Vitaminwater Co-Founder Mike Repole Leads Healthy Revolution, Commits to Proving that Fast Food Doesn't Have to be Fat Food

By: Energy Kitchen | 1 Shares 609 Reads

November 02, 2011 // Franchising.com // Manhattan, NY – Energy Kitchen, the healthy, fast-casual eatery founded in New York and financially backed and strategically led by Mike Repole, co-founder of Vitaminwater and major stakeholder of Pirate’s Booty all-natural snacks, is poised to open 40 new restaurants throughout the United States in the next two years and a total of 1,000 stores over the next 10 years.

In a world where fast food is king, Energy Kitchen is revolutionizing the way people eat by changing the conception that fast food has to be fat food.

“The time is now for a healthy revolution in the fast food segment. When it comes to being health conscious the majority of fast food restaurants are irresponsible,” said Repole, Chairman of Energy Kitchen. “We want to transform the entire fast food industry. Consumers are being forced to purchase high calorie burgers, wraps, sandwiches, greasy fried fries and high calorie beverages due to a lack of healthier options. Major corporations are more concerned with short term profitability than long term consumer health,” he continued.

With a health-centric menu featuring nothing over 500 calories, consumers can now have their fast food and eat it too with good conscience. With its nutritious and delicious meal choices, Energy Kitchen boasts a menu of items that are grilled, baked or steamed, and only serves low or no calorie beverages. In addition, to tasty burgers made from sirloin, bison, turkey, chicken, Energy Kitchen serves entrees like grilled salmon and turkey meatloaf. Also, consumers cannot be tempted to order unhealthy sides like greasy fries or onion rings with their meal, because Energy Kitchen offers healthier side options including baked fries, steamed vegetables, mashed sweet potatoes and asparagus salad.

“We at Energy Kitchen are determined to fight obesity and become one of the biggest influences Nationally when it comes to healthy eating,” added Repole, noting the dramatic increase in obesity in the United States, which now stands at 33 percent. “Providing low-calorie, low-fat, tasty eats that are good for you, Energy Kitchen invites its customers to eat healthy without sacrificing taste.”

According to Founder & President Anthony Leone, there is no high-calorie temptation in Energy Kitchen’s stores. “We don’t allow consumers to make bad choices and we really take the thinking out of health. Where else can you get a great tasting turkey burger on a wheat bun, baked fries and a zero calorie beverage, for 500 calories?”

Energy Kitchen plans to open 21 stores in 2012 across the East Coast, as well as other strategic markets. The expansion includes Boston, Connecticut, Westchester, Long Island, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Charlotte, South Florida, Chicago and Houston.

About Energy Kitchen

Founded by Anthony Leone and partner Randy Schechter in 2003, Manhattan-based Energy Kitchen is a healthy, fast-casual restaurant that provides nutritious and convenient meal choices by offering healthy burgers, wraps, salads, 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 11 restaurants throughout New York, New Jersey and Florida, and recently launched a national expansion plan calling for 1,000 locations in the next 10 years. For more information visit www.energykitchen.com, become a Facebook fan at http://www.facebook.com/energykitchen or follow the health-centric concept on Twitter @Energy_Kitchen.

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