Giardino Gourmet Salads Among Top 25 Concepts Ranked on Fast Casual Top 100 “Movers and Shakers”
Giardino Gourmet Salads, the premiere fast casual salad concept of South Florida, announced today that it is has been named one of Fast Casual’s Top 100 “Movers and Shakers” of 2014. The company moved up eight spots to No. 25 from their previous ranking last year, based on its growth strategy and variety of healthy menu items.
“We are proud to once again receive this national industry recognition from Fast Casual,” said Julio Ramirez, board member and franchise development advisor for Giardino Gourmet Salads. “As the only Miami-based concept to be part of the ranking, we are pleased with the significant growth our company has experienced over the last few years. We will continue to focus our expansion efforts across Florida while providing guests with the largest variety of salad options in the industry.”
The Fast Casual Top 100 “Movers and Shakers” ranks the leading brands of the fast casual industry based on multiple criteria, including innovation, unit and revenue growth and overall contribution to the industry. The ranking also includes the 25 most influential executives of the industry and the latest technology and menu innovation trends.
“The competition, in its ninth year, was fiercer than ever, as we had nearly 900 nominations from which to choose,” said Cherryh Butler, senior editor of FastCasual.com. “Luckily, we had a few experts to help us evaluate the nominations including Darren Tristano, executive vice president of Technomic; Nate Riggs, president of NR Media Group; Rob D’orsi, executive corporate chef at Food IQ; and Joni Doolin, CEO and founder of People Report.”
As part of its aggressive expansion plans, Giardino Gourmet Salads will open three new franchised restaurants this year across South Florida in Miami Lakes, Weston and Palmetto Bay. Giardino aims to develop several new locations across Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties and throughout the state of Florida over the next several years.
Giardino Gourmet Salads, which has experienced eight consecutive quarters of positive comparable sales, is currently seeking qualified franchisees to join the brand. Interested entrepreneurs should possess a passion for the brand and be dedicated to serving the community. While restaurant experience is not required, ideal candidates should have an entrepreneurial spirit and sales, marketing, restaurant and/or retail experience. Approximate turnkey total development costs range from $165,000 – $264,000.
For more information about development and franchising opportunities with Giardino Gourmet Salads, please visit giardinosalads.com/franchising.
Giardino Gourmet Salads is the premiere fast casual salad concept in South Florida. Founded in 2004, the gardener chefs at Giardino serve the widest variety of individually handcrafted, great-tasting salads and menu offerings using premium ingredients like freshly baked croutons and homemade deli salads. Over the last two years, Giardino was named to Fast Casual’s Top 100 Movers & Shakers, which includes the top restaurant chains, people, trends and technologies shaping the fast casual segment. Giardino currently has eight South Florida restaurants open in the neighborhoods of Blue Lagoon, Brickell, Coral Gables, Doral, Downtown Miami, Kendall, Miramar, and South Miami. Visit www.giardinosalads.com for more information.
