An obscure salad chain backed by Shake Shack's founder is about to blow up — here's what it's like

A healthy fast-casual chain based out of — where else? — California is expanding nationwide. Tender Greens opened its first outpost in New York City in February to rave reviews.

Tender Greens, which serves plates, sandwiches, and salads made with fine-dining ingredients and sold for fast-casual prices, is in the midst of growing from 28 locations in California and Massachusetts to major cities nationwide including New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC, in 2018.

The expansion has been in the works since 2015, when Tender Greens received a minority investment from restaurant mogul and Shake Shack founder Danny Meyer.

Tender Greens could give rival Sweetgreen a run for its money. Revenue hit over $80 million in 2016, and company executives said annual sales are growing 20% year-over-year.

We stopped by Tender Greens in downtown San Francisco to see what the buzz is about.

SEE ALSO: We tried 2 hugely popular coastal salad chains that are being fueled by millions in VC money — and the winner is unmistakable

In 2015, Shake Shake founder Danny Meyer said in a statement that he visited a tiny California salad chain and loved the idea so much "that I wish I'd thought of it myself."

Source: Business Insider

Meyer's restaurant company, The Union Hospitality Group, made an investment of an undisclosed sum in Tender Greens — its first time taking stake in an outside concept.

I visited a Tender Greens location in downtown San Francisco during the late afternoon. During the typical lunch hour, long lines wind outside the door.

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Contributer : Tech Insider http://ift.tt/2rku9Q6

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