Saladworks
Encyclopedia
Saladworks, LLC is a restaurant franchise in the United States that sells made-to-order entrée salads, wraps, soups, and sandwiches. Saladworks restaurants are categorized as “fast casual,” and the company markets its menu as a healthy alternative to other fast food fare. The franchise currently operates 100 restaurant locations in 11 states and has been favorably ranked in several industry publications, including QSR Magazine, Entrepreneur Magazine, and Franchise Times.
Saladworks saw significant growth after it began franchising in 2001, and by 2007 it had 88 locations in eight states, including Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Florida, and Illinois. Today, the franchise operates 100 restaurant locations in 12 states and has announced plans to expand into new US markets in 2011.
The current menu includes 13 signature salads (any of which may be ordered as a wrap), six “Focaccia Fusion” sandwiches, and a variety of soups.
The option to create your own salad or wrap from the over 50 available ingredients and salad dressings remains a menu staple. The current salad lineup is as follows:
, would join the company as Chairman of the Executive Committee.
Hill, whose reputation for creating unique customer experiences, building successful brands, and developing strong business models Scardapane says served as inspiration for his own company’s values and business philosophy, said that he intends to help grow the Saladworks franchise to over 1,000 locations across the United States.
The extent of Hill’s investment in the company has not been disclosed and Scardapane remains Saladworks’ majority owner.
Saladworks has said that the new design is intended to enhance the customer experience, emphasize the freshness of the ingredients that makeup its new menu, and represent a new branding strategy for the company.
Notable enhancements include new display cases specially designed to showcase the restaurant’s salads, the omission of menu boards, diffused artificial lighting designed to replicate daylight entering through skylights in the ceiling, and an overall higher level of detail and consistency across all Saladworks locations.
The second celebrity chef was also a television personality on Cn8, Hope Cohen (The Chef's Kitchen). Cohen created the "Avocadolicious Salad" which was a mix of Haas avocadoes and various vegetables.
In July, Saladworks launched the Chicken Asparagusto salad created by world-renowned chef David Burke. The salad was a mix of grilled asparagus and chicken combined with cucumbers and sweet peppers and topped with a Caesar dressing
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The final installment of the Signature Series was created by Venetian chef Marika Seguso. The Articado featured artichoke hearts, avocado, tomatoes, bacon bits and croutons finished with a balsamic vinaigrette dressing.
Saladworks donated $5,000 to the each of the four chef's favorite charities as part of the Signature Series promotion.
The company also signed an agreement to open three Saladworks locations in Knox County, Tennessee. The first of three is slated to open at the end of the year.
History
Saladworks was founded in 1986 by John Scardapane, the company’s current CEO. The first Saladworks opened in the Cherry Hill Mall in Southern New Jersey, the success of which inspired the opening of 12 additional restaurant locations in New Jersey and Pennsylvania in subsequent years.Saladworks saw significant growth after it began franchising in 2001, and by 2007 it had 88 locations in eight states, including Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Florida, and Illinois. Today, the franchise operates 100 restaurant locations in 12 states and has announced plans to expand into new US markets in 2011.
Menu
In April 2010, the company announced that all Saladworks locations would now offer customers a standardized menu of salads, wraps, soups, and sandwiches that would change subtly with each season. Previously, individual Saladworks restaurants were permitted to offer their own menu variations.The current menu includes 13 signature salads (any of which may be ordered as a wrap), six “Focaccia Fusion” sandwiches, and a variety of soups.
The option to create your own salad or wrap from the over 50 available ingredients and salad dressings remains a menu staple. The current salad lineup is as follows:
- Bently: romaine, iceberg, baked ham, roasted turkey, swiss, chopped egg, tomatoes
- Turkey Club: romaine, iceberg, radiatorre pasta, roasted turkey, crispy bacon, tomatoes
- Autumn Harvest: romaine, iceberg, roasted turkey, craisins, corn, carrots, sunflower seeds, crispy apple chips
- Tivoli: romaine, iceberg, radiatorre pasta, baked ham, turkey, tangy pepperoni, swiss, tomatoes
- Buffalo Blue: romaine, iceberg, chicken, original buffalo new york spicy sauce, grape tomatoes, banana peppers, crumbled bleu cheese, zesty tortilla strips
- Garden Deluxe: romaine, iceberg, radiatorre pasta, sun-dried tomatoes, shredded carrots, cucumbers, sliced mushrooms, broccoli
- Chicken Caesar: romaine, iceberg, chicken, homemade baked croutons, chopped eggs, parmesan cheese
- Fire Roasted Cabo Jack: romaine, iceberg, fire roasted corn, white beans, red peppers, chicken, tomatoes, spicy monterey jack, zesty tortilla strips
- Mandarin Chicken: baby spring mix, chicken, mandarin oranges, sliced cucumbers, carrots, craisins, chow mein noodles
- Greek: romaine, iceberg, feta, nicoise olives, sliced cucumbers, grape tomatoes, onions, banana peppers
- Nuevo Nicoise: romaine, iceberg, radiatorre pasta, chunk tuna, tomatoes, egg whites, nicoise olives, green beans
- Cobb: romaine, iceberg, crispy chicken, tomatoes, avocado, chopped eggs, crispy bacon, crumbled bleu cheese
- Sophie's: baby spring mix, chicken, bleu cheese, craisins, glazed pecans, green apple slices
Vernon Hill
In February 2008, Scardapane announced that former Commerce Bank founder and CEO, Vernon HillVernon Hill
Vernon W. Hill II is the founder and former chairman, president, and chief executive officer of Commerce Bancorp and Commerce Bank of Cherry Hill, New Jersey...
