Operations

Noodles & Co requiring facemasks, sales returning to pre-COVID levels

Provided

July 21, 2020

Noodles & Co is requiring all employees and guests to wear face coverings inside all company-owned restaurants as of tomorrow unless seated.

"Our top consideration in every decision we make is to care for our team members and guests by ensuring their safety and well being. With this enhanced safety measure, we know it will bring even more peace of mind to those visiting our restaurants," CEO Dave Boennighausen said in a company press release.

In order to maintain this safety and reliability, Noodles enhanced safety practices at all locations in early March. With the recent guidance from the CDC that face coverings were a critical tool in the fight against the spread of COVID-19, this policy was the next step in Noodles' effort to keep guests and team members as safe as possible. Guests will be allowed to remove face coverings when seated in restaurants with open dining rooms or patios, where the company has implemented social distancing between tables and increased sanitizing after every guest visit, according to the release.

The chain's focus on convenient ordering and pickup options have company sales approaching pre-COVID levels, Boennighausen said. Digital sales were up 138% during the second quarter compared with the first quarter, and represent the vast majority of sales as guests have gravitated toward the company's ability to meet their off-premise meal options. Additionally, membership in the Noodles Rewards program continues to grow, with an increasing number of guests taking advantage of the program benefits. Recently, the company announced the extension of free delivery through July 31 on orders placed digitally above $15.

"The company's successful navigation of the past few months, as noted in our recent announcement, indicates how loved the Noodles & Co. brand is, how well our food travels, and how confident our guests are that they can expect delicious meals prepared safely, quickly and consistently from our amazing team members throughout the country," Boennighausen said.

Noodles & Company has 450 restaurants and 9,000 team members.