Fast-casual restaurant chain Saladworks opened its first location in a Kroger store in Cincinnati last week, launching a new partnership with the country’s largest grocery chain.
Saladworks will offer guests a variety of healthy and delicious items they can grab while shopping at the Kroger store at 7900 Beechmont Ave., including customizable salads, wraps, soups and more.
Much like its more than 100 stand-alone locations across the country, the Kroger in-store Saladworks focuses on customization through its array of over 60 fresh, flavorful and healthy ingredients — allowing guests to create a salad their own way. In addition to its Signature recipes, Saladworks offers create-your-own options, including salads, wraps, grain bowls, soups and more, including a limited assortment of Grab ‘n Go items.
The move to open Saladworks restaurants within grocery chains and other nontraditional venues began in early 2019, when Saladworks opened its first in-store location at a ShopRite in Philadelphia. To date, Saladworks has restaurants in seven grocery stores in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New York, with more than 10 new openings planned through Q1 of 2021.
The restaurant chain last month made its debut at a Giant Company supermarket in Camp Hill, Pa.
“Grocery stores are an exciting growth area for our brand,” said Eric Lavinder, VP of development for Saladworks. “With COVID-19 bringing safety challenges to self-serve food bars in grocery stores everywhere, guests can feel safe with Saladworks. Guests can get the same great experience and variety at a grocery location as they can a traditional restaurant.”
In addition to in-store orders, grocery store restaurants for Saladworks also offer shoppers the option to order online through the Saladworks website or by calling ahead for pickup. Shoppers can also have their Saladworks orders delivered using third-party delivery partners like Door Dash, GrubHub, and UberEats. Saladworks can also cater large gatherings, with items ranging from King Salads and Entertaining Trays to sandwiches and Pinwheel/Signature Wrap Parties.
Saladworks offers a menu that caters to a variety of nutritional needs (vegetarian, vegan, flexitarian) and diets (Keto, Paleo, Whole 30, etc.). While the menu includes 12 chef-driven Signatures, the Saladworks experience allows guests to express their creativity and make customized salads, utilizing a wide range of fresh ingredients including a base of greens, grains or a combination of both.
