Fresh Choice facts for kids
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| Private | |
| Genre | Restaurant |
| Founded | 1986 |
| Defunct | 2012 |
| Headquarters |
,
U.S.
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Key people
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Sandy Boyd, CEO |
Fresh Choice was a chain of buffet-style restaurants. This means you could serve yourself from a big selection of food. They operated in California, Washington, and Texas. The restaurants had different names like Fresh Choice, Fresh Plus, Fresh Choice Express, and Zoopa.
Contents
A Fresh Start: History
The very first Fresh Choice restaurant opened in Sunnyvale, California, in 1986. It was started by three people: Martin Culver, Brad Wells, and Ken Oppeltz. They began with a small amount of money, less than $140,000.
Growing the Restaurant Chain
The first restaurant quickly became very popular. People often waited in long lines to get in! Because of this success, the founders soon opened a second location. Over a few years, Fresh Choice grew a lot. They expanded to more than 50 locations across California, Texas, and Washington.
Healthy Food Choices
Fresh Choice wanted to be a healthier option compared to fast food places. They offered many menu items that were lower in fat, carbs, or calories. Each restaurant had a huge 50-foot salad bar. They also made six fresh soups every day, along with special pizzas and breads.
Fresh Ingredients and Green Efforts
Fresh Choice tried to get its ingredients from local farmers. They liked to use seasonal, local, and organic produce. In 2009, the company even started a plan to grow some of its own vegetables. Sacramento Magazine recognized Fresh Choice for having the most health-conscious menu in 2008 and 2009.
The company also cared about the environment. They joined a program to help reduce greenhouse gases. This made their Northern California restaurants' energy use "carbon neutral." Fresh Choice also took part in events like Earth Day and health fairs.
Why Fresh Choice Closed
In late 2012, Fresh Choice closed about half of its restaurants. The company had plans to change its style. They wanted to offer food where people paid by weight for their salads. They also thought about adding a breakfast bar and a beer and wine bar.
However, on December 15, 2012, it was reported that all Fresh Choice locations would close for good. Some of the restaurants in the Bay Area later reopened under a new name, "California Fresh." One former Fresh Choice location in Gilroy, California, still operates as Fresh Choice but under different ownership.
