Technology

Saladworks to add 90 units via ghost kitchens, primarily in Walmarts

The deal with Ghost Kitchen Brands will nearly double the chain's footprint across the U.S. and Canada.
Saladworks grocery store location
Photograph courtesy of Saladworks

Fast-casual salad concept Saladworks is adding 90 locations in the form of ghost kitchens, a move that would nearly double its footprint across the U.S. and Canada by the end of 2021. 

Saladworks struck a deal with Canada-based Ghost Kitchen Brands that will bring its concept into 60 nontraditional U.S. locations and 30 Canadian ones. Many of those will be inside Walmart stores, where Ghost Kitchen Brands already operates a number of multibrand ghost kitchens.

All of the new outposts will offer carryout and delivery via third parties, and the Walmart locations will have some seating as well, Saladworks said. 

Conshohocken, Pa.-based Saladworks currently has about 130 North American locations. The chain, which as of 2019 was dealing with sales and unit count declines, has been in growth mode recently, opening 40 new locations in 2020many of them through ghost kitchens.

“Ghost kitchens have already proven to be an economical and highly successful expansion tactic for us, and this new deal with Ghost Kitchen Brands will allow us to continue solidifying Saladworks as the leading fast-casual salad brand,” said Eric Lavinder, chief development officer for Saladworks parent company, Woworks, in a statement.

The deal will bring Saladworks to new states including South Carolina, Iowa, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, Oregon and Washington, as well as new Canadian provinces. 

The recently created Woworks also owns Frutta Bowls and Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh and was slated to complete the acquisiton of The Simple Greek later this week. Frutta and Garbanzo will also expand via Ghost Kitchen Brands in a smaller test, the company said. 

Saladworks is not the only brand using ghost kitchens as a way to supercharge growth. Nathan's Famous in February opened its 100th virtual location, in part through an agreement with ghost kitchen provider Reef. And Wow Bao is growing aggressively as a virtual concept, with plans to add 1,000 such units by the end of 2021.

Members help make our journalism possible. Become a Restaurant Business member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.

Multimedia

Exclusive Content

Financing

Consumers are leaving their cars and going into restaurants

The Bottom Line: Drive-thru traffic has steadily fallen since the pandemic, even as other off-premise channels remain strong. That traffic has shifted back to the restaurants. Did the industry overdo the drive-thru?

Financing

In the 10 largest restaurant chains, signs of the industry’s evolution

The Bottom Line: Only 14 chains have been on the list of the 10 largest concepts over the past two decades. But that doesn’t mean that it hasn’t changed with consumer demand.

Emerging Brands

Olive & Finch lets diners dictate how they want to experience the brand

This growing premium fast casual out of Denver is expanding with an all-day menu priced no higher than $20. Part of the value offering is giving guests options for how they use the concept.

Trending

More from our partners