Bradenton Smoothie King owners earn crown

BRADENTON — A Manatee County couple who opened two Smoothie King franchises in the early stages of the recession, in 2007 and 2008, has been named Franchisee of the Year by the national chain.

Smoothie King Franchises Inc., according to a release, recognized David and Dawn Cotrone, along with their son, David Cotrone Jr., for their exceptional operations, sales and contributions to the Smoothie King brand. The Cotrones received the award at the Smoothie King annual conference in New Orleans.

“This recognition is a huge honor for our family and I am very proud of our dedicated team for its hard work,” David Cotrone Sr. says in the release. “Smoothie King has done an outstanding job of delivering high-quality products, while continuing to evolve the brand through a new store design and exciting product pipeline, further positioning it as a leader in the competitive smoothie industry.