Smooth operator

How do you sell more than $1 million worth of smoothies in a year?

Set high expectations.

That particularly goes for teenage employees, says Dave Cotrone Jr., who runs four Smoothie King locations in the Sarasota-Manatee region in conjunction with his parents, Dave Cotrone Sr. and Dawn Cotrone. One of the stores the family operates, in west Bradenton, was recently named the franchise's top performer for 2015, with annual sales that surpassed seven figures. Metairie, La.-based Smoothie King, which operates more than 650 stores worldwide, named the elder Cotrones Franchisee of the Year in 2014.