News

Just Salad sponsoring NYC Pride

May 30, 2019

In honor of Pride Month, which is in June, Just Salad is sponsoring NYC Pride, an annual New York City Pride March that travels down Fifth Avenue and ends at Greenwich Village in Lower Manhattan, New York, where the Stonewall Riots — a series of demonstrations by members of the LGBT community against a police raid — took place on June 28, 1969.

Just Salad teammates will walk in the march and support various WorldPride activations throughout the month, including complimentary meals for hundreds of NYC Pride volunteers. The chain will also make #JustProud uniforms available to its teammates around the country for Pride Month, according to a company press release.

"We are so grateful for the opportunity to sponsor NYC Pride for the fourth year in a row," said Stephen Swartz, Director of marketing at Just Salad. "Our LGBTQIA+ guests make up such a large part of our community, and we are proud to give them a voice through our brand. Just Salad strives to offer healthy and affordable options for everyone, all year round, and promote an inclusive mindset with every opportunity that comes our way."

Just Salad is also bringing back a Pride-themed salad, available through June, and in the name of inclusivity for all LGBTQIA+ identities, has renamed it from the Big Gay Garden Salad to the Just Proud Salad. The rainbow-inspired vegetarian dish features romaine, red cabbage, tomatoes, avocado, carrots, and banana peppers, topped with house-made balsamic vinaigrette dressing, according to the release.

One dollar from each salad sold will go toward helping a LGBTQIA+ organization: NYC Pride in New York and New Jersey; Center on Halsted in Chicago; The William Way LGBT Community Center in Philadelphia  and Pride Community Center of North Central Florida in Gainesville, Florida

"Through Just Salad's long-standing support of NYC Pride, we’ve been able to grow our programming that draws millions and commemorates our rich history. We look forward to welcoming the world this June while we celebrate our diverse community throughout all five boroughs," said Chris Frederick, executive director at NYC Pride.

Just Salad, founded in 2006, in New York City, now employs over 1,000 teammates across 34 locations in New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Chicago, Hong Kong and Dubai.

Los Angeles-based Sweetgreen and Fresh&Co, based in Manhattan, made similar announcements this week.