News

Saladworks CEO honored as ‘CEO Of The Year’

June 2, 2011

Saladworks CEO John Scardapane has been chosen as 'Chief Executive Officer Of The Year' by SmartCEO magazine.

SmartCEO magazine honored him at the Philadelphia SmartCEO Business Awards gala May 11. Prominent members of Philadelphia's business community attended the event, which also honored 10 area business leaders with the Philadelphia SmartCEO 2011 Circle of Excellence Award.

Saladworks also was included in SmartCEO's "Future 50" list in April, 2011, celebrating the region's 50 fastest-growing companies based on employee and revenue growth over the past three years.

"At a time when salads were relegated to side-dish status, John Scardapane envisioned a restaurant concept that created the nation's first and largest fresh-tossed salad franchise concept," said Jaime Nespor, publisher of Philadelphia SmartCEO magazine. "Through his pioneering vision and focus on core values, Scardapane has risen as a leader in his community and his industry. For these achievements, SmartCEO honors him as our 2011 CEO of the Year."

Founded in 1986 with a single location at a New Jersey mall food court, Saladworks is celebrating its 25-year anniversary in September. It is a $63 million company and operates more than 100 locations in 12 states.

Accepting the award, Scardapane thanked the entire Saladworks team, his mentor Vernon Hill, CEO of Commerce Bank, his wife, Gail Scardapane, VP, public relations, and his mother, Joan Scardapane, who believed in the concept and helped with the training and design of Saladworks when it was a budding company.