Tropical Smoothie: ‘Giving back to get through’ amid coronavirus pandemic
Tropical Smoothie CEO Charles Watson discusses the 100,000 smoothie giveaway and why he is remaining optimistic through incredible business hardship during the coronavirus pandemic.
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This company found a smooth way to help out with the coronavirus pandemic.
Last month, Tropical Smoothie Cafe announced its goal to donate 100,000 smoothies across the nation to health care workers fighting against the COVID-19 outbreak, and the CEO recently told Fox News that the chain is well on its way toward that goal.
"To date, we've given over 65,000 smoothies to local health care workers, first responders and testing centers," said Tropical Smoothie CEO Charles Watson. "It's been an absolute joy and a privilege to be able to service these local heroes."
Watson added that the promotion, called the "In It Together Campaign," started out very organically.
"A couple of franchisees went and delivered some smoothies and when I spoke with those franchisees, I said, 'Hey, just between you and I, I want to support you in this, so let me help you in defraying the cost of it.'"
Watson explained that local franchisees will "go outbound and they'll reach out to local hospitals and fire stations and police stations, etc, and they'll say, 'Hey, are you guys interested in a smoothie break? Can we drop off 100 smoothies for you?' And, usually, we get a yes on that."
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Since starting, the company has been giving away 3,000 smoothies a day in various communities. Tropical Smoothies also runs a website where fans can sign up to have smoothies delivered to local workers.
In a press release from March, the company confirmed that it has already donated about 20,000 smoothies across 20 states. According to the statement, the brand's focus is on supporting the local communities where its franchise owners and workers "live and work."
"In cafes across the country, the Tropical Smoothie Cafe family is working tirelessly to support our local communities, which are currently facing unprecedented hardship," Watson said in March. "Our safety is dependent upon the selfless, hard work of our local healthcare workers and first responders and we want to help them in any way we can. The 100K smoothie giveaway is a simple, but impactful example of one way we can show our gratitude and bring a smile to their face, one sip at a time."
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In order to reach its goal, the company has tasked each of its cafes to donate at least 100 smoothies to local health care workers and first responders.
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Nick Crouch, a multi-unit franchisee and CEO of DYNE Hospitality Group, said, "As a small business owner, I was grateful for the opportunity to show our local first responders and health care workers who go above and beyond for us every day. Even if it is just in a small way, we want them to know we appreciate their hard work that we're all in this together!"
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