Saladworks has grown by more than 40 restaurant locations in 2020. Showing creativity in the process, Saladworks not only entered more traditional restaurant franchises, but it also expanded into non-traditional retail presences such as grocery, universities, ghost kitchens, combo kitchens and coming soon, Military bases. It’s also using REEF Technology’s food vessels, primarily as parking lot-based mobile ecosystems, as a means to accommodate a larger number and wider area of delivery orders. Finally, Saladworks is testing “Sally” the world’s first salad robot for use in hospitals and other vending-related foodservice locations.
“In addition to robust traditional restaurant expansion, our team demonstrated a high level of creativity in developing exciting new avenues of success in 2020, all of which will be long-term plays into 2021 and beyond,” says Eric Lavinder, Chief Development Officer for Saladworks. “Within each new non-traditional growth channel, we’re able to share our healthy, nutritious and flavorful menu offerings with guests who may have not been able to enjoy our concept otherwise.”
Among the 40 restaurants that opened in 2020, roughly 80 percent were non-traditional openings. In large part due to these widespread avenues, Saladworks entered Canada, California, Tennessee, Rhode Island, Ohio, Florida and Indiana – all this year. It partnered with two new grocery brands, making a total of three currently. Saladworks will continue this growth vertical and sees this path as one that will outlast COVID, as guest look for continued convenience. The first half of the brand’s 2021 already includes at least 20 new restaurant openings, nine signed franchisees seeking site selection and five locations currently under construction.
On top of Saladworks prolific growth trajectory, last month its parent company, Centre Lane Partners, LLC acquired Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh, a leading fast-casual Mediterranean restaurant brand, and Frutta Bowls, a unique fast-casual concept serving a variety of superfood bowls, fresh fruit smoothies and more, to form WOWorks. The newly formed family of brands share a core DNA designed to meet a growing demand among Millennial families and GenZ guests who crave healthy, nutritious and flavorful dining options with a high level of customization and convenience. In addition to Saladworks, the new WOWorks entity is also expecting significant growth for Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh and Frutta Bowls in 2021.
“Our goal is to continue to grow wisely and strategically, seeking innovative new opportunities for Saladworks to flourish,” says Lavinder. “We’d like to see the brand double in size before 2022, and we are working tirelessly to realize this goal.”
