Franchise Directory

It's good to be king -- even a self proclaimed one. Smoothie King Franchises offers a mix of good nutrition and creamy drinks. The company reigns over a chain of more than 500 franchised smoothie stands that offer blended fruit and juice drinks. Its smoothies are available in more than 50 flavors and can be fortified with dietary supplements. The stores also carry sports drinks, energy bars, supplements, and sports nutrition items. Smoothie King outlets can be found in more than 30 states and South Korea. Founders Steve and Cindy Kuhnau started selling smoothies out of a health food store in 1973 and began franchising their Smoothie King concept in 1989.

Despite a down economy and a dismal year for food-service franchising, Smoothie King expanded in 2009, ranking #40 in growth (up from #51 last year).

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 July 2009, the company launched a new line of vitamins and supplements. To increase daypart business, Smoothie King stores began opening two hours earlier for breakfast in 2009.

Still run by the original founders, Smoothie King boasts solid financial strength (#21 this year, up from #28 last year). The company continued international expansion in 2009, and new stores are planned for Turkey, Egypt, and Japan.

Last Year's AllStar Rank: 9

Third-party financing available