As Newk’s Eatery looks ahead to continued expansion in 2026, the fast casual brand is setting its sights on high-potential markets, and the suburbs of Salt Lake City are emerging as a clear priority.
With no current locations in Utah and strong underlying market fundamentals, the region represents a prime opportunity for experienced franchise operators to introduce Newk’s fresh, scratch-made fast-casual concept to a new and growing customer base.
One of the most compelling reasons Newk’s is targeting the Salt Lake City suburbs is simple: whitespace.
With more than 1.1 million households in the broader region and zero existing Newk’s locations, the market is underpenetrated. According to the team, the area has room for around 11 new restaurants.
“Salt Lake City is exactly the kind of market we look for when we’re thinking about smart, strategic growth,” said Chris Cheek, Chief Development Officer of Newk’s Eatery. “You’ve got strong population growth, high household formation and, importantly, a real gap in the market for a brand like Newk’s. That combination creates a unique window for franchisees to come in and scale with us.”
While downtown Salt Lake City continues to thrive, it’s the surrounding suburban communities that are fueling much of the region’s growth. Areas with expanding residential development, strong school systems and increasing household incomes are creating ideal conditions for fast-casual dining concepts.
These suburban pockets align closely with Newk’s core customer base: families, professionals and community-oriented consumers who value quality, convenience and consistency.
“We’re particularly focused on suburban trade areas where you’re seeing sustained residential growth,” Cheek said. “These are communities where people are looking for reliable, high-quality dining options they can enjoy multiple times a week, whether that’s dine-in, takeout or catering.”
Plus, with a reduced prototype footprint that can go as small as 2,200 square feet, the brand also offers flexibility across endcap, inline and drive-thru formats. This adaptability allows franchisees to identify strong sites in a variety of trade areas.
“We’ve worked hard to create a model that’s both flexible and efficient,” Cheek said. “Our footprint allows franchisees to be strategic about where and how they grow.”
Newk’s menu, which is centered around fresh salads, sandwiches, soups and pizzas, is designed to meet a wide range of dining occasions, from quick lunches to family dinners and group catering.
By focusing on scratch-made meals and premium ingredients, while offering a welcoming space to eat in and efficient options for those on the go, Newk's fits naturally into suburban life where flexibility is key.
“Guests today want options, and Newk’s delivers on that,” Cheek said. “We’re not a one-daypart brand. We serve lunch, dinner and everything in between, and our catering business continues to be a major driver. That flexibility is especially important in suburban markets where dining habits are diverse.”
For franchisees, Newk’s offers a streamlined model in the fast-casual space. The brand relies on an operational approach that skips the fryers and microwaves, making it easier to keep things fresh and consistent without much extra fuss.
Combined with strong loyalty growth, increasing off-premise sales and a focus on guest experience, Newk’s is positioned to compete effectively in today’s evolving restaurant landscape.
“Franchisees are looking for brands that are both differentiated and operationally sound,” Cheek said. “Newk’s checks both boxes. We’ve got a unique product, a loyal guest base and the systems in place to support multi-unit growth.”
Newk’s expansion strategy is backed by meaningful brand momentum. In 2025, the company signed 10 new franchise deals and opened five locations.
Strategic shifts (including increased investment in television and connected TV advertising) helped drive stronger brand awareness and performance in the second half of the year. At the same time, enhancements such as a new cloud-based POS system and a customer feedback platform improved operational efficiency across the system.
“We’ve spent the last year really strengthening the foundation of the brand,” Cheek said. “From marketing to technology to operations, everything we’ve done has been about setting our franchisees up for success as we grow into new markets like Salt Lake City.”
For prospective franchisees, the Salt Lake City suburbs offer an opportunity to get in early and grow alongside the brand. With the ability to develop multiple locations in a largely untapped region, operators can establish a strong brand presence and capture market share as awareness builds.
“This is a ground-floor opportunity in a market that has all the right fundamentals,” Cheek said. “We’re looking for experienced operators who want to grow with us, build something meaningful in their communities and take advantage of the momentum we’re carrying into 2026.”
For more information on franchising with Newk’s Eatery visit: https://newks.com/franchise/.
About Newk’s Eatery:
Founded in 2004 and headquartered in Jackson, Mississippi, Newk’s Eatery is a fast-casual restaurant brand known for its signature hospitality and scratch-made meals. With nearly 100 locations across 12 states, Newk’s offers a diverse menu of hand-crafted salads, sandwiches, soups and pizzas — all made in-house with fresh, premium ingredients and without the use of fryers or microwaves. Guests can also enjoy convenient grab-and-go options and mobile ordering through the Newk’s app, available on Google Play and the App Store, for curbside, in-store pickup or delivery.
