Energy Kitchen Turns Up the Heat in South Florida
Health-Oriented Fast Casual Chain Offers Fast Food Without the Guilt; Signs Area Development Agreement for Three New Restaurants
June 07, 2010 // Franchising.com // Manhattan, NY – Energy Kitchen, a Manhattan-based fast-casual chain whose health-centric menu features no meal that exceeds 500 calories, announces the signing of an area development agreement for three restaurants in South Florida.
The signed agreement, targeting South Beach, Brickell and Aventura, is part of an aggressive expansion plan calling for 1,000 of the calorie-conscious eateries nationwide over the next decade. With additional signings in Boston and New Jersey, Energy Kitchen continues to use its New York success as a springboard for national development.
"It's an exciting time for us as we build momentum and take big step towards our national expansion goal," said Anthony Leone, Founder and President of Energy Kitchen. "As more consumers begin to realize that fast food doesn't have to be fat food, we look forward to providing them with a healthy, delicious alternative to their dining options."
With a customer list that reads like a "Who's Who" of Hollywood – including Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman, Paula Abdul, Uma Thurman and Adrien Brody, among others – Energy Kitchen is introducing a new era of healthy eating with its nutritious and convenient meal choices. Providing low-calorie, low-fat, tasty eats that are good for you, Energy Kitchen invites its customers to eat healthy without sacrificing taste. Nothing on the menu is over 500 calories, everything is baked, steamed or grilled, and full-calorie sodas aren't even an option.
"What we offer is fast food without the guilt," Leone added.
Energy Kitchen caters to the health-conscious consumer, serving such items as wraps, burgers sandwiches and salads, as well as entrees such as yellowfin tuna and turkey meatloaf. The brand pairs meals with a varied list of nutritional sides, including fresh vegetables, baked homestyle potatoes and asparagus salad, and also offers smoothies and healthy snacks for those on the go.
Fort Lauderdale resident Tony Lord will lead Energy Kitchen's South Florida expansion. A veteran of the healthy food and beverage industry with nearly 10 years of experience, Lord brings a wealth of brand extension and sales knowledge to Energy Kitchen. Most recently, he served as a Sales Manager for Vitaminwater in Miami, increasing the company's regional sales from $320,000 to $3.2 million.
"There are numerous restaurants in the area that claim to offer low-calorie meals to customers, but none of those come close to what we offer," Lord said. "I couldn't be more excited about bringing Energy Kitchen and the healthy lifestyle it represents to South Florida."
About Energy Kitchen
Founded by Anthony Leone in 2004, Manhattan-based Energy Kitchen is a healthy, fast-casual restaurant that provides nutritious and convenient meal choices by offering low-calorie, low-fat, wraps, salads, burgers and smoothies. Everything on the menu is 500 calories or less and is grilled, baked or steamed, never fried, and cooked to order. Behind the strength of a 2008 investment partnership with Mike Repole, the co-founder of Vitaminwater which sold to Coca-Cola for $4.1 billion, Energy Kitchen has already grown the concept to 10 restaurants throughout the greater New York metropolitan area and recently launched a national expansion plan calling for 1,000 locations in the next 10 years.
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