Restaurant company WOWorks to debut shared kitchen prototype
WOWorks is looking to drive growth and attract franchisees through an innovative new concept.
The parent company of fast-casual brands Saladworks, Frutta Bowls, Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh, The Simple Greek, Barberitos Southwestern Grille and Cantina, and Zoup! Eatery, will debut a new prototype called Wow Kitchens. It’s described as a ghost kitchen platform that brings together select menu items from WoWorks' fast-casual brands as well as its virtual concepts, which include Soupworks, Stack'd Sandwiches, Toasty and more.
The first Wow Kitchens will open in San Francisco's SOMA neighborhood, near the financial district, in a Cloud Kitchen facility. It will offer a diverse range of brands and menus for pick-up and delivery. Through a strategic tech partnership with Otter, it will provide a single user-friendly digital ordering platform for the operators.
"Unlike traditional brick-and-mortar restaurants, Wow Kitchens foregoes seating areas, resulting in significantly lower overhead costs," said Kelly Roddy, CEO of WOWorks. "By requiring less kitchen equipment and minimizing back-of-the-house expenses, the concept provides potential franchise candidates with a highly attractive and cost-effective concept.”
With the launch of the new prototype, WOWorks said it aims to establish a new standard in the restaurant industry by providing an exceptional growth opportunity for its current franchise network, while attracting aspiring entrepreneurs interested in shared kitchen concepts.
Through an extensive analysis of its best-selling SKUs, WOWorks said it has identified the approximate ingredients that can be utilized across six of its fast-casual brands and seven virtual brands. The menu optimization, coupled with strategic purchasing power, ensures efficiencies without compromising on the exceptional quality and taste customers expect, the company said. Furthermore, WOWorks has streamlined operations by consolidating and cross utilizing the equipment package.
Wow Kitchens represents an exciting prototype for franchisees seeking an efficient and cost-effective ghost kitchen model," said Roddy. "By leveraging the power of multiple brands, WOW Kitchens allows franchisees to scale their operations and profitability, while minimizing overhead costs. Our comprehensive support in technology, operations, delivery, and supply chain management ensures a seamless experience for operators, enabling them to focus on creating nutritious and flavorful foods.”
WOWorks is fully owned by Centre Lane Partners.