A popular salad-slinging chain is set to close 41 restaurants, predominantly in the state of Texas.
On Sept. 17, QSR Magazine reported that Salad and Go, a drive-thru-only establishment, will shutter operations at locations in Houston, Austin and San Antonio. Some restaurants in the Dallas metro area and Oklahoma will close, too.
CEO Mike Tattersfield commented about the closures in a statement to the magazine.
“Concentrating our efforts will allow us to strengthen the brand and invest more in improving quality, driving innovation, and building community,” he said.
TODAY.com has reached out to Salad and Go for a comment.
Chron, a Houston-based news outlet, reported that Salad and Go’s Houston employees were told that their last day of work will be Friday, Sept. 19.
Salad and Go offers salad, wraps, soups and breakfast burritos. As of May, Salad and Go had about 140 restaurants across the U.S., including in Arizona and Las Vegas, QSR reported.
Tattersfield stepped into the role of CEO after Charlie Morrison departed. Before he left, Morrison spoke to CNBC last year about his goals for the company, which at the time had around 130 locations and was looking to expand into the Southern California market.
The company, which was founded in 2013, had more than doubled its number of locations under Morrison’s leadership, CNBC reported, opening a new restaurant nearly every week. One of its two central kitchens was located in Dallas, the other in Phoenix.
“The unique thing about Salad and Go against any other (quick-service restaurant) brands out there is that we enjoy a two-day part single occasion,” Morrison said about the company’s business plan and place in the market. “You can show up at 6:30 in the morning and get your breakfast burrito, get your cold brew coffee or hot coffee, and get your salad for lunch during the same occasion.”
When asked about competitors like Sweetgreen, Morrison explained, “Our concept is not tailored to compete against them. It’s tailored to compete against eating occasions that are unhealthy for you, but otherwise you couldn’t afford to eat well.”
At the time, Morrison said Salad and Go was looking to expand to “thousands of restaurants.”