Salsarita's Fresh Cantina Seeking Strategic Alternatives to Further Expansion of Rapidly Growing Franchise

By: Salsarita's, Inc | 2 Shares 139 Reads

CHARLOTTE, NC--(Marketwire - June 1, 2010) - Salsarita's Fresh Cantina, one of the nation's fastest growing, fast-casual Mexican restaurant chains, is exploring strategic alternatives to fuel expansion of the rapidly growing franchise. With new locations opening across the country, Salsarita's is quickly gaining brand recognition and a reputation for its quality and legendary hospitality.

"Despite the economy, we've been performing very well with three consecutive months of sales increases and a doubling of non-traditional locations in the last two years, among other development accomplishments," said Bruce Willette, Chairman, Salsarita's Fresh Cantina. "This financial success allows the brand to now explore strategic alternatives to help expand our business operations."

Interested parties are invited to learn more about Salsarita's franchising entity, corporate store operations and real estate holdings, which total more than $10 million in revenue. Specifically, its real estate holdings include headquarters office, training store and an additional 16,000 square feet of retail and office space, 12,000 of which are leased.

The company is approaching its first 100 restaurants with the goal of having 200 open and operating by the end of 2014. This year, non-traditional locations have opened at Auburn University in Alabama and Lowe's Home Improvement Corporate Offices in Mooresville, NC. Additional non-traditional units are scheduled to open at University of North Carolina Greensboro, Louisiana State University and Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). Recent traditional openings include locations in Tyler, TX and Myrtle Beach, SC with plans for restaurants in Puerto Rico and Overland Park, KS opening by early summer.

"There have been numerous mergers and acquisitions in the restaurant world over the past three to four months, making us one of the only organic, fast casual Fresh-Mexican chains remaining that have not benefitted from a strategic partnership," said Willette.

In 2009, Salsarita's experienced great success with new restaurants opening in Charlotte and Greenville, NC, Clarence, NY, Jacksonville, FL, Murfreesboro and Knoxville, TN and other markets around the country. In addition, new development agreements were signed for the opening of more than 15 locations in the US and the company was recently ranked 42nd by Nation's Restaurant News and Chain Store Guide's list of fastest growing chain restaurant operators over the past five years.

Salsarita's specializes in serving made-to-order burritos, tacos, tortilla pizzas and taco salads. Prepared fresh-daily in each restaurant, guests can enjoy high-quality dishes featuring ground beef, grilled chicken, grilled steak, or pork, grilled shrimp and fresh vegetables. Salsarita's also offers a choice of 13 delicious fillings and four homemade salsas. Every order is prepared in full view of customers in a 700-square-foot display kitchen with a contemporary Latin motif.

About Salsarita's Fresh Cantina

Founded in 2000, Salsarita's Fresh Cantina is one of the fastest-growing Mexican fast-casual Mexican restaurant chains, recognized for its people, food and world-class hospitality. Customers can create delicious made-to-order meals from a flavorful Mexican menu that offers burritos, tacos, quesadillas, nachos, tortilla-crusted pizzas and salads with a wide selection of meats, fresh vegetables and homemade salsas in lively, family-friendly environment. The company is currently closing in on its first hundred restaurants with the goal of opening 200 restaurants by the end of 2014.

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