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Saladworks growing North Carolina presence

December 19, 2019

Saladworks is looking to expand across North Carolina and has already signed two major deals for the Charlotte and Raleigh area. NFL cornerback and free agent Marcus Burley is opening a unit in Charlotte, North Carolina's Ballantyne neighborhood, and Franchisee Gary Randazzo will also open a restaurant in the Charlotte area.

"I'm always thinking of ways to invest my money and I feel like franchising is a great way to start a business but also follow a blueprint that's already proven," Burley said in a company press release. "Saladworks has been around for more than 30 years and they have a proven blueprint. I feel like this is one of the best times to invest in a salad-centric business. The country is trending in a healthier way and people are really being careful of what they're putting in their bodies."

The salad-centric franchise is opening more restaurants in Charlotte, as well as in Raleigh and Durham, and the team is seeking qualified franchisees to help run them, Eric Lavinder, Saladworks VP of franchise development, said in the release.

The company has one location in Greensboro, North Carolina, and has extensive plans to expand Saladworks across the Tar Heel state. Both Charlotte and the Research Triangle — the area in which Durham and Raleigh are located and that holds major research universities — hold an educated and youthful demographic aligning with Saladworks' target guest.

"Our biggest reason for expanding in these areas is population growth," Lavinder said. "Those areas are having a lot more of an upsurge in people who are more of a Millennial, Gen X and Gen Y crowd who want to feel better about what they're eating."

There is also a lack of healthy eating options in both areas.

"There is a lot of fast food, but there's nothing healthy, so I know that there is a demand in these areas that we can meet," Lavinder said.

The time is now

The timing to open a Saladworks franchise is strong, aligning with many consumer trends. Now, more than ever, there is a demand for a range of healthy eating options. Additionally, according to a recent survey, one in three people now consider themselves flexitarians, which means they are enjoying a more vegetable-centric diet and limiting their meat intake. The brand's create-your-own options also allow guests to have choice and control over their meals, according to the release.

Another reason franchise prospects have been gravitating toward Saladworks is that its locations are asset-light, equipment-light and easy to operate, not to mention available in multiple markets and venues, formats and footprints, Lavinder said.

"The Raleigh-Durham and Charlotte areas are where a lot of the growth is, and that's where we need to be," he said. "We put a lot of research into our target markets to ensure we're moving a location into an area where there is a demand for our menu, and we will be welcomed with open arms."

And now is the time to grow in North Carolina since it is one of the top five states seeing top leads, according to the 1851 Franchise Sales Trends Report that pulls select data from FranConnect's Franchise Sales Index. Geographically, it also makes more sense to open in these cities, rather than coastal areas that are more likely to be affected by bad weather and hurricanes.

"If you go to cities like Charlotte, Raleigh and Durham, you take a lot of those challenges out of the picture," Lavinder said. "You have more chances of being open all year round. You also have a different workforce in terms of rates and wages."

The brand plans to open 20 locations in 2019 and sign franchise agreements for 40 locations.

The initial investment for Saladworks ranges from $163,724-$452,292, which includes a $35,000 franchise fee and has between $27,000 and $65,000 in tenant improvement allowance subtracted from the total, according to the release. Veterans receive a 50% discount on the franchise fee. It takes about six months from the initial point of contact to have a signed agreement to open a location.

Saladworks first opened its doors in 1986 and launched its first franchised location in 2001. It has 100 locations in 18 states and two countries.