Salsarita’s Fresh Cantina, the fast-casual Mexican restaurant chain known for its authentically inspired menu choices made to order with fresh ingredients, is looking to outpace results from its successful 2014 as the brand expands throughout the U.S.
In a year that saw restaurant industry veteran Phil Friedman take greater control of daily operations as CEO, 2014 proved to be a pivotal year of success for both company and franchise growth that will bear fruit in 2015 and beyond. Four new multi-unit franchise development deals were signed in 2014, with planned openings for Lewisville, Texas, Savannah and Alpharetta, Georgia, and Asheville, North Carolina in 2015. An additional 22 locations will open in and around these same markets associated with these development agreements.
Building on the momentum of opening its successful new prototype, three new franchise agreements with present franchisees were signed in 2014, leading to the openings at Raleigh-Durham International Airport, and in Longview, Texas. The third agreement signed in 2014 will result in the opening of a location in High Point, North Carolina in June of this year. In a strategic move, Salsarita’s finalized a franchise agreement with Premium Retail Food Court specialist, Villa Enterprises, of Morristown, New Jersey, resulting in them taking over operations of Salsarita’s at Concord Mills Mall in Concord, North Carolina by early June of this year.
In sum, including the two planned company restaurants, 12 new Salsarita’s restaurants are scheduled to be opened in 2015. This, says Friedman, represents a high water mark for the restaurant chain since his acquisition in 2011 and a pivotal step in the continued evolution of the brand that turns 15 this year.
“Salsarita’s is now in the perfect position to support both company and franchisee expansion properly for years to come. Franchisee interest throughout 2014 and so far this year is proof enough of that,” Friedman says. “The confidence franchisees have expressed in us is tremendously telling of where Salsarita’s stands in the industry as an opportunity for sustained growth.”
Salsarita’s restaurants can be found at universities, airports, corporate headquarters, and standalone locations across the country. In 2014, Salsarita’s debuted its new prototype the restaurant’s layout at its Indian Land, South Carolina. location and in a new franchise opening in South Haven, Mississippi. The third location utilizing this design just recently opened in Starkville, Mississippi.
