Smoothie King touts growth in Northeast, Midwest markets

Smoothie King today announced that the brand has increased its presence in the Northeast and Midwest regions by over 85% since 2020. Now, there are approximately 358 Smoothie King locations in Northern markets, up from 193 five years ago.

“As Smoothie King continues to grow beyond its traditional strongholds in the South, we’re seeing tremendous interest from both guests and entrepreneurs across northern markets,” said Chris Bremer, Chief Development Officer at Smoothie King. “Consumers everywhere are looking for convenient options that support their health and wellness goals, and our continued expansion allows us to bring our vision to new communities throughout New York and beyond.”

Smoothie King was founded in 1973 in Kenner, Louisiana by Steve Kuhnau long before better-for-you alternatives were trendy. In March of 1989, Steve and his wife Cindy began franchising, with a vision of spreading awareness about health and nutrition as well as delivering a tasty treat.

In 2012, Wan Kim, who had successfully franchised the brand in the Republic of Korea, bought Smoothie King from the Kuhnaus. Under his leadership, the system has grown to more than 1,300 worldwide locations and increasingly pushed beyond the boundaries of being seen as a Southern brand.

As Smoothie King has expanded in the Northeast, New York has emerged as a key market. The brand now commands 32 units in the Empire State, more than doubling their representation in the market over the last five years.

Smoothie King’s next major move in New York will be the grand opening of their new Penfield location on Saturday, July 18. It’s the first official go-live of a three-unit deal with local franchise owner Mohammed Waqas Akram.

“We want our entry into Penfield to be an unforgettable celebration for our neighbors,” said Akram. “We’re launching with a fantastic grand opening party on July 18 and keeping the energy going the following weekend to honor America’s landmark 250th birthday. This is just the first step for us—we are already actively looking at sites in Henrietta and Greece to make healthy, goal-oriented options accessible to the entire Rochester community.”

As they continue their expansion, Smoothie King is actively seeking to connect with additional entrepreneurs who are interested in joining their network. They’re especially interested in developing further Smoothie King locations in New York, where 87 territories are available.