Newk’s has earned national recognition from Nation’s Restaurant News, Restaurant Business and Entrepreneur, and continues to be celebrated for food quality and guest loyalty. To learn more, visit Newks.com, join the Newk’s Rewards program, or follow along on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X. For franchise opportunities, visit newks.com/franchise.
Newk’s Eatery
SPONSORED
Newk's Eatery's 2026 franchise expansion targets the high-growth, untapped Salt Lake City suburbs, a prime chance for multi-unit operators to establish market leadership.
As Newk’s Eatery looks ahead to continued expansion in 2026, the fast casual brand is setting its sights on high-potential markets, and the suburbs of Salt Lake City are emerging as a clear priority.
With no current locations in Utah and strong underlying market fundamentals, the region represents a prime opportunity for experienced franchise operators to introduce Newk’s fresh, scratch-made fast-casual concept to a new and growing customer base.
One of the most compelling reasons Newk’s is targeting the Salt Lake City suburbs is simple: whitespace.
With more than 1.1 million households in the broader region and zero existing Newk’s locations, the market is underpenetrated. According to the team, the area has room for around 11 new restaurants.
“Salt Lake City is exactly the kind of market we look for when we’re thinking about smart, strategic growth,” said Chris Cheek, Chief Development Officer of Newk’s Eatery. “You’ve got strong population growth, high household formation and, importantly, a real gap in the market for a brand like Newk’s. That combination creates a unique window for franchisees to come in and scale with us.”
While downtown Salt Lake City continues to thrive, it’s the surrounding suburban communities that are fueling much of the region’s growth. Areas with expanding residential development, strong school systems and increasing household incomes are creating ideal conditions for fast-casual dining concepts.
These suburban pockets align closely with Newk’s core customer base: families, professionals and community-oriented consumers who value quality, convenience and consistency.
“We’re particularly focused on suburban trade areas where you’re seeing sustained residential growth,” Cheek said. “These are communities where people are looking for reliable, high-quality dining options they can enjoy multiple times a week, whether that’s dine-in, takeout or catering.”
Plus, with a reduced prototype footprint that can go as small as 2,200 square feet, the brand also offers flexibility across endcap, inline and drive-thru formats. This adaptability allows franchisees to identify strong sites in a variety of trade areas.
“We’ve worked hard to create a model that’s both flexible and efficient,” Cheek said. “Our footprint allows franchisees to be strategic about where and how they grow.”
Newk’s menu, which is centered around fresh salads, sandwiches, soups and pizzas, is designed to meet a wide range of dining occasions, from quick lunches to family dinners and group catering.
By focusing on scratch-made meals and premium ingredients, while offering a welcoming space to eat in and efficient options for those on the go, Newk's fits naturally into suburban life where flexibility is key.
“Guests today want options, and Newk’s delivers on that,” Cheek said. “We’re not a one-daypart brand. We serve lunch, dinner and everything in between, and our catering business continues to be a major driver. That flexibility is especially important in suburban markets where dining habits are diverse.”
For franchisees, Newk’s offers a streamlined model in the fast-casual space. The brand relies on an operational approach that skips the fryers and microwaves, making it easier to keep things fresh and consistent without much extra fuss.
Combined with strong loyalty growth, increasing off-premise sales and a focus on guest experience, Newk’s is positioned to compete effectively in today’s evolving restaurant landscape.
“Franchisees are looking for brands that are both differentiated and operationally sound,” Cheek said. “Newk’s checks both boxes. We’ve got a unique product, a loyal guest base and the systems in place to support multi-unit growth.”
Newk’s expansion strategy is backed by meaningful brand momentum. In 2025, the company signed 10 new franchise deals and opened five locations.
Strategic shifts (including increased investment in television and connected TV advertising) helped drive stronger brand awareness and performance in the second half of the year. At the same time, enhancements such as a new cloud-based POS system and a customer feedback platform improved operational efficiency across the system.
“We’ve spent the last year really strengthening the foundation of the brand,” Cheek said. “From marketing to technology to operations, everything we’ve done has been about setting our franchisees up for success as we grow into new markets like Salt Lake City.”
For prospective franchisees, the Salt Lake City suburbs offer an opportunity to get in early and grow alongside the brand. With the ability to develop multiple locations in a largely untapped region, operators can establish a strong brand presence and capture market share as awareness builds.
“This is a ground-floor opportunity in a market that has all the right fundamentals,” Cheek said. “We’re looking for experienced operators who want to grow with us, build something meaningful in their communities and take advantage of the momentum we’re carrying into 2026.”
For more information on franchising with Newk’s Eatery visit: https://newks.com/franchise/.
About Newk’s Eatery:
Founded in 2004 and headquartered in Jackson, Mississippi, