NEW ORLEANS As its chief rival makes a big push into breakfast, Smoothie King Franchises Inc. is adding to the a.m. competition with extended morning hours at its 580 stores.
Smoothie King units now will open at 7 a.m. on weekdays, compared with previous opening times between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m., depending on the location, a spokesman said. Smoothie King’s move comes as 729-unit Jamba Juice introduces new breakfast items, including steel-cut oatmeal, and more coffee chains expand their morning menus.
“So many of our guests have been asking for early morning hours,” said Steve Kuhnau, co-founder of Smoothie King. “As a business move, we see this as a great way to address the needs of our guests, providing a quick and healthful alternative to traditional breakfast fast foods.”
Smoothie King also said it has expanded its breakfast offerings with a line of all-natural, protein-enriched muffins and cookies.
Smoothie King has stores in 32 states and in South Korea.
Contact Ron Ruggless at [email protected].
