Rochester, N.Y. — WOWorks, the parent company of health-centric fast-casual brands Saladworks, Frutta Bowls, Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh and The Simple Greek, has debuted its first location in a Walmart grocery store in Rochester, N.Y. The ghost kitchen location will include Saladworks, the nation’s leading fast-casual entrée salad franchise, and Frutta Bowls, the nation’s fastest-growing superfoods café, alongside other mouthwatering brands. This opening comes after WOWorks signed a deal for 90 non-traditional retail presences with Ghost Kitchen Brands in the spring of this year.
Saladworks currently has over 150 locations across North America, more than 40 of those having opened in the past year. For Saladworks, the initiative to open restaurants in non-traditional venues began in early 2019. Frutta Bowls, which has over 30 locations, is also following suit with an emphasis on both traditional and non-traditional growth after becoming part of the WOWorks family in December 2020.
“We’re thrilled to make yet another debut for Saladworks inside a major retailer, and the first for Frutta Bowls. These partnerships have proven to be incredible opportunities for WOWorks, and we’re looking forward to the growth that will come out of this opening,” says Eric Lavinder, chief development officer for WOWorks. “Guests continue to receive the same hospitality and healthy experience they have at our stand-alone restaurants, but with even more accessibility and convenience at Walmart locations.”
In addition to simply ordering in-person at the Walmart locations, Saladworks and Frutta Bowls guests will also have the choice to order online through the brands’ websites, by using the Ghost Kitchen Brands website or using third-party delivery platforms.
WOWorks was formed in 2020 and is fully owned by Centre Lane Partners, LLC. Its portfolio consists of: Saladworks, the nation’s leading fast-casual salad brand; Frutta Bowls, a unique restaurant franchise serving a variety of superfood bowls, fresh fruit smoothies, protein bites and more; Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh, a popular Mediterranean restaurant concept; and most recently, The Simple Greek, which offers a fresh and healthy take on traditional Greek recipes in a fast-casual setting. WOWorks seeks to drive explosive growth across all of its brands through a variety of channels, both traditional and non-traditional, including ghost kitchens, food trucks, grocery retail and more.
Founded in 1986, Saladworks has more than 150 locations across 18 states and two countries. For more information, visit www.saladworks.com.
Founded in 2016 to fulfill a need for fresh and flavorful plant-centric dining options, Frutta Bowls has since grown from its original location in Freehold, N.J., to more than 30 locations. For more information, visit www.fruttabowls.com.
SOURCE: WOWorks