, would join the company as Chairman of the Executive Committee.
Hill, whose reputation for creating unique customer experiences, building successful brands, and developing strong business models Scardapane says served as inspiration for his own company’s values and business philosophy, said that he intends to help grow the Saladworks franchise to over 1,000 locations across the United States.
The extent of Hill’s investment in the company has not been disclosed and Scardapane remains Saladworks’ majority owner.
3G Restaurant design
In October 2008, Saladworks unveiled a new interior design prototype for its restaurants at its Mount Laurel, New Jersey location. Existing restaurants that have adopted the new design, as well as all new Saladworks locations built around the new design, have been dubbed “3G Restaurants” by the company.Saladworks has said that the new design is intended to enhance the customer experience, emphasize the freshness of the ingredients that makeup its new menu, and represent a new branding strategy for the company.
Notable enhancements include new display cases specially designed to showcase the restaurant’s salads, the omission of menu boards, diffused artificial lighting designed to replicate daylight entering through skylights in the ceiling, and an overall higher level of detail and consistency across all Saladworks locations.
Advances in technology resources
In the first quarter of 2010, Saladworks released three new technological advances for the franchise and its customers.- MySaladworks 2.0 - upgraded company intranet
- FreshCart - new online ordering system
- iPhone App - mobile ordering app available for the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad
Signature Series
In January 2008, Saladworks launched its Signature Series which featured celebrity chefs creating a line of new, seasonal salads to be sold in every location; four different chefs, four different salads. The first salad was the Wild Alaskan Grilled Salmon Salad created by Chef Jim Coleman, host of Flavors of America on Comcast Cn8.The second celebrity chef was also a television personality on Cn8, Hope Cohen (The Chef's Kitchen). Cohen created the "Avocadolicious Salad" which was a mix of Haas avocadoes and various vegetables.
In July, Saladworks launched the Chicken Asparagusto salad created by world-renowned chef David Burke. The salad was a mix of grilled asparagus and chicken combined with cucumbers and sweet peppers and topped with a Caesar dressing
Caesar salad
A Caesar salad is a salad of romaine lettuce and croutons dressed with parmesan cheese, lemon juice, olive oil, egg, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, and black pepper. It may be prepared tableside.-History:...
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The final installment of the Signature Series was created by Venetian chef Marika Seguso. The Articado featured artichoke hearts, avocado, tomatoes, bacon bits and croutons finished with a balsamic vinaigrette dressing.
Saladworks donated $5,000 to the each of the four chef's favorite charities as part of the Signature Series promotion.
True Nutrition
In April 2010, Saladworks unveiled a new menu featuring over 50 salad ingredients such as avocado, edamame, and chick peas. The company says that the changes to the menu and the addition of ingredients were made to increase the nutritional values of its menu and to ensure that all signature salads averaged fewer than 500 calories each.Industry ranking
Entrepreneur Magazine currently ranks Saladworks #295 among the top franchises in the world and the #1 salad franchise in the world. Additionally, Saladworks has been noted as one of the “Top 10 Franchise Deals” by QSR Magazine, one of the “50 Powerhouse Chains” by Nation’s Restaurant News, and one of “The Next 100 Top Franchises” by Franchise Times.Expansion
Saladworks announced expansion plans in early 2010. The franchise signed a deal with a multi-unit developer for eight stores in Orange County, California, planned for early 2011.The company also signed an agreement to open three Saladworks locations in Knox County, Tennessee. The first of three is slated to open at the end of the year.