Tropical Smoothie Names New Chief Financial, Administrative Officer

ATLANTA, GA -- Tropical Smoothie Café, a fast casual café concept known for its better-for-you food and smoothies with a tropical twist, announced it has appointed Barry Schnur chief financial and administrative officer.

In addition to his roles leading the company’s fiscal functions and day-to-day operations, Schnur will play a significant role in developing and implementing technology initiatives for the franchise system.

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 in Buckhead, 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.

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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.

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 cafes across the U.S. 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, and Columbus, among others.

By 2018, Tropical Smoothie Café plans to have 800 cafés open across the U.S.

Founded in 1997, Tropical Smoothie Café is a fast-casual restaurant concept inspiring healthier 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 and Columbus, among others.