Franchisee's smooth promotional ride

Local franchisees of national chains tend to detest contests, promos and sales pushes from the mother ship, as individual Burger King owners can attest. (See $1 double cheeseburgers.)

But a Gulf Coast franchisee and developer of Tropical Smoothie Cafe says the company's latest promotion has done wonders for his business.

Indeed, Andrew Jessen, who owns Tropical Smoothie development rights from Bradenton though Naples, says sales for his seven stores in the region are up 22% in 2011 over early 2010. Jessen attributes the rise to Tropical Smoothie's Summertime Somewhere campaign, where every purchase comes with a scratch-off card that holds a bevy of potential prizes.

The Destin-based parent company told franchisees like Jessen to expect 8% sales growth from the promotion. Jessen says the results have been better than planned, with total transactions up 25% in 2011. “It has been fantastic,” Jessen tells Coffee Talk.

Jessen plans to grow his Tropical Smoothie holdings in 2011 past the summertime promotion, which ends May 1. Jessen says he's looking to expand in Sarasota and Manatee counties, and a forthcoming store in Fort Myers featuring a drive-thru will open later this year. Tropical Smoothie has 300 stores nationwide.