What is Smoothie King’s stock price, and are they publicly traded? Unfortunately, investors cannot purchase shares of Smoothie King because it is a private company. However, Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX), Hain Celestial Group (NASDAQ: HAIN), and MTY Food Group (TSE: MTY) are health food stocks that traders can invest in.
How many combinations of smoothies can you think of? There are endless possibilities of smoothies for a quick breakfast, a post-workout boost, or a tasty snack. They appeal to both kids and adults and are increasing in popularity yearly. Smoothies are not only delicious but also healthy. Many companies have capitalized in this industry, including Smoothie King. Since the turn of the century, the company has experienced tremendous growth and is not ready to stop.
Unfortunately for investors, Smoothie King isn’t a public company, meaning it doesn’t trade on the stock market. Thankfully, the company has several competitors that trade on the US stock market. You need to know everything about Smoothie King and its public competitors.
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Smoothie King Introduction (No Stock Symbol)
Smoothie King began as a small health food store in 1973 with Steve and Cindy Kuhnau in Kenner, Louisiana. Steve Kuhnau started experimenting with smoothies to address his allergy to dairy products.
His custom smoothie blends inspired him to share these nutritious drinks with others. In 1989, the brand opened its first franchise location in New Orleans, which marked the beginning of a rapid expansion phase. By the mid-90s, Smoothie King had over 100 locations across the US.
In 2003, Smoothie King opened its first international location in a market crucial to its growth, South Korea. The brand grew quickly and owned more than 100 stores in the country.
Everything changed for Smoothie King in 2012 when a South Korean businessman who had previously operated Smoothie King franchises purchased the entire company from the Kuhnaus. Can you buy Smoothie King stock?
2012: Change of Ownership
In 2012, Wan Kim purchased all of Smoothie King’s 600 franchises in the US, South Korea, Singapore (now closed), and the Cayman Islands. Under Kim’s leadership, Smoothie King experienced even more growth.
By 2018, the brand had over 1000 global locations. It became so popular that the New Orleans Pelicans (NBA) renamed their Smoothie King Center stadium.
Smoothie King appealed to a broader audience and stayed relevant in a competitive market thanks to many new strategic partnerships, new menu options, and strong brand recognition.
During COVID, many small businesses struggled and disappeared. That wasn’t the case with Smoothie King. The company weathered the storm better than many companies and remained a relevant, healthy option for many. However, Smoothie King stock isn’t available to trade.
Smoothie King Stock of Financials
Today, Smoothie King operates over 1400 locations across the US, South Korea, the Cayman Islands, and Trinidad & Tobago. Thanks to this growth, product innovations (smoothie bowls and new flavors), and digital sales, the company achieved the highest sales period in its 50-year history in 2023.
Unfortunately, Smoothie King remains a privately held company, and its revenue and profit numbers remain unclear to the general public. Therefore, you can’t trade Smoothie King stock. According to many sources, its annual revenue is over $600M, and the company seems profitable.
Smoothie King IPO
The question everyone is wondering…. will Smoothie King go public with an IPO? Unfortunately, based on the available information, there is no indication that Smoothie King is considering an IPO.
Despite the growth and plans to open 100 more stores in 2024, its owner doesn’t want to bring Smoothie King stock to the stock market. Of course, this can still change if the brand’s success persists or if a buyout occurs. Who knows what’s in store for Smoothie King?
Smoothie King Stock Competitors
Now that we know more about Smoothie King let’s explore its smoothie and healthy food market competitors. These are good SmoothieKing stock alternatives to consider.
1. Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX)
Starbucks and Smoothie King have a lot more in common than you think. Therefore, it’s a great Smoothie King stock alternative. Let’s agree that Starbucks is known for selling coffee.
However, it is also very present in the smoothie and health food business. The brand is known for its fresh products and an emphasis on quality products.
