Operations

Chopt owner invests in fast casual rice bowl concept

Provided

December 3, 2021

James Beard Award-winning chef, TV personality and author JJ Johnson has received Series A funding for Fieldtrip, his NYC-based rice bowl concept, from Founder's Table Restaurant Group, the parent company of Chopt Creative Salad Company and Dos Toros Taqueria, and the investment firm, Pendulum.

"To have the support from Founders Table and Pendulum will allow me to rapidly expand Fieldtrip throughout Upper Manhattan and the Bronx, showcasing the future of food to the heart of New York," Johnson said in a company press release.

The restaurant, which uses sustainable and ethically sourced ingredients in tandem with Johnson's signature Caribbean cooking style, first opened in 2019 in Harlem and has since added locations in Rockefeller Center and Long Island City. The brand's motto, "Rice is Culture," was born out of Johnson's belief that rice was the universal ingredient that connects us all and can be found at the center of the table in every community.

The Fieldtrip investment marks the second alignment between Pendulum and Founders Table, as Pendulum recently made a significant investment in Founders Table's latest capital raise, joining L-Catteron — Founders Table's largest shareholder. The partnership will focus on activating a diverse-owned franchise platform on the west coast and making additional investments in restaurant brands led by diverse founders.

"JJ is an extraordinary chef, founder and community leader whose values directly align with the principles upon which Founders Table is built," said Founders Table CEO Nick Marsh. "In line with the mission of our partnership with Pendulum, this investment will not only accelerate Fieldtrip's growth but will create significant opportunity for diverse founders to achieve franchise ownership in other parts of the country."