Honeygrow
Philadelphia-based, 15 units
Positioning itself as a “Philly startup,” Honeygrow has opened 14 units in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Virginia and Maryland since launching in 2012. In November, it closed on a $20 million round of funding led by Miller Investment Management (which previously raised $25 million for Honeygrow) to aid in expansion and further develop its proprietary touchscreen ordering system. Customers paying by card (counter ordering is available for cash-carrying diners) use the screens to create their own stir-fry or salad, or choose from a signature option such as sour-cherry barbecue stir-fry or roasted wheat berry salad, all with housemade sauces. There’s also the option to create Honeybars—parfait-like snacks featuring a choice of fruit, honey or maple syrup and toppings like chocolate chips and granola.
Promoting the community, restaurants feature local artwork, local materials such as reclaimed wood and a chalkboard listing local ingredients, while touchscreens display images of the surrounding area. To stay competitive as an employer as well as with customers, Honeygrow also promotes its company culture by touting its policy to promote from within.