Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh Ranks as Top 5 Fast Casual Concept in America

DENVER – Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh, the incomparable fast casual restaurant concept known for its authentic, nutrient-rich dishes, announced today its top 5 spot on the prestigious FastCasual “Top 100 Movers and Shakers” list. Ranking impressively as the #4 brand on the 2019 list, GARBANZO distinguished itself among the 75 other fast casual restaurant sector concepts surveyed. High-quality, made-from-scratch Mediterranean menu options and a relentless commitment to elevating the guest experience through continual introductions of innovative technologies drove the brand’s surge to #4, up from #50 on the 2018 list.

FastCasual, the authoritative voice on the fast casual sector of the restaurant industry, produces its “Top 100 Movers & Shakers” list annually to recognize the brands and executives leading the restaurant industry through creativity, hard work and progressiveness. The top 5 ranking for GARBANZO comes as it is actively advancing its “eat better - feel brighter” movement through a strategic franchise growth initiative.

“GARBANZO continues to shine as we set the pace in the fast casual segment with a commitment to quality through superior ingredients, innovations that enhance the experience for our guests, and a high-performing franchise model that stands out among our competitive set,” said Larry Sidoti, chief development officer at Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh. “We are honored to be among the best in our industry. It’s a reflection of our ability to rise above in every facet of the business.”

Aligned with consumer preferences for healthier, fresh meal options that that are free from preservatives or MSG, GARBANZO is well on its way to making Mediterranean cuisine a staple across the United States. The 30-unit brand has recently set its course on a strategic franchise initiative that forecasts to add 50 units to the brand’s development pipeline annually. Already in 2019, GARBANZO has added 30 locations to its franchising plans through development deals covering Boston, Cincinnati, Indiana and Kentucky. The expansion plans come amid three straight years of positive comp store sale.

“All the pieces are in place for us,” added Sidoti. “The plan is to get much more aggressive with growth. The multi-unit deals we’ve finalized this year are a fantastic indication of what is to come – developing with the right franchise partners who are aligned with GARBANZO’s values. The strong ranking that we earned this year is another sign of the positive outlook for the brand.”

With a firm growth strategy in place, low startup costs and prime territories available across the United States, GARBANZO is poised to rapidly expand through franchising. The ideal GARBANZO franchisee is a professional leader with a passion for the restaurant world and has restaurant operations experience. They must be passionate about and share GARBANZO’s values and mission of showing the world how delicious nutritious can be.

About Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh

Proudly serving authentic, delicious and nutrient-rich dishes free of preservatives or MSG, Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh blends bold, guilt-free flavors with an approachable “co-creation” modern service style all set in an inviting and comfortable environment. Headquartered in Denver, GARBANZO has 30 locations open nationwide and several more in development.

With low startup costs and prime markets available, GARBANZO is actively seeking qualified franchise candidates across the United States.

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