“Japan has historically been on par with the West for being a nation of early adopters of new products and cultural trends, and Japan already has a strong trend toward healthy diet and fitness,” said Steve Kuhnau, Smoothie King’s co-founder and chief executive officer.
For its expansion into Japan, Smoothie King has partnered with Smoothies Asia Co Ltd, which is headed by Smoothie King’s brand operator in Korea: Sung Wan Kim. Mr Kim has been successful in developing fifty seven stores in the Republic of Korea, operating through his joint venture with Pacific Smoothies and Smoothies Korea.
“Smoothie King combines a cutting-edge concept with an extensive product offering that we believe will tap into the trend toward healthy living in Japan,” said Kim. “We’re looking forward to introducing Japan to the nutritious and great taste of Smoothie King.”
Smoothie King first opened internationally in Seoul, South Korea in 2003. “Personal fitness and healthy diet has been and remains very important to the people of South Korea, plus the market has the population volume we need to make it a good fit for the Smoothie King brand,” said Kuhnau.
The company also recently announced its expansion into Egypt with twenty stores planned to open there in the next few years. Kuhnau stated, “Egypt consumers are just now starting to focus attention on health and fitness, and Smoothie King can help foster that trend and help consumers reach their fitness and health goals.”
Consumption of healthier food and beverage choices is on the rise in the US, with the nutritional smoothie market expected to grow 10-13 percent over the next five years. But the trend is also an international phenomenon.
“There is a global trend toward healthy alternatives,” said Cindy Kuhnau, Smoothie King’s co-founder and senior executive vice president. “The trend is more pronounced in some markets over others, but there is a growing trend that has staying power and hits our product sweet spot of high-quality meal replacements.”
That’s why the vision for Smoothie King is to continue to expand into international markets, with the goal of reaching ten thousand stores worldwide. “We are prepared to move forward, but we are taking our time to locate the best markets for the brand, and to forge relationships with partners in whom we have great confidence,” said Mrs Kuhnau. “Our chief concern is in joining with partners who are willing to invest not only in our business, but in our philosophical system of making healthy alternatives a real option for all consumers.”
Overall, Smoothie King opened one hundred and three new stores last year and continues to expand with thirty four stores opened since January 2009. Serving up a variety of healthy function-based smoothies, Smoothie King offers cutting-edge nutritional products and snacks in more than 600 locations across the globe.
Source: Smoothie King
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