Tasti D-Lite and Planet Smoothie—two iconic brands that serve delicious, healthier soft serve and “the best tasting smoothies on the Planet”—are waiving 100 percent of the franchise fee for military veterans through the remainder of 2012. This incentive equates to $30,000 in savings to veterans interested in owning a Tasti D-Lite, Planet Smoothie or dual brand store.
Tasti D-Lite and Planet Smoothie CEO Jim Amos is a Marine Corps veteran who served in Vietnam. He received 12 decorations including the Purple Heart and Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry. Amos is also the author of The Memorial: A Novel of the Vietnam War. He was named to the International Franchise Association (IFA) Hall of Fame at the IFA’s 52nd annual convention this year, and has made the availability of employment and franchise opportunities for Veterans a priority for years.
“As a Marine, when I returned to the U.S. from Vietnam in the ‘80s, the attitude of the American public was much different; being a veteran was a cause for derision instead of respect, and having fought for our country was a reason for ridicule instead of honor,” Amos said. “As a country, we should never let that happen again. We need to show our returning heroes that the debt that they paid is a debt that we all own. Waiving the franchise fee for the brands that I represent, Tasti D-Lite and Planet Smoothie, is a small but hopefully beneficial way to communicate that appreciation.”
Tasti D-Lite, which will be celebrating its 25th anniversary this September, is very involved in veteran activities with the IFA. They held a news conference at the Jacksonville center—owned by Navy veteran Steve Burnett—to commemorate “Operation Enduring Opportunity” in November. Tasti D-Lite and Jim Amos also hosted an “Independence through Small Business Day” event last month in Nashville.
Since its inception in 1987, Tasti D-Lite’s popularity has grown largely by word of mouth and has resulted in a huge base of raving fans who line up day and night to get their favorite guilt-free treat, available in more than 100 flavors. In 2008 the company launched its first franchise program. Since then, the company has grown to 60 locations across three countries and has already secured commitments to open more than 500 locations around the world in the coming years. In December 2011, Tasti D-Lite acquired Planet Smoothie which has more than 100 units in operation, mainly in Georgia and Florida. Over the coming months, Tasti D-Lite products will be added to select Planet Smoothie stores and likewise, Planet Smoothie menu offerings will be made available to Tasti D-Lite locations. The two brands are poised for growth throughout the U.S. and around the world with plans to build a global franchise network through a combination of single- and multi-unit franchises, area developers and international master franchises. For more information, visit www.tastidlite.com.
