UFood Grill, the award-winning, fast-casual restaurant franchise where “delicious meets nutritious,” has awarded the first franchise agreement in Maryland. Local physician and business entrepreneur Dr. Stephen Goldberg and his wife Lana, an advanced practice nurse, will open a new UFood Grill restaurant featuring the new design and menu in Howard County in late spring of 2016.
“We are extremely excited to welcome Stephen and Lana to the UFood Grill family,” says Salvatore Rincione, CEO of UFood Grill. “They are tremendous champions for our brand and will be one of the first franchise owners to introduce fast-casual diners to our new restaurant prototype.”
Goldberg, a resident in Howard County, first discovered UFood Grill in a bustling food court at the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. When he experienced the better-for-you menu, he quickly became interested in opening his own fast-casual UFood Grill restaurant back home.
“As a busy professional, I travel a lot. And when I ate at UFood Grill, I was excited to find something healthy and delicious,” Goldberg says. “It immediately felt timely, contemporary and tasted great.”
After attending Discovery Day at UFood Grill headquarters, the Goldbergs committed to introducing UFood Grill in Maryland. They credit the healthy menu, the attractive restaurant design, and the skills and experience of the support team at corporate headquarters with the concept they will debut.
“I’ve always been interested in franchising as a way to invest versus guessing with the stock market,” Goldberg says. “UFood Grill offers an attractive investment and a chance to serve something healthy in my community at the same time. I can’t wait to open our doors.”
The UFood Grill menu includes chicken, beef, turkey, and veggie burgers, “unfries,” steak tips, wraps, bowls, salads, and panini prepared fresh using natural and organic ingredients, whole grains, light cheeses, and freshly made dressings. Meals are low in calories, fat, and sodium and are made to order. Nothing is ever fried. Beverages include real fruit smoothies and specialty teas. Created in a better-for-you way, UFood Grill is transforming the industry one healthy meal at a time.
UFood Grill currently has 14 locations open across the U.S. The company recently unveiled a new prototype for traditional in-line retail sites with plans to expand the chain to more than 100 locations over the next four years.
