Franchising

Former Tropical Smoothie powerhouse launching PowerSoul Cafe

Provided

June 16, 2021

Dina Mitchell, a former area developer for Atlanta-based Topical Smoothie Cafe, is launching PowerSoul Cafe, a real fruit blended smoothie concept offering vegan and keto options with no GMOs. The entire menu is gluten-free, next year in Nevada. Plans call for 159 stores and thousands of jobs nationwide over the next decade.

Dina Mitchell, a longtime Nevada-based entrepreneur, helped popularize Tropical Smoothie's now 1,000-store chain from 2000 to 2014 along the West Coast.

Each location will range from 500 to 1,500 square feet with various footprints, including drive thru, inline, casino, sporting arenas and airports.

"PowerSoul Cafe is a decade in the making, and time during COVID truly shined light upon crucial changes needed to protect from any future pandemic, therefore making this a more easily managed and more profitable business model," Mitchell said in the release. "I've been developing a truly healthy, gluten-free food menu with vegan and keto options, real fruit smoothies, bowls, juices, nut milks and more."

Using a combination of smart planning, technology and a well-trained and motivated staff, orders will be fresh and ready for pickup from a number of convenient options, ranging from 24-hour drive-thru, a smart food locker or a walk-up window. Diners may choose which pickup option best meets their needs.

As part of the brand's emphasis on being socially and community conscious, PowerSoul Cafe is also creating a Pay-It-Forward program called "Smoothie Sopreso." It gives patrons the choice to round up their orders or buy and donate a smoothie. In the same spirit, PowerSoul Cafe will also compensate workers for the time they spend volunteering for local charities.

Mitchell, a longtime Nevada-based entrepreneur, helped popularize Tropical Smoothie's now 1,000-store chain from 2000 to 2014 along the West Coast. A true believer in establishing businesses that are good for the local and global environment, she designs models that require a small footprint with simpler operations, which not only produce availability of delicious, healthy and sustainable food, but also improve the lives for eaters, workers, communities and neighboring businesses, according to the release.

"It gives me goosebumps and warms my heart to dedicate PowerSoul Cafe as a quick-service restaurant that strengthens local communities," Mitchell said. "We intend to revolutionize the fast-food world, changing how people regard healthy food and give back to their communities.

"Programs like these are rarely seen in any kind of business, let alone in the fast-food world, which generally has a poor reputation when it comes to community building and treatment of workers. With this model, we aim to create a better place for all."