1851

The health-conscious restaurant chain offers a menu featuring naturally sourced food, with almost all items coming in at under 600 calories. The menu includes over 50 different combinations of fresh-sliced lettuce and vegetables, house-made toppings, and dressings made from scratch, as well as options for all types of dietary needs, including gluten-free, carb-free, and low-fat.

With a heightened focus on healthy eating, <a href="http://coolgreensfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=be-like-us-awesome-emerging-franchises-doing-awesome-things-in-franchising-coolgreens-2704340" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Coolgreens</a> found success in its meat-and-potatoes-oriented home market of Oklahoma City, where it currently operates six corporate locations, with a seventh slated to open in Oklahoma City&rsquo;s Will Rogers World Airport.

After acquiring a license to franchise in August 2017, the brand is now looking to expand by partnering with other like-minded entrepreneurs and grow into new markets that are in need of healthier alternatives in the fast-casual space.

1851 Franchise connected with Coolgreens&rsquo; VP of Franchise Development, Clay Carson, to learn more about the various innovations that make Coolgreens an emerging franchise brand to watch.

&ldquo;First and foremost, our brand is all about healthy dining, and if a food item falls into this category, it&rsquo;s likely on our menu,&rdquo; said Carson. &ldquo;All of our vegetables are sliced in-house daily, right in front of the customer&rsquo;s eyes, as an employee is crafting their salad.&rdquo;

Coolgreens keeps almost all of its ingredients on display in front of the customer, with almost no food hidden in the back-of-house. Their vegetables, proteins, toppings and dressings are kept up front and are restocked daily to assure freshness. Coolgreens also sends most of their hot meals through a pizza oven and requires minimal equipment in the back of the restaurant. Not only does the pizza oven offer a wood-fire finish that adds a great flavor to meats and other ingredients, it also cuts costs for franchisees.

&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve created a simple operations model that centers around natural ingredients and is designed to prevent cost overruns,&rdquo; said Coolgreens CEO, Robert Lee. &ldquo;Our mission is to fuel healthy communities with fresh and natural food. As a result, our menu highlights both year-round and seasonal flavors through healthier food in unique presentations.&rdquo;

In addition to their tasty and nutritious menu items and operations-friendly equipment, Coolgreens also prides itself on being one of the most community-oriented brands in the country. Each franchisee is able to become a community partner and use locally sourced produce in their restaurants while also hosting community-centric events that help fuel health beyond just the food.

&ldquo;Whether it&rsquo;s hosting a yoga class at the local Coolgreens restaurant or bringing in healthier eating options to local schools, our brand truly emphasizes the importance of community relations and becoming a part of your local market,&rdquo; said Carson.

Following the brand&rsquo;s mission to fuel healthy communities, Coolgreens is looking to expand throughout the Central Southern U.S. in places like Texas, Georgia and Florida, as well as markets adjacent to Oklahoma City, including Kansas City, St. Louis, Wichita, Little Rock, Tulsa, Omaha and Lincoln.

Be Like Us: Awesome Emerging Franchises Doing Awesome Things in Franchising: Coolgreens

1851 Franchise

Since its founding in 2009, Coolgreens has become a brand to watch in the fast-casual segment. Now with a new franchise model in place, the brand is further raising the bar for down-the-line fast-casual concepts.

This brand page has been paid for by 1851. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

be-like-us-awesome-emerging-franchises-doing-awesome-things-in-franchising-coolgreens

Onigilly Japanese Kitchen

Koji Kanematsu Turned a 2,000-Year-Old Japanese Staple Into One of the Most Scalable Restaurant Franchise Models

koji-kanematsu-turned-a-2000-year-old-japanese-staple-into-one-of-the-most-scalable-restaurant-franchise-models

Lindora

Celebrating the Nurse Behind the Mission: How Melinda Endricks Is Powering Lindora’s Growth and Impact Nationwide

celebrating-the-nurse-behind-the-mission-how-melinda-endricks-is-powering-lindoras-growth-and-impact-nationwide

Sola Salons

Sola Salons Targets Chicago for Strategic Franchise Growth

sola-salons-targets-chicago-for-strategic-franchise-growth

Melting Pot

Photo of Melting Pot white chocolate fondue

How Melting Pot Franchisees Drive Year-Round Success Through Strategic Promotions and Local Marketing

melting-pot-franchise-year-round-success

Crust Pizza Co.

Crust Pizza Co. - Technology Piece - CTO Nick Fontenot - May 2025 - 1851 Franchise

Crust Pizza Co. Builds the Future of Franchising With Tech-First Strategy

crust-pizza-co-technology-nick-fontenot-cto

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

DoorDash Expansion Could Reshape Delivery and Operations for Franchise Brands - 1851 Franchise

DoorDash Expansion Could Reshape Delivery and Operations for Franchise Brands

doordash-acquistions-deliveroo-sevenrooms

Crumbl Franchise Investment - TSG Consumer Partners -  1851 Franchise

TSG Consumer Partners Takes Minority Stake in Crumbl, Signaling Franchise Growth Potential

crumbl-franchise-investment-tsg-consumer

Yum Brands Reports Strong Q1 Results with Big Boost from Taco Bell

yum-brands-reports-strong-q1-results-with-big-boost-from-taco-bell

QSR: McDonald’s Gains Momentum With Chicken Innovation, Value Deals and Franchisee Support

mcdonalds-franchise-recovery-chicken-strategy-value-deals-2025

The Future of Franchising: Trends and Predictions for 2025 and Beyond

the-future-of-franchising-trends-and-predictions-for-2025-and-beyond

Franchisee spotlight image with Randy and Sandy Craft, Children's Lighthouse logo on blue background

The Crafts’ Successful Journey from New Parents to Children’s Lighthouse Franchisees

the-crafts-successful-journey-from-new-parents-to-childrens-lighthouse-franchisees

Franchisee spotlight image with photo of Robert Trujillo and UWRG logo on blue background

How Robert Trujillo Expanded His Construction Business With UWRG

how-robert-trujillo-expanded-his-construction-business-with-uwrg

Franchisee Spotlight with Armando Cordova and Jorge Molina with Crust Pizza Co. Logo

Texas-Sized Ambition: How a Shared Dream Turned Into Three Crust Pizza Co. Locations

crust-pizza-co-armando-cordova-jorge-molina-georgetown-launch

Health Care Professional in the Non-Profit Space Brings TruBlue to North Pittsburgh

health-care-professional-in-the-non-profit-space-brings-trublue-to-north-pittsburgh

Layoffs Surge to Pandemic-Era Highs, Opening Doors for Franchise Growth

layoffs-surge-to-pandemic-era-highs-opening-doors-for-franchise-growth

District Taco Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

franchise-deep-dive-district-tacos-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: Building Your Brand’s Growth Machine

ultimate-guide-to-selling-franchises

Be Like Us: Awesome Emerging Franchises Doing Awesome Things in Franchising: Coolgreens

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS