Signature Associates

Zoup! Eatery Plans Major 2022 Expansion in Michigan

Zoup! Eatery, a fast-casual soup concept based in Farmington Hills with locally owned and operated restaurants across the U.S. and Canada, has announced plans for an extensive expansion in Michigan in 2022.

Markets it plans to expand to include Detroit, Ann Arbor, Lansing, and Grand Rapids. As part of the rollout, Zoup! Eatery is seeking qualified franchisee partners to round out its Michigan plans. In return, the brand offers best-in-class systems and support, proprietary technology, including digital menu boards, point-of-purchase, an online ordering app, system-wide delivery, and family-friendly hours to support a healthy work/life balance.

“The need for large dining areas is giving way to speed, convenience, and contactless interactions,” says Robert Kirma, director of new restaurant development at Zoup! Eatery. Smaller than a typical Zoup! Eatery, the new model delivers on guest expectations and increases unit profitability.

Zoup! Eatery opened its first smaller footprint eatery in June of 2021 in the Youngstown suburb of Boardman, Ohio. The new eatery, although more compact, has the capacity to serve the same number of guests with an improved in-store process that caters to the rising demand of delivery and takeout orders.

It still offers its popular soup sampling option, but with a more efficient design. As well, the brand’s ordering process is smoother and has seen an increase in speed. During the first week of business, the new smaller footprint eatery set record sales and throughput numbers.

It opened its first location in Southfield in 1997 as Zoup! Fresh Soup Co. In 2018, the company expanded its menu from soups, salads, and sandwiches to include new menu categories like macaroni, grain bowls, and broth bowls.

These new categories include menu items such as Baja Mac, classic macaroni and cheese mixed with pico de gallo and mashed avocado; the Mediterranean Chickpea Grain Bowl, containing brown rice, feta cheese, chicken, tomatoes, roasted chickpeas, tzatziki hummus, greens, lemons, and pickled carrots; and the Spicy Chicken and Broccoli Broth Bowl, which is brown rice, roasted mushrooms, fiery broccoli, chicken, pickled carrots, spicy Korean chile sauce, roasted jalapeno, and cilantro covered in a chicken bone broth.

“The new Zoup! Eatery has delivered on innovation, efficient operations, best in class technology and has proven to be a lower investment to build and operate, which ultimately drives franchisee profitability,” says Jason Valentine, president of Zoup! Eatery.

Posted By: DBUSINESS on February 23, 2022.  For more information, please click here to read the source article.

To receive the In The Know from Signature Associates, please click here to be added to our mailing list.