Tropical Smoothie Cafe continued its momentum from 2021 into the first quarter of 2022, signing 56 new franchise agreements and opening 42 new franchised cafes, including its first airport location. More than 70 percent of the deals are with existing Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchisees, demonstrating their success and commitment to the brand.

One of those openings, in the newly expanded Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City, in partnership with award-winning airport concessionaire Paradies Lagardère, marks the brand’s expansion into the airport space.

“We are absolutely thrilled to have opened our very first Tropical Smoothie Cafe restaurant at the Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City,” says Claude Guillaume, senior vice president of operations for Paradies Lagardère’s Dining Division. “With its diverse menu of options and flavors for all day parts and traveler preferences, Tropical Smoothie Cafe will be an exciting addition to the airport’s overall concessions program and a successful complement to the new restaurant lineup we recently introduced.”

Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchisees also received top awards from the franchise community during the first quarter. Salem Najjar, who currently owns and operates 14 Tropical Smoothie Cafe locations in the Midwest with nearly 20 in the pipeline, was named an International Franchise Association (IFA) Franchisee of the Year. The award recognizes outstanding franchise operators who exemplify excellence in community, workforce and diversity.

Additionally, Multi-Unit Franchisee Magazine recognized two Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchise groups in its MVP 2022 Awards. Toya Evans, who owns and operates four Tropical Smoothie Cafe locations in Maryland with another cafe in development, received the Spirit of Franchising Award. Roma and Suresh Patel received the MVP Influencer Award for Husband and Wife Team. The Patels opened their first Tropical Smoothie Cafe location in 2015 in Ohio and today own 13 cafes throughout Ohio.