Froots Accomplishments

Tom Feltenstein joins Froots

Tom is nationally recognized by top industry analysts (CNN, Larry King, The Wall Street Journal, The Council of International Restaurant Brokers, and others) as one of the leading authorities and visionaries in strategic marketing. He brings real world experience unsurpassed by anyone else in North America. He has served in senior executive positions with Burger King, McDonalds, as an advisor to the Governor of the State of Georgia, and owned and operated his own 14-store restaurant chain.

Froots and Tom Feltenstein have planned the future by creating the 2008 Froots Marketing Plan.

“Fast 55”

“Fast 55” Franchise Times' 2008 ranking of the top 55 fastest growing, young franchises.



“Top 500”



Entrepreneur magazines “Top 500” Franchises for 2008.

Dateline: December 3, 2007

Froots Smoothie stores take off
by: J. Albert Diaz/Miami Herald Staff
Miami Herald
Miami, FL

A Man With a Plan: Froots Smoothie Founder David Lopez has franchised 30 stores from Arizona to Florida with others in Ireland and the Turks and Caicos. Another 72 franchises have been sold and plans are underway to open at least 500 more in the next five years. In addition to smoothies, the restaurants also offer salads and wraps.

It didn't take David Lopez long to figure out the last thing he wanted was to be just another cog in a corporate wheel.

During his freshman year at the University of Central Florida while completing an internship at a Fortune 500 business, Lopez, now 26, was marched into the company cafeteria with his co-workers and informed that 50 would be fired on the spot. No questions asked. Clean out your desk. Go home.

"I wasn't right for the whole corporate thing," he says. "I wanted the American dream, but I didn't think I'd achieve it with a corporation."

The problem was figuring out another way. Lopez, who grew up in Cooper City and now lives there, was studying business but had very little job experience. He had worked in a couple of smoothie stores in high school. And his father had owned his own small printing business. He'd also borrowed enough in student loans to know a little about financing. So he came up with a plan, which he launched his sophomore year.

It went like this: Apply for $20,000 in student loans, the maximum awarded if you enrolled in every class allowed. Persuade your girlfriend and future wife to be a business partner. Badger the cafeteria manager at a nearby community college into letting you open a smoothie kiosk. Sink the loan money into the business -- which he today admits may or may not have been legal -- and never lose hope.

Seven years later, Lopez, a new father with another baby on the way, has franchised 30 Froots Smoothie stores from Arizona to Florida with others in Ireland and the Turks and Caicos. Another 72 franchises have been sold and plans are underway to open at least 500 more in the next five years, he said.

"When I told my dad I was opening a smoothie store, he thought I was nuts, to be honest, and a lot of my family members said the same thing. But they don't say that anymore."

What sets Lopez apart -- perhaps due partly to the ignorance of youth -- is he wasn't too worried about failing. Or at least not enough to be too afraid to try. He also decided early on to focus on franchising as a way to quickly expand.

"I speak to a lot of people," said Lopez, who is a member of the Nova Southeastern University Entrepreneur Council and is often recruited to talk to students who inevitably want to know how he managed to pull off such success at such a young age.

"You know, it's never easy to do it. When you're in college, you say there's too much risk, too many student loans and bills. Then when you graduate, 'Oh, I'm getting married,' and then kids. You can always make an excuse for not doing it. My view is the longer you wait, the more difficult it is to do."

Among Froots' franchisees are former professional football player Henri Crockett and Oakland Raiders tight end OJ Santiago, who teamed up three years ago to open a Froots at 2571 S. University Dr. in Davie. Crockett, a linebacker with the Minnesota Vikings and Atlanta Falcons before he retired in 2005, settled on Froots for a simple reason: He likes the product.

"In the sports world, we always go for smoothies and wraps and things to find a way to stay healthy," he said. "When you look at a franchise that you want to invest in, you've got to believe in it. . . . [Froots] presents a healthy lifestyle and healthy lifestyle for kids and that's what I'm always going to high schools to preach about."

Crockett wisely located his store near Nova Southeastern University to attract students, and made free wireless connections and computers available, hoping to put a Starbucks spin on his business.

It also helps that the store is located near the Dolphins training center where regulars like Jason Taylor drop by. Crockett also likes having the corporate store in nearby Plantation where he can quickly call for help if a problem arises. ''They're real hands on,'' he said.

Although franchising has worked well so far for Lopez, for an entrepreneur to go directly to franchising is indeed a risky move, said Terry Hill, vice president of communications for the International Franchise Association.

Dateline: September 17, 2007

Froots NEWS IN A MINUTE
The Food Institute Report
Issue 37
© 2007 The Food Institute

Smoothie restaurant FROOTS plans to open 80 stores in Georgia over the next 10 years. The Cooper City, FL-based chain, which serves smoothies, shakes, wraps and salads, currently has 25 stores open, 67 in development, and aspirations to grow to 1,000 units in 10 years, according to the company's vice president of franchise sales . . . Atlanta Business Chronicle.

Dateline: September 7-13, 2007

New Smoothie Restaurant has
Big Growth plans
by: Rachel Tobin Ramos
Atlanta Business Journal
Atlanta, GA

Planet Smoothie Cafe and Tropical Smoothie Cafe are about to get a lot more competition in the Atlanta market.

FROOTS, a similar quick-service concept, wants to put the squeeze on its competition, with 80 stores planned for Georgia in the next 10 years.

That's the commitment of Jim Merkle, a former executive of The Coca-Cola Co. who's contracted with the Cooper City, Fla.-based chain as the area developer for Georgia, said the vice president of franchise sales for FROOTS.

The chain has stores in Alpharetta (by franchisee Abraham Delgado), Kennesaw (by Reena Pooja) and Johns Creek.

"We're certainly putting a lot of resources behind developing the Atlanta market which is important on a national scale", said the Froots vice president of franchise sales.

At a prospective franchisee seminar FROOTS hosted Aug, 23, 57 people attended, representing 30 buying groups.

The concept was created in 2001 by entrepreneur David Lopez in Orlandoo while he was still getting his undergraduate degree at the University of Central Florida. Franchising started in 2003.

The chain has 25 stores open, 67 in development, and aspirations to grow to 1,000 units in 10 years.

It also has a small international presence, with a store in Ireland, the Turks and Caieos, and a development agreement in the United Arab Emirates.

At FROOTS where the average ticket is $9.84 cutomers can get smoothies, shakes, wraps and salads.

" We focus on very high flavor profiles," said the Froots vice president, "with high-quality, low calorie ingredients."

The average investment for franchisees is $184,000 he said, for stores of 1,200 to 1,600 square feet

Dateline: September 17, 2007

Froots Shooting for Local Growth
by: David Sterrett
Crain's Chicago Business
Chicago, IL

Smoothie chain: City may be 'No. 1 market'

Froots, a smoothie, wrap and salad chain, believes it's ripe for growth in Chicago.

By yearend, the Florida-based company aims to nearly double its Chicago area locations, to 13 from seven. The growth won't stop there.

"We are on pace to be the largest smoothie chain in Chicago by the end of 2008, with more than 30 locations," says the Froots' chief operating officer.

To become market leader in Chicago, Froots will have to overtake Emeryville, Calif.-based Jamba Juice Co., which has 26 stores here. Nationally, Jamba has about 660 stores and posted revenue last year of $23.1 million.

Founded in 2001, Froots is concentrated mainly in Chicago and the South. It has about 25 locations nationwide and expects to have 40 by yearend. The privately held company declines to disclose revenue.

Froots sells a dozen different fresh-fruit smoothies for $4 to $6. Smoothies, however, account for only about 40% of Froots' business; its menu also includes wraps, soups, salads and shakes. Wraps, priced between $5 and $6.50, include ingredients ranging from wasabi chicken to albacore tuna to jerk chicken.

The menu allows Froots to differentiate itself from other fast-food restaurants, says Darren Tristano, a food consultant in Chicago with Technomic Inc.

"The biggest challenge is to be unique, and Froots seems well-positioned because of its diverse menu," Mr. Tristano says. "They have an appealing product and just need to develop a bigger presence in Chicago."

The chain has locations in Evanston, Batavia, Darien, Des Plaines, Gurnee, Wheeling and Yorkville.

In the next few months, Froots plans to open stores in the South Loop at Michigan Avenue and 13th Street, as well as in Elgin, Naperville, Arlington Heights, Burr Ridge and Antioch.

After that, the company hopes to expand to other Midwest cities such as Indianapolis and Minneapolis, he says.

"Chicago could be our No. 1 market because the city has a sophisticated taste that will support our business," says says the Froots' chief operating officer.

Froots had a setback in Chicago: It closed its Old Town location in April after the franchisee failed to comply with menu standards. Despite that miscue, he says, the company has sold 100 franchisee agreements nationwide and is working to identify sites for stores.

Franchisee James Oommen, who previously worked in pharmaceuticals, says he decided to open a Froots in Gurnee five months ago because he believes healthy food will continue to be more popular with customers.

"At this moment, not many people know what Froots is," Mr. Oommen says. "But hopefully pretty soon we'll be all over Chicago."

©2007 by Crain Communications Inc.

It may be a late entry into the nation’s ongoing smoothie wars, but FROOTS is ready to make its presence known in a big way.

The Atlanta Business Chronicle reported the Florida-based company is putting the squeeze on its competition in the Peach State with the help of Jim Merkle, a former executive of The Coca-Cola Co. and current area developer for the state. With stores in Alpharetta, Kennesaw and Johns Creek, FROOTS has plans for 80 stores in Georgia in the next 10 years.

"We're certainly putting a lot of resources behind developing the Atlanta market, which is important on a national scale," said the COO of FROOTS.

The FROOTS concept was created in 2001 by entrepreneur David Lopez in Orlando while he was still getting his undergraduate degree at the University of Central Florida. Franchising started in 2003. The chain has 25 stores open, 67 in development, and aspirations to grow to 1,000 units in 10 years. It also has a small international presence, with a store in Ireland, the Turks and Caicos, and a development agreement in the United Arab Emirates.

The state's first Froots franchise, is coming to Charlotte in October, and company officials hope to open as many as 15 stores across the region in the next several years.

Cooper City, Fla.-based Froots — which specializes in fruit smoothies, wraps and salads — will open in 1,441 square feet in The Shops at Harris Corners at 9335 Harris Corners Parkway. Brent Heavner, a Charlotte police officer, is the franchisee.

The total initial investment for a Froots franchise is between $147,000 and $242,000 for real estate and space upfit along with $25,000 for a franchise license. The yearly royalty rate is 6% plus an additional 2% for a national marketing contribution.

Froots will host a franchisee seminar Sept. 13 at the Charlotte location.

Froots sells smoothie drinks madewith fresh fruits and low-calorie wraps and sandwiches.

"Not only do we feel this is a successful franchise, but we feel we can improve people's lifestyles," says the Froots chief operating officer.

Entrepreneur David Lopez founded Froots in 2001 and started franchising in 2004.

The chain has 24 stores across the country and locations in Ireland and on Grand Turk Island, part of the Turks & Caicos British West Indies. The company is exploring opportunities to open Froots in Dubai and South Korea.

More than 58 people have purchased franchises over the past year, and Froots locations are under develop­ment in Minneapolis, Chicago and Washington.

The Nichols Co. broker Josh Beaver negotiated the lease for Froots in Charlotte.

Top Ten Funny Franchise Names That Mean Serious Business
by: Raymond Lawrence

So many individuals and businesses rely on their computers for communication. Furthermore, many businesses simply can not function if their computers are not working properly. As people struggle to keep up with advancing technology, many of them work on computers everyday and still have no idea how to make even the simplest repairs when things go wrong. Of course, this is true because computers and complex machines and someone who is not qualified to work on them should always call for help. Even so, many computer repair stores have a “bring it in and we’ll fix it” sort of approach. Nerds ToGo, however, has revolutionized the computer services industry by offering a “we come to you model.” After all, people do not have the time and energy to break down their computers and take them to the repair shop. Moreover, this would be an impossible task for a small business in need of computer services.

Of course, the best part about owning a Nerds ToGo franchise is that you do not have to be a nerd to own one. Now, if you happen to be a nerd by nature, you can make your own service calls or hire nerd employees. Either way, the secret to success with this innovative franchise opportunity lies in how you manage the business and not just how well you fix computers. What’s more, the Nerds ToGo company offers a great deal of support to help you become a successful franchise business owner. There are a lot of computers out there just waiting to be fixed and with a Nerds ToGo franchise, you can cash in on this opportunity with only a small investment.

Froots Smoothies
Now more than ever, eating fresh is all the rage. People are looking for healthier alternatives to traditional eateries who serve greasy food loaded with calories. But, they still want food that tastes great. This is where Froots Smoothies comes in. This restaurant franchise specializes not only in salads, wraps, shakes and smoothies that taste terrific, they also pride themselves on serving foods that are healthy and refreshing. Guests who lunch at Froots can say goodbye to that afternoon sluggishness they feel after a greasy lunch at a traditional fast food restaurant. Froots offers delicious lunch, dinner and snack options and the company is ready to serve its freshness all across the country. That’s where you come in. If you are ready to take advantage of the fresh food frenzy, consider a Froots Smoothies franchise. This company offers training, marketing support and even helps with site selection.