Saladworks Ready To Take Florida By Storm

Posted on April 14, 2008 by Bill Dube

Inks Deal with businessman who put Mail Boxes Etc. on the map

Conshohocken, PA– Get ready to see a lot more Saladworks’ signs popping up in Florida.  The nation’s #1 fresh-tossed salad franchise is partnering with a Florida businessman who will open 30 new franchises throughout the state.  Ken Gordon, president of FranBiz, has become Saladworks’ first area representative.  That means Gordon will be responsible for finding and supporting those franchises, as Saladworks grows beyond the Miami & Jacksonville markets, where the chain already has 4 stores.

“I’ve been involved in franchising in one way or another since the late 1970’s,” said Ken Gordon, president of FranBiz and area representative for Saladworks. “I was looking for stability, a company with history; make that, an unblemished history.  That’s what I found at Saladworks.  It’s a regional concept that I’d like to see go global.  It certainly has the legs to do it.”  The quick casual salad concept was founded in Cherry Hill, NJ, in 1986.  Mall management didn’t think a salad-only eatery would succeed, but succeed they did, taking in $57 million in sales for 2007.  Along the way, the chain added Panini & sandwiches, plus original recipe soups.  Right now, Saladworks’ strength lies in the Northeast, where a majority of the 87 franchised units are located, but the company has made a sizable impact outside its core market.  Entrepreneur Magazine voted Saladworks the #1 salad franchise in the country (2007) and the chain was listed as #7 on Fast Casual magazine’s Top 100 Movers & Shakers (2008.) Now, the nationally-recognized franchise is looking at this deal as a way to make an even bigger name for itself.

“We know this deal is about more than just finding franchises,” said John Scardapane, CEO of Saladworks.  “It’s about protecting, improving and growing the system and we believe Ken will do just that with these 30 new stores.  That’s why we chose him to be Saladworks’ area representative.   He’ll make sure franchisees fit into our model and share our core values.  Plus, we get to tap into his expertise, which will benefit the whole system.”

Gordon’s long history in franchising began in 1979 after meeting the founder of the non-franchised Mail Boxes Etc., which became The UPS store.  He joined the company, crafted the first area developer agreement, and helped grow the “post office alternative” from just 1 unit to one of the most recognizable business brands  in the nation.  In fact, Gordon facilitated the conversion of Mail Boxes Etc stores to UPS stores throughout Florida.  Along the way, Gordon founded FranBiz in 1990, as a franchise development and business consultant company and performed such services as site selection and lease negotiations for franchise systems. To this day, FranBiz still owns, operates and supports one of the world’s largest MBE (now UPS stores) area development deals with over 250 stores in Florida.  As the past president of the Florida Franchise Association, the state’s business community is well aware of Gordon’s involvement and success in the franchising industry.  With Saladworks becoming the 5th major company Gordon has signed on with to help expand, the goal is to see that success span into the world of salads.
 

“You have to have one constant and that is be willing to change, to adapt and listen to your franchisees,” said Gordon. “I like Saladworks’ willingness to adapt to change.  They’ve been franchising now for 17 years.  That willingness to adapt and change is what has made them successful.”

 Gordon expects to have a location and franchisee picked out for his first Saladworks store in Tampa, Florida very soon, and will add five more locations in 2008, with the remaining 24 Saladworks stores to open over the following three years.

ABOUT SALADWORKS

From the time entrepreneurial chef John Scardapane opened the first Saladworks in Cherry Hill, NJ in 1986, the enterprise has emerged as a leader in the quick-casual food arena, by offering a tasty, yet healthy alternative to the food found at most fast food chains.  By giving customers the freshest and finest ingredients, which are expertly prepared in front of them by an always-accommodating staff, Saladworks has developed a proven successful concept.

Saladworks, the nation’s first fresh-tossed salad franchise concept, currently operates 89 franchise-locations in seven states throughout the country, as well as, Washington, D.C.   The chain has enjoyed a double digit growth rate for the last few years and is on track to maintain that rate of growth over the next 4 years. Using its innovative step-by-step regional expansion method, Saladworks plans to have 300 plus locations open by the year 2012.  Saladworks locations offer a healthy menu of flavorful salads with signature dressings, as well as complimentary menu items.