Salad Creations, one of the nation’s fastest growing salad franchises offering a fresh alternative to fast food, has experienced strong growth in 2010 with the signing of 10 new franchise agreements since January. With the signing of these agreements, new restaurants will open this year in the suburbs of Detroit; at Universal Studios and the University of Southern California campus in Los Angeles; John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore; Newport News and Fredericksburg, Virginia; Frisco, Texas; Doral, Florida; and on the campuses of Florida State University and Florida International University.
“We are very excited about the progress we’ve made in the first quarter of 2010 and are looking forward to future growth and expansion opportunities,” says Jeff Levine, founder and CEO of Salad Creations. “Our growth and success can be attributed to consumers seeking a fresh, healthy, and socially responsible alternative to the traditional burger and fries.”
Salad Creations’ rapid growth from a single kiosk to more than 50 open locations in only five years of franchising can be attributed to the company’s adherence to their strategic area developer model and early move into international franchising. Since its inception, Salad Creations has rapidly spread across the nation and the world, with locations currently open in 18 states, Canada, Brazil, and Kuwait. More than two dozen restaurants are scheduled to open soon, including one in Panama.
Through its area developer model, Salad Creations area developers sell franchises in their markets while providing overall marketing and operational support to their franchisees. In return, these developers receive a percentage of revenue within that region over the term of their contract.
“Our commitment to smart growth and the strength of our franchisee network will continue to be our determining factor in our success,” Levine says. “As we continue to expand our reach, we look forward to bringing our fresh approach to fast-casual dining to new communities across the country and around the world.”
A serial entrepreneur and restaurant developer, Levine created the Salad Creations concept after searching for a business that fit his lifestyle. After monitoring food trends, Levine noticed an increase in consumer demand for a better alternative to fast-food restaurants. Salad consumption was growing in the U.S. and consumers seemed dissatisfied with the fresh food options available in the fast-casual segment. Levine leveraged his experience as the founder of New York City’s Brother Jimmy’s BBQ and LuLu’s Bait Shack, a national restaurant and bar, to create the Salad Creations concept. He began with a made-to-order salad kiosk in the Town Center Mall in Boca Raton, Florida.
