“The Original Pineapple Guys”: Tropical Delights Are The Smoothie Masters Of NC

Durham, NC – Tropical Delights LLC – “The Original Pineapple Guys” – is a Black-owned business that has been serving customers for over three decades now. Starting in the 1990s, the founding brothers, Charles and Reggie Burnette had a simple plan, to provide a product that was lacking in their community. Growing up they always yearned for a smoothie that elevated the standards of drinks in North Carolina.

Charles and Reggie grew up in the restaurant business, working in restaurants throughout high school. This inspired them to create a business that not only served their community but also introduced the people around them to a healthier and tastier smoothie drink. “Once we got older, we noticed something was missing in our community,” Reggie said as he reflected on the reasons for starting up the business.

Today, Tropical Delights is a name known across the state and its reputation is continuously growing. But what sets them apart from their competitors? It’s simple, they care about the customer and the quality of their product. “We have good customer service, quality of products, we do not take any shortcuts on the quality of our products. It is more about the experience,” Reggie explained. This dedication towards the customers and the product has allowed Tropical Delights to excel in their space.

They are a sought-after attraction at the North Carolina State Fair and their consistent efforts have built a loyal customer base. Even after the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the business did not slow down. Reggie marks 2020 as one of the best years in the business. They were able to strike a deal with Sam’s Club in Durham to allow them to sell their product in Sam’s parking lot and this has attracted many people out of their homes.

Reggie noted, “We did festivals and fairs but when the pandemic hit, we took the setup and set it up in the community. Sam’s was kind enough to set up in the community.” He went on to speak about the importance of the community, “We had a lot of things going on, we did the Fair Food Drive-Thru at the State Fair, as well as the NC State Fair this year with food trucks only. The Sam’s Club relationship helped as well. Having a sustained location has helped. 3 to 4 days a week. The community knows our product. They support our product.”

They are called the Original Pineapple Guys. A name that was given to them by their customers because of the unique method that the business uses to serve their drinks. Reggie explains how his late brother, Charles came up with the idea to serve the smoothies out of pineapples as is a custom in Hawaii and how this led to a craze that excited the community. It is what propelled the smoothie business into the limelight and has allowed them to be a major player, gaining approval to fairs and festivals ever since.

2021 has not slowed down the Original Pineapple Guys one bit. Reggie now controls the business and has been pushing to ensure that Tropical Delights remains at the forefront of every festival and attracts larger and larger crowds. This year, they have already been approved for the North Carolina State Fair, the Carolina Fair in Winston-Salem, and, for the first time, the New Jersey and the Delaware State Fairs. This year they also expanded from a simple smoothie business to selling hot dogs, using a chili recipe inspired by Reggie’s mother.

With customers all over the state and with upcoming festivals in and out of the state, Tropical Delights is not stopping any time soon. They are continuously expanding their smoothie business by producing better and better products and ensuring that their customers are happy and taken care of. Their story itself serves as a great tale that is sure to show the younger generation that dedication and perseverance go a long way. Charles and Reggie started by selling their product at small church events under a tent and through the support of the community have been able to grow to where they are now.

For this, Reggie is eternally thankful to the community. He carries on the business that he and his brother started with pride and the knowledge that their community supports them. “We are thankful that the community, the people of Durham and Raleigh, are liking what we are doing.” Tropical Delights can be found at the Sam’s Club parking lot in Durham and are excited to serve up their products at the various state fairs this year. One thing is for sure, with Reggie Burnette in the driving seat, The Original Pineapple Guys are not going anywhere.

For more information, please visit www.tropicaldelightsmoothies.com/