On the other hand, Smoothie King has recently expanded into the coffee space with their new espresso line featuring cold brew smoothies. As a result, this puts them in direct competition with Starbucks’ cold coffee drinks. Starbucks and Smoothie King consumers are loyal, but both brands must adapt to consumer preferences for healthier and customizable options.
2. Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO)
You are probably wondering why Coca-Cola and PepsiCo are on this list. Let’s begin with Coca-Cola, traditionally known for its soft drinks.
However, the company also offers smoothies, juices, and other health-focused drinks directly competing with Smoothie King’s menu.
The main difference between Coca-Cola and Smoothie King products is their location. Coca-Cola’s products are widely available in grocery stores, convenience stores, and vending machines.
This accessibility makes it easier for consumers to purchase its healthy beverages compared to visiting a Smoothie King location.
Lastly, Coca-Cola has significantly more resources and brand power than Smoothie King and can leverage it to innovate and adapt to consumer trends. As a result, keep in mind that a Smoothie King stock alternative is needed.
3. PepsiCo (NASDAQ: PEP)
We continue our SMoothie King stock alternative list with PepsiCo. The company competes with Smoothie King through its diverse portfolio of health and wellness beverages, such as Tropicana (a selection of fruit juices) and Naked Juice (a variety of smoothies and protein drinks).
Like Coca-Cola, PepsiCo’s global distribution network gives it a significant competitive edge. Its products are available in supermarkets, convenience stores, and other retail outlets worldwide. This makes it easy for consumers to access all its drinks.
I agree that Coca-Cola and PepsiCo aren’t the first to come to mind when I think about healthy drinks and smoothies. However, I don’t always look at the parent company when I buy drinks at the supermarket.
4. MTY Food Group Inc (TSE: MTY)
Next on the list is a much smaller player in the food and beverage industry. Hain Celestial‘s brands, like Celestial Seasonings, Earth’s Best, and The Greek Gods, offer various health-oriented beverages, including smoothies and plant-based milk alternatives (Steve Kuhnau would be happy!).
The only downside is that they are ready-made and packaged, which consumers might not always enjoy. Hain products are available at major supermarkets such as Walmart, Kroger, Safeway, Albertsons, and Whole Foods Market.
Similar to Smoothie King, Hain’s ingredients are fresh and sustainable. They both appeal to health-conscious and environmentally-aware consumers.
5. Hain Celestial Group (NASDAQ: HAIN)
We conclude this section with a Canadian company and franchisor, MTY Food Group. The company owns and operates multiple brands that directly compete with Smoothie King’s offerings, such as Planet Smoothie (smoothies and health-focused beverages), Jugo Juice (smoothies, frozen yogurt, and other nutritious beverages and snacks), and Maui Wowi (Hawaiian-themed smoothies and coffees).
MTY Food Group has over 7000 global locations, which makes it much more accessible than Smoothie King. Both brands operate in-store menu items, which are likely fresher than supermarket products.
Final Thoughts: Smoothie King Stock
To conclude, Smoothie King offers a diverse menu of smoothies, bowls, protein bars, supplements, and coffee. Their customizable menu consists of fresh products that appeal to healthy individuals. Since its creation, Smoothie King has delivered strong growth, and its financials appear strong.
Unfortunately, the company remains privately held. Therefore, you can’t trade Smoothie King stock. Thankfully, it has many smoothie and healthy food industry competitors, such as Starbucks, Hain Celestial Group, MTY Food Group, and others.
If you want to learn more about profiting from the stock market, head to our free library of educational courses. We have something for everyone, including trading options for those with small accounts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Smoothie King is a privately held company owned by Wan Kim. He doesn't plan on taking the company public for the time being.
Since Smoothie King is a private company, it doesn't have to disclose its financial statements. Its annual revenue and profits remain unclear, but many speculate that revenue will surpass $600M in 2023.
In 2024, Smoothie King will operate over 1400 locations across the US, South Korea, the Cayman Islands, and Trinidad & Tobago. The brand is planning to open 100 more restaurants this year.
