Planet Smoothie is an American franchise chain that specializes in fruit smoothies. The company was founded in 1995 in Atlanta, Georgia and has since expanded to over 130 locations across the United States. In this article, we will explore how many Planet Smoothie stores currently exist and analyze the growth of the franchise over time.
Quick Answers
As of November 2022, there are approximately 145 Planet Smoothie locations open and operating in the United States.
Planet Smoothie has cemented itself as one of the most popular smoothie chains in America. The bright neon colors, upbeat atmosphere, and delicious blends keep customers coming back to their local Planet Smoothie. With smoothies ranging from low-calorie options to protein-packed muscle builders, Planet Smoothie aims to be an inclusive brand that has something for everyone.
Tracking the number of Planet Smoothie franchises provides insight into the brand’s growth over time. By analyzing store counts year-over-year, we can identify periods of rapid expansion. Additionally, seeing concentrations of locations in certain states illustrates which markets Planet Smoothie has penetrated most deeply. This information is useful for potential franchisees evaluating new locations as well as for Planet Smoothie corporate to direct marketing and growth initiatives.
Planet Smoothie Store Counts Over Time
When Planet Smoothie first launched in 1995, co-founders Natalie and Michael Vergura opened their first location inside the Sandy Springs Fitness Center in Atlanta, GA. For the next five years, the brand slowly grew with the opening of 10 additional locations in the Atlanta metropolitan area.
The early 2000s marked a period of accelerated expansion for Planet Smoothie. In 2000 alone, the company reported 21 franchise sales to expand beyond Atlanta into new markets like Texas, Florida, and Maryland. By the end of 2005, there were 191 open Planet Smoothie stores.
Growth began plateauing in the late 2000s. The economic recession led to slowing sales, which stalled franchise development. In 2010, there were 196 locations. In the following years, net store counts fluctuated between the high 180s and low 190s.
Recent years have seen marginal net growth for Planet Smoothie. There were 198 stores open in 2019 compared to approximately 145 today. Store closures during the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to the net decline.
Here is a timeline showing Planet Smoothie’s store count at 5-year intervals:
| Year | US Locations |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 31 |
| 2005 | 191 |
| 2010 | 196 |
| 2015 | 184 |
| 2020 | 180 |
| Current | 145 (Nov 2022) |
Concentration of Planet Smoothie Locations by State
Planet Smoothie’s home state of Georgia still boasts the highest concentration of stores. As of November 2022, there are 29 locations in Georgia, making up approximately 20% of all Planet Smoothie outlets.
Other states with a significant Planet Smoothie presence are:
- Florida – 17 locations
- Maryland – 14 locations
- Texas – 12 locations
- South Carolina – 8 locations
- Virginia – 7 locations
The strong number of locations in the Southeast reflects the brand’s Atlanta roots. As the franchise initially expanded in the late 1990s and early 2000s, many of the new locations were concentrated in surrounding southern states.
Here is a table summarizing the number of Planet Smoothie stores by state for states with 4 or more locations:
| State | Planet Smoothie Locations |
|---|---|
| Georgia | 29 |
| Florida | 17 |
| Maryland | 14 |
| Texas | 12 |
| South Carolina | 8 |
| Virginia | 7 |
| Arizona | 5 |
| Michigan | 5 |
| North Carolina | 5 |
| Alabama | 4 |
Recent Planet Smoothie Franchise Developments
Planet Smoothie’s pace of new store openings has slowed in recent years. However, the brand does continue signing franchise agreements to build up its pipeline of new locations.
Some recent Planet Smoothie franchise developments include:
- A new location opening in November 2022 in DeLand, FL operated by existing franchisees
- A 3-unit agreement signed in 2021 to expand in Salt Lake City, UT
- A 5-unit agreement signed in 2019 to develop locations in northeastern Ohio
- A return to the Columbia, SC market in 2018 after several years’ absence with a location at the University of South Carolina
Based on these agreements, we can expect modest Planet Smoothie unit growth of perhaps 5-10 new locations per year in the short term. The brand does not seem positioned currently for more rapid expansion. However, the recent openings illustrate that there is still interest from both new and existing franchisees to invest in Planet Smoothie.
Analysis of Planet Smoothie Locations Per Resident by State
Analyzing the number of Planet Smoothie stores per state resident provides another interesting angle on the brand’s development. We can identify which states may be relatively oversaturated or undersaturated with Planet Smoothie units compared to population.
As may be expected given the concentration of stores, Georgia has the highest Planet Smoothie locations per resident at 2.7 stores per million residents. Other top states are:
- Maryland: 2.3 per million
- South Carolina: 1.5 per million
- Alabama: 1.2 per million
- Virginia: 0.8 per million
This analysis shows that outside of core markets like Georgia and neighboring states, most states still have room for additional Planet Smoothie growth when adjusting for population size. For example, Ohio with 11 million residents has only one location. Highly populous states like California, New York, and Illinois have no Planet Smoothie units at all.
Here is a full list of all states with at least one Planet Smoothie ranked by locations per million residents:
| State | Planet Smoothie Locations | 2021 Population Estimate (millions) | Locations per Million Residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia | 29 | 10.7 | 2.7 |
| Maryland | 14 | 6.1 | 2.3 |
| South Carolina | 8 | 5.1 | 1.5 |
| Alabama | 4 | 5.0 | 1.2 |
| Virginia | 7 | 8.7 | 0.8 |
| Arizona | 5 | 7.5 | 0.7 |
| Michigan | 5 | 10.0 | 0.5 |
| North Carolina | 5 | 10.6 | 0.5 |
| Texas | 12 | 29.5 | 0.4 |
| Florida | 17 | 21.8 | 0.4 |
| Tennessee | 3 | 6.9 | 0.4 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | 13.0 | 0.2 |
| Kansas | 1 | 2.9 | 0.3 |
| Kentucky | 1 | 4.5 | 0.2 |
| Missouri | 1 | 6.2 | 0.2 |
| Nevada | 1 | 3.1 | 0.3 |
| New Jersey | 1 | 9.3 | 0.1 |
| Ohio | 1 | 11.8 | 0.1 |
Conclusion
In summary, there are currently around 145 Planet Smoothie locations operating in over 15 states. The brand experienced rapid growth in the early 2000s, expanding to nearly 200 stores by 2005. However, growth stagnated over the last decade. While new franchises continue to open, the pace of expansion has slowed.
Planet Smoothie remains heavily concentrated in its home state of Georgia, where there are 29 total units. Other states with a strong Planet Smoothie presence relative to population are Maryland, South Carolina, Alabama, and Virginia.
Going forward, there is room for Planet Smoothie to grow into new markets, especially large population centers on the West Coast and in the Midwest and Northeast where penetration is currently low. However, the company would need to revamp its franchising efforts to motivate candidates to invest in new locations after a long period of stagnation.
With its delicious smoothies and trademark bright colors, Planet Smoothie retains strong brand awareness and loyalty. Leveraging this equity into a new growth phase while continuing to update its menu and store experiences would help Planet Smoothie thrive in the decades to come.
