“Fast-fine” dining innovator Fresh To Order has awarded a three-unit deal with restaurant and convenience store experts Tony Chong and Daryl Ortiz, partners of the Kephas Group. The pair plans to bring Fresh To Order’s chef-driven menu of freshly prepared, healthy dishes to diners in the Philadelphia area next year. It will be the first Fresh To Order restaurants in Pennsylvania.
Franchisees Chong and Ortiz plan to open the first restaurant by summer of 2016. They are currently in the process of selecting locations for the three restaurants and have targeted King of Prussia, Center City, and the Main Line. In addition to upscale, fast-casual dining, they will offer catering for area businesses and events.
“We are confident that Fresh To Order will do well in Philly and throughout the state,” says Chong, long-time Philadelphia resident and partner of the Kephas Group. “We think the menu offerings are just what the dining scene in Philly needs and what the community will love.”
Chong and Ortiz have more than 40 years combined franchise experience. Ortiz has worked on the corporate side and both have extensive franchising experience. Their current retail food holdings include 7-Eleven, PrimoHoagies ,and East Coast Wings.
Earlier this year, Fresh To Order announced three other major market expansions, including Texas, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Multiunit agreements have been signed for Dallas; Charlotte, North Carolina; Gwinnett County, Georgia; Knoxville, Tennessee; and Greenville, South Carolina. The brand is also opening corporate-owned units in high-traffic growth areas such as the CNN Center and Hartsfield-Jackson Airport in Atlanta.
"We are delighted to bring our wonderful brand to the Philadelphia area with such experienced operators” says Pierre Panos, Fresh To Order founder and CEO. “We’ve been planning our expansion North for a long time, and we think Philadelphia is the perfect place to start.”
Fresh To Order combines the quality of food fine-dining restaurants are known for with the efficient service and price point of fast casual. Its soups, salads, and sandwiches are made to order in less than 10 minutes for an average ticket price of $10. In addition, Fresh To Order is a member of the National Restaurant Association's Kids LiveWell program, designed to help parents make the healthful choice the easy choice for their children when dining out.
