What Smoothie King does

Smoothie King Franchises, Inc. is a privately held, Dallas-area (Coppell, TX) franchisor of nutrition-oriented smoothie stores founded in 1973 in Kenner, Louisiana by Steve Kuhnau. The company operates more than 1,300 locations across 47 U.S. Designated Market Areas, with over 96% franchisee-operated, and generated 2025 revenue of $66.16M (up 4% year-over-year) on a franchise-fee and royalty model. Its core product is blended smoothies organized into seven functional categories (Get Fit, Feel Energized, Manage Weight, Be Well, Fruit Classics, GLP-1, and Kids), expanded in 2025-2026 to include smoothie bowls, a national food menu of flatbreads and toasts, grab-and-go snacks and supplements, and a proprietary GLP-1 Support Menu co-developed with Ochsner Health registered dietitians.

The technology stack is centered on a mobile app and a unified PAR Technology platform: PAR Punchh powers loyalty and POS across 1,200+ locations since 2024, and PAR Games adds gamified engagement that generated 2M+ game plays and 40%+ loyalty sign-up growth in its first three months. Back-of-house integrations include ParPay and WorldPay for payments, Givex for gift cards, and OneTrust for consent management. A registered portfolio of brand identities (Gladiator, The Hulk, Slim-N-Trim, Power Meal, Clean Blend, Healthy Rewards) protects core SKUs and messaging. The company reports owning related entities SK USA Inc. and Smoothie King Co., Inc.

Go-to-market is primarily franchise-led: in 2025, Smoothie King opened 74 new stores, signed 101 franchise commitments, and entered Utah and Minnesota, with 200+ new store commitments and 1,500 available trade areas in the development pipeline, and 90+ openings forecast for 2026. Distribution is complemented by direct-to-consumer mobile ordering, delivery, and scan-to-pay, plus corporate catering through an ezcater partnership. In July 2025, Smoothie King sold a minority stake to private equity firm Main Post Partners to fund brand evolution, the food menu rollout, and a national "The Best Kind of Delicious" marketing campaign.

Name

Smoothie King

Legal name

Smoothie King Franchises, Inc.

Website

https://smoothieking.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Smoothie King is a privately held franchisor of nutrition-focused smoothie stores, operating 1,300+ locations (96% franchisee) across 47 U.S. DMAs, with a mobile-app loyalty platform and a 2025 menu expansion into food and GLP-1 support products.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Smoothie and health-focused quick-service restaurant chain

NAICS

Specialty Food Retailers (4452), Grocery and Convenience Retailers (4451), Food (Health) Supplement Retailers (456191)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Food And Kindred Products (2000)

akta.pro primary industry

Smoothie & Protein Shake Bars (THAFAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Juice Bars & Cold-Pressed Juice Shops (THAFAKAA), Functional & Wellness Beverage Shops (Shots, Adaptogens, Vitamin/Collagen Drinks) (THAFAKAJ), Health Food & Supplement Stores (CRAHAEAC)

Keywords

• Smoothie franchise restaurants
• Blended beverage chain
• Health-focused quick service
• Protein smoothie menu
• Loyalty rewards program

Headquarters

HQ city

Dallas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Franchise Royalties and Fees: Smoothie King generates revenue through franchise fees and ongoing royalties from its network of over 1,200 franchisee-operated locations. The company sold a minority stake to private equity firm Main Post Partners to accelerate growth and innovation.
2. Franchise Store Sales: Revenue from franchisee-operated retail locations selling smoothies, bowls, and food items. System-wide sales grew approximately 64% over the past five years. The company reports 2025 revenue of $66.16 million.
3. Gift Cards and Merchandise: Sale of gift cards through physical locations and online, including e-gift cards and bulk gift card purchases for teams and events.
4. Catering Services: Catering services available through ezcater partnership for events and corporate orders.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Smoothie King operates a franchise-based chain of more than 1,300 quick-service retail locations selling blended smoothies, smoothie bowls, an expanding food menu (flatbreads, toasts, egg items), and grab-and-go drinks, snacks, and supplements. The brand is built around purpose-driven nutritional categories (Get Fit, Feel Energized, Manage Weight, Be Well, Fruit Classics, GLP-1 Support, and Kids), a Clean Blend ingredient promise, and a unified Healthy Rewards mobile loyalty platform across 1,200+ stores.

Product overview

Smoothie King operates a multi-category food and beverage platform centered on blended smoothies, expanded to include smoothie bowls, grab-and-go food items, and retail supplements. The core product consists of seven smoothie categories (Get Fit, Feel Energized, Manage Weight, Be Well, Fruit Classics, GLP-1, and Kids) serving different nutritional goals from high-protein fitness support to weight management. The portfolio extends to smoothie bowls featuring açai and Greek yogurt bases, a food menu of flatbreads and toasts introduced in 2026, and grab-and-go items including third-party drinks, snacks, and proprietary protein powder supplements. The company operates a unified loyalty platform (Healthy Rewards) with mobile app, gamification (PAR Games), gift cards, and catering services. Over 1,300 locations are franchisee-operated, offering both in-store service and mobile ordering through iOS/Android apps.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Healthy Rewards: Loyalty program offering points, rewards, and exclusive benefits for Smoothie King customers

Products and services

• Get Fit Smoothies High-protein smoothie category designed to fuel workouts or speed recovery, featuring the proprietary Gladiator protein blend (45g protein per serving) and varieties such as Gladiator Chocolate, The Activator Recovery, and Original High Protein options. Targeted at fitness and muscle-recovery consumers.
• Feel Energized Smoothies
• Manage Weight Smoothies
• Be Well Smoothies
• Fruit Classics Smoothies
• GLP-1 Support Smoothies
• Kids Smoothies
• Smoothie Bowls
• Food Menu (Flatbreads, Toasts, Eggs)
• Grab and Go Drinks
• Grab and Go Snacks
• Grab and Go Supplements
• Healthy Rewards Loyalty Program
• Smoothie King Mobile App
• Smoothie King Gift Cards
• Smoothie King Catering

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 2 million game plays generated through gamified loyalty in first 3 months
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PAR Technology Corp.coreTechnology or Integration · 10 June 2026Technology partnership for gamified loyalty through PAR Games platform and PAR Punchh loyalty platform. Implementation generated over 2 million game plays, increased loyalty sign-ups by over 40%, and helped reactivate lapsed customers. The platforms are unified across more than 1,200 locations since launching PAR Punchh in 2024.
• Grillo's PicklesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 May 2026Product collaboration to launch the brand's first-ever Pickle Smoothie, blending real pickles with bananas, organic kale, and coconut water. Timed for International Pickle Day on May 16. Both brands describe the partnership as a cultural moment combining Grillo's garden-fresh ingredients with Smoothie King's nutritional expertise.
• Tyler CameronminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 4 February 2026TV personality and entrepreneur partnership for limited-time Berry Smooth Smoothie launch available nationwide starting February 10, 2026. The collaboration emphasizes healthy habits and includes a signature toast as part of Smoothie King's expansion into food offerings.
• Ochsner HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExpert team of registered dietitians from Ochsner Health collaborated with Smoothie King to craft GLP-1 Support Smoothies designed to support balanced nutrition and everyday wellness goals for GLP-1 medication users.
• Sioux Honey Co-opminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint community outreach partnership where Sioux Honey Co-op and Smoothie King donated 6,480 bottles (nearly 3 tons) of Sue Bee Clover Honey to Second Helpings Atlanta for distribution to families facing food insecurity.
• Orangetheory FitnessminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-branded Orangetheory All Out Smoothie, a high-protein smoothie designed for fitness enthusiasts, available at Smoothie King locations.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Robeks: Established smoothie and açaí bowl franchise focused on fruit-forward, better-for-you blends - a direct peer in the smoothie shop category with overlapping nutritional-positioning messaging and franchise structure.
• Planet Smoothie: Franchised smoothie chain with a similarly broad U.S. footprint and protein-forward menu options - directly comparable in franchise structure, beverage categories, and customer overlap with Smoothie King's Get Fit and Manage Weight lines.
• Tropical Smoothie Cafe: Largest direct competitor in the franchised smoothie and food category with a similar franchise-led expansion model, broad menu of smoothies, wraps, and bowls, and overlapping health-and-wellness positioning targeting fitness and lifestyle consumers.
• Clean Juice: Certified organic juice and smoothie franchise targeting health-conscious consumers with cold-pressed juices, smoothies, and bowls - directly comparable to Smoothie King's Clean Blend/Be Well category and franchise-led expansion.
• Nekter Juice Bar: Specialty juice and smoothie franchise emphasizing clean-label, no-added-sugar formulations - directly comparable to Smoothie King's Clean Blend positioning and Manage Weight/GLP-1 target segments, with a franchise growth model.
• Jamba: National smoothie and bowl franchise chain with a comparable franchise + company-store footprint, similar customer demographics, and overlapping menu categories (Get Fit-style protein smoothies, energy bowls). Operates as a direct brand competitor in U.S. trade areas.
• Frutta Bowls: Smoothie bowl and health-focused franchise chain offering açaí bowls, smoothies, and wraps - closely comparable in menu mix (bowls, smoothies, health snacks) and franchise-led growth targeting similar wellness-oriented consumers.

Broad incumbents

• Coca-Cola: Global CPG incumbent with adjacent wellness/protein offerings (Fairlife nutrition shakes, Minute Maid) and significant distribution muscle. Not a direct franchise competitor but competes for the same functional-beverage occasions and CPG retail shelf space.
• Herbalife: Global nutrition company with meal-replacement shakes, protein powders, and weight-management programs - directly comparable to Smoothie King's Power Meal, Slim-N-Trim, and Gladiator protein positioning, and increasingly an omnichannel competitor via direct-to-consumer nutrition.
• Starbucks: Global beverage and food incumbent whose protein-forward, wellness-positioned menu items (e.g., protein shakes, high-protein coffee) increasingly compete with Smoothie King, while also serving as a benchmark for digital loyalty (Starbucks Rewards) and mobile-ordering scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/smoothieking
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCvydHFk0PuOLmqekEo18a4A
• Facebookfacebook.com/SmoothieKing
• Instagraminstagram.com/smoothieking

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Smoothie King