Souplantation & Sweet Tomatoes

Sweet Tomatoes is not only back, it's growing

By Lisa Jennings on Dec. 15, 2025

After the once-97-unit chain was liquidated in 2020, the buffet concept re-emerged in Arizona last year. Now a second location is coming to Florida.

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Operations

Sweet Tomatoes readies its second act with a return to what was

By Lisa Jennings on Feb. 01, 2024

But who, exactly, acquired the intellectual property rights to the buffet brand that will be born again in Arizona?

Operations

Pandemic victim Sweet Tomatoes is planning a comeback

By Lisa Jennings on Mar. 30, 2023

The buffet salad chain has signed a lease to reopen in Tucson, Ariz., in a former location. It remains to be seen how the brand will adapt to the post-pandemic era.

Food

Menu innovation accelerates

By Patricia Cobe on Jul. 07, 2020

Renewed R&D is powering menus forward after the pandemic slowed things down.

Financing

The owner of Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes files for Chapter 7 bankruptcy

By Jonathan Maze on May 15, 2020

Garden Fresh Restaurants opts for liquidation rather than reopening its buffet-centric restaurants due to coronavirus restrictions.

Financing

Why the downfall of Garden Fresh Restaurants is so maddening

By Jonathan Maze on May 08, 2020

The owner of Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes was investing in units and planning an expansion. And then the coronavirus hit, says RB’s The Bottom Line.

Financing

The owner of Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes plans to declare bankruptcy

By Jonathan Maze on May 07, 2020

Garden Fresh Restaurants has hired bankruptcy counsel and says it sees “no way to operate” given FDA recommendations that buffets not open.

Financing

Is this the end of the buffet?

By Jonathan Maze on Apr. 27, 2020

As restaurants reopen, many regulations explicitly forbid buffets and self-service. That could require massive changes at buffet concepts, or their end altogether, says RB’s The Bottom Line.

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