to exceed 550 restaurants nationwide. The brand currently has franchise opportunities across the U.S. in markets such as Miami, Philadelphia, Boston, Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Atlanta, Columbus and Charlotte, among others. By 2018, Tropical Smoothie Café plans to have 800 units open across the U.S.

Tropical Smoothie Café is looking to add qualified franchisees to its growing brand. Candidates should have business experience; $125,000 in liquid assets and a minimum net worth of $350,000; and an initial investment of between $210,550 and $478,550. The healthy fast food franchise currently boasts an average unit volume (AUV) of more than $634,000 — the highest in the company's 19-year history — with the top 50 percent reporting an AUV of more than $806,000.

Tropical Smoothie Café's aggressive franchise growth is backed by the entrepreneurs at the BIP Franchise Accelerator, a division of venture capital firm BIP Capital, which invested in the brand in 2010. BIP Capital has invested more than $250 million in emerging, high-growth brands across the franchising, software, and technology and consumer products industries. BIP Capital created the BIP Franchise Accelerator to leverage its leadership team's deep franchise experience to help emerging brands accelerate their growth. In addition to Tropical Smoothie Café, the BIP Franchise Accelerator's portfolio includes Tin Drum Asian Kitchen, which has grown to 13 locations in Georgia and Florida.

For more information about opening your own Tropical Smoothie Café franchise, please visit www.tropicalsmoothiefranchise.com.

About Tropical Smoothie Café
Founded in 1997, Tropical Smoothie Café is a fast-casual restaurant concept inspiring healthy lifestyles across the country, with over 480 locations nationwide. With snack and meal options for any time of day, Tropical Smoothie Café serves smoothies, salads, tacos, wraps, sandwiches, and flatbreads. The rapidly growing franchise has received numerous accolades including being ranked on Entrepreneur's 2016 Franchise 500, 2015 Fast Casual Top 100 Movers and Shakers, Franchise Times' Top 200+ and Nation's Restaurant News' 2015 Top 200. Tropical Smoothie Café is seeking qualified franchisees to expand throughout the United States in markets such as Miami, Philadelphia, Boston, Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Atlanta, Columbus and Charlotte, among others. 

About the BIP Franchise Accelerator
The BIP Franchise Accelerator is a division of BIP Capital, an Atlanta-based venture capital firm with over $250 million invested in over 26 companies in emerging, high-growth brands across the franchising, software, technology and consumer products industries. BIP Capital created the BIP Franchise Accelerator to leverage its leadership team's deep franchise experience to help emerging brands accelerate their growth. The BIP Franchise Accelerator not only provides investment capital, but also uses proven strategies to help companies evolve into mature, thriving brands. From fast casual and QSR concepts to service brands and healthcare and education concepts, the BIP Franchise Accelerator has invested in emerging brands driven by people with an entrepreneurial spirit that have a great growth potential. Its current portfolio includes Tropical Smoothie Café, Tin Drum Asian Kitchen and BIP Franchise Finance. For more information on BIP Franchise Accelerator, visit www.bipfranchiseaccelerator.com.

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SOURCE Tropical Smoothie Cafe

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