| Planet Smoothie | |
| Type: | Private |
| Foundation: | Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
| Hq Location City: | Scottsdale, Arizona |
| Location Country: | U.S |
| Area Served: | United States |
| Industry: | Food and beverage |
| Parent: | Kahala Brands |
| Num Locations: | 125 |
| Products: | Smoothies |
Planet Smoothie is the third largest American chain of smoothie stores[1] serving smoothies. The company was founded in 1995[2] by Martin Sprock in Atlanta, Georgia, and currently operates more than 100 locations. In November, 2011, Planet Smoothie was acquired by Tasti D-Lite LLC who also operates Tasti D-Lite stores.[3] In June 2015, Quick-Service Restaurant Franchisor Kahala Brands purchased both Planet Smoothie and Tasti D-Lite in a deal that brings their 128 locations into the portfolio of about a dozen fast food, treat and sandwich chains such as Blimpie and Cold Stone Creamery owned by the Serruya family of Canada. Together, the Tasti D-Lite and Planet Smoothie locations will now be run from the Kahala Brands corporate headquarters in Scottsdale, Arizona.[4] In August 2022, Planet Smoothie expanded operations to Australia with 4 locations opening across Victoria within the first 12 months.
In 2007, Planet Smoothie decided to send one person on a trip from Orlando to San Diego to assume the role of Cup Man, the chain's longstanding brand character.[5]
The 22-market "Good for You, Good for the Planet" tour took Cupman coast-to-coast in a biodiesel converted ice cream truck designed to raise awareness of green issues in markets across the country.[6]
Candidates were required to submit a video of why they felt they would make the best Cup Man for the 30-day green trek. Joel Moss Levinson, of Dayton, Ohio was named the winner. For Joel's winning entry, he wrote a song with lines such as “I wanna be your Cupman” and “I’m environmentally responsible, I recycle, reduce and reuse, that’s why I want to drive your car that runs on biodiesel fuel.[7] ” Joel garnered enough online votes to be chosen as the company's walking, talking, touring CupMan.[8]
Joel has since won 11 contests — earning more than $200,000 in money and prizes. He has been featured in The New York Times,[9] The Jay Leno Show[10] and an Access Hollywood Rising Star.[11]
In 2008, Planet Smoothie, who served its smoothies in cups made of recycled polystyrene and offered the reusable "MacDaddy" insulated travel mug, sponsored a contest to encourage inventors to develop an eco-friendly solution to polystyrene, currently the only cup material in the marketplace that maintains a smoothie's frozen integrity.[12]
Following the acquisition of the Planet Smoothie brand by Tasti D-Lite, several stores began to convert to a dual brand product mix, offering both smoothies and soft serve.