Private equity firm invests in Smoothie King
A fast-growing smoothie chain has received a strategic investment to continue its growth.
Smoothie King announced that private equity firm Main Post Partners has made a minority growth investment in the chain. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Smoothie King said the investment positions the chain for "accelerated growth, innovation and market leadership."
San Francisco-based Main Post Partners has decades of experience partnering with brands across all industries, including restaurant chains such as Jimmy John's and Krispy Krunchy Chicken, along with leading franchisee businesses like Flynn Group.
"At Smoothie King, our vision is to make the world a better place by nourishing healthy habits, and that starts with having partners who share our vision and embrace our values," said Wan Kim, CEO and majority shareholder of Smoothie King. "We have been extremely impressed by Main Post's track record of growing franchise brands the right way – by building a strong culture, focusing on the guest, and always thinking long term.
The investment comes at a time of steady growth for Smoothie King. In the first quarter of this year, the chain opened 13 new stores, and added 20 new commitments to its development pipeline. Earlier this year, the company said it expected to open approximately 105 new stores in 2025.
"This investment is more than capital – it's a powerful alignment of vision and capability," said Jeff Mills, managing partner at Main Post. "We are very impressed by the strength of the Smoothie King brand and reputation, the quality and innovation of the product offerings and its commitment to the guest experience. We are excited to partner with Smoothie King's strong leadership team and franchisees to support the company in capitalizing on its ‘Clean Blends’ menu, impressive customer service ranking, 1,200+-unit restaurant base and category leadership. Smoothie King is well positioned to enter its next phase of growth and fulfill its bold and inspiring vision to become one of America's favorite brands."
[READ MORE: Study: Smoothie King, In-N-Out among QSR customer experience leaders]
Founded in 1973, Dallas-based Smoothie King operates over 1,200 stores nationwide.
