Taziki's Mediterranean Café facts for kids
A Taziki's Mediterranean Café in Suwanee, Georgia
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| Franchise | |
| Industry | Fast casual restaurant chain |
| Founded | 1998 |
| Founders | Keith and Amy Richards |
| Headquarters |
Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.
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Number of locations
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90 in sixteen U.S. states (November 2017) |
| Products | Greek cuisine and Mediterranean cuisine |
| Revenue | $28,800,000 (2014) |
| Owners | Keith and Amy Richards |
Taziki's Mediterranean Café is an American fast-casual chain. It has many franchised locations across the United States. The restaurants are known for serving food inspired by Greek cuisine and Mediterranean cuisine. Popular items on their menu include gyros, sandwiches, soups, and salads.
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How Taziki's Got Started
The idea for Taziki's came from a trip to Greece. In 1997, a couple named Keith and Amy Richards visited Greece and loved the food they ate. They wanted to bring those fresh, delicious flavors back home with them.
One year later, in 1998, they opened their first restaurant. It was a small café in a shopping center in Birmingham, Alabama. People loved the food, and the restaurant became very popular. By 2017, Taziki's had grown to over 90 locations in 16 different states.
Fresh Food and Healthy Choices
Taziki's is proud of the fresh ingredients it uses. In fact, it was the first restaurant chain in the U.S. to get a special award called REAL certification.
What is REAL Certification?
REAL stands for Responsible Epicurean and Agricultural Leadership. This certification is given by the United States Healthful Food Council. It's like a stamp of approval for restaurants that focus on healthy, natural food.
To get this award, a restaurant must:
- Serve lots of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains.
- Make most of its food from scratch, not from pre-made packages.
- Use very few processed foods.
- Choose local and organic ingredients when possible.
This helps customers know that the restaurant cares about serving fresh and wholesome meals.
Sustainable Food Choices
Taziki's also thinks about the environment. For example, their gyro sandwiches are made with only lamb meat. Many other places use a mix of lamb and beef. Using lamb is often seen as a more sustainable choice because it can have a smaller environmental impact than raising cattle for beef.
Helping the Community
Taziki's believes in giving back to the communities it serves. Each restaurant location supports a local charitable organization.
One of their most special programs is called Project Hope. The name HOPE is an acronym that stands for "Herbs Offering Personal Enrichment." Through this project, some Taziki's locations work with local schools. They give students with disabilities a chance to grow and package fresh herbs. The restaurant then buys these herbs to use in its kitchens. This project helps students learn valuable skills and be part of their community.
See also
- List of casual dining restaurant chains
- List of Greek restaurants
