Costa Vida Fresh Mexican Grillis responding to increased demand for healthy quick-service cuisine with franchise expansion into new states, including Florida.

As part of Costa Vida’s national growth initiative, entrepreneurs Sam Haddock, Bob Harris, and Will Robinson are bringing the Costa Vida Fresh Mexican concept to the state for the first time. With plans to open the first Costa Vida in early 2016, the partners are confident the concept will be well received in the area. Under the multi-unit agreement recently signed, the group will add 10 new locations to the rapidly growing brand by 2020.

“The quality and taste of the food that Costa Vida offers to consumers is rare if not unmatched in fast casual segment of the industry,” says Haddock, a veteran of the restaurant industry. “With a focus on freshness, along with the coastal feel that the brand embodies, we are confident that the residents of Gainesville, Sarasota, and Tampa will be incredibly impressed with everything Costa Vida has to offer.”

The recent multi-unit agreement to the 68-unit franchise system will make Florida home to 10 Costa Vida locations by 2020. Currently, the Southeast region of the U.S. hosts one location in Atlanta, Georgia, that is part of an 8-unit agreement for the market.  

Haddock has been a part of the restaurant industry for over 40 years. He has experience as both a franchisee and a franchisor, owning and operating restaurants such as Donato’s Pizza, Moe’s Southwest Grill, Rally’s Hamburgers, and Wendy’s Hamburgers, and serving as director of operations for Rally’s Hamburgers, COO of Popeye’s Louisiana Kitchen, and COO at Winnter’s international. Most recently, Haddock was a managing partner and president at J. Christopher’s Restaurants, LLC.

Harris owned and operated Premier Healthcare Solutions, a company that provided home therapy in Georgia and Texas from 1989 until 2011.

Robinson has spent time working in the treasury department and as a corporate accountant for RTM Restaurant Group. Most recently, he has been practicing as a certified public accountant.  

“As consumer behavior continues to shift towards clean eating habits and having the ability to customize your order based on personal preference or dietary restrictions, the appeal and popularity of Costa Vida continues to grow with both consumers and investors,” says Sean Collins, CEO of Costa Vida Fresh Mexican Grill. “We knew from the start that bringing Sam, Bob and Will on as franchisees would positively benefit the company. With their combined years of experience in the restaurant industry, we are excited to see the ways in which they develop the concept in the Florida markets.”

Growing through multi-unit agreements, Costa Vida Fresh Mexican Grill is planning continued expansion in Dallas, Houston, Nashville, Vancouver, Boise, the Twin Cities, Sacramento, Phoenix, Tucson, Denver, Atlanta, Orlando, and Washington D.C. Projected to open 25 new locations throughout new and existing markets in 2015, Costa Vida is already on track to continued steady growth with additional recent agreements in Tucson, Atlanta, Salt Lake City, Boise, Denver, Sacramento, and Vancouver. Expanding in key high-growth markets, Costa Vida’s development strategy is largely focused on Unit Level Economics.

Costa Vida prides itself on clean eating through the use of fresh, natural, and whole ingredients as well as an extensive variety of gluten-friendly options.