Franchising

Surf's up for Saladworks

istock

November 18, 2020

Saladworks has staked a claim on California, having signed five franchisee deals in the state, totaling eight restaurants to open in Thousand Oaks, San Francisco, Bakersfield, Fresno and Visalia, in addition to the newly unveiled Hollister location that opened two months ago.

Even with these existing deals already in place, the Conshohocken, Pennsylvania-based brand sees the state as fertile ground and is finalizing several more contracts that will lead to nearly 20 openings in 2021, according to a company press release.

"Since Saladworks has already branched out west and awareness of our brand is growing considerably, we're seeing big-time demand for salads that promote active lifestyles and healthy eating that's regarded so highly in California," Eric Lavinder, VP of Franchise Development, said in the release. "We're looking for more potential franchisees who are excited about our concept and want to join our health-focused family, those who can benefit from this expanding brand awareness in a less-penetrated state thus far."

As the franchise furthers development, Lavinder hopes to diversify in more non-traditional retail presences, such as universities, ghost kitchens, Military bases and grocery stores.

The chain is seeking franchise partners, preferably individuals with business experience and/or franchise experience and a passion for serving guests. Before stores open, the training program for franchisees is designed to teach them the fundamentals for efficient skills to run a successful restaurant and is completed locally. Franchisees learn the expectations and procedures in the four-week program through hands-on experiences covering all aspects of the business, such as food preparation, food offering, inventory management and opening/closing procedures, Lavinder said.