Entered Emerging Residential District Near Denver's Rocky Mountains
Introduces Specialized Menu Featuring Korean Ingredients
Plans to Open First Directly Operated Master Franchise Stores in the Philippines and Taiwan
Salady, a salad franchise brand, announced on June 23 that it has opened its first global store in the United States.
The Salady Global's first store, which opened on June 20 (local time), covers approximately 112 square meters and has a total of 26 seats. It is located in Westminster, Colorado, an area that serves as a growth hub in the northwest of Denver. The region, centered around the Rocky Mountains, is home to a large population that enjoys a variety of outdoor activities such as hiking, cycling, and yoga, and pursues a healthy lifestyle. In particular, Westminster has a high concentration of Millennials and Generation Z, resulting in a large consumer base that values diversity and sustainability in their diets, including vegan and gluten-free options.
The Salady Westminster branch has developed toppings and special sauces using uniquely Korean ingredients, taking into account the recent K-food trend and high local interest in Korean cuisine.
One of the signature specialized menu items is the "Bibim Grain Bowl." This modern-style bibimbap dish features vegetables, grains, seaweed, bulgogi, and other ingredients, all mixed with sauces such as Gochujang Bibim and Ssamjang Mayo. The menu enhances protein content with options like bulgogi, pork belly, chicken thigh, and tofu, and differentiates itself by offering dressings such as Gochujang Bibim sauce and Ssamjang Mayo sauce, which are rarely found locally. Some ingredients have been adapted to local preferences, such as using button mushrooms instead of oyster mushrooms, and menu portions have been increased by about 30% by benchmarking existing salad and health food brands in the United States. Unlike competitors, Salady has introduced kiosks to improve customer convenience and store efficiency.
Salady plans to accelerate its global expansion starting with the Westminster location. In August, the company will open its first directly operated master franchise stores in Manila, Philippines, and Kaohsiung, Taiwan. In addition, Salady is discussing partnerships with major food service companies in Singapore and is also in talks with potential franchisees in various countries, including Vietnam, China, Thailand, Australia, and Canada.
Oh Seduk, head of Salady's overseas business division, stated, "The opening of our first global store marks the first step in introducing our brand identity of 'K-style healthy food centered around salads' to consumers worldwide. As we enter the United States, which can be considered the home of salads, we have worked to create a differentiated brand using Korean ingredients." He added, "We plan to strengthen menu development and branding so that we can establish ourselves as a healthy food brand with a Korean touch in various countries in the future."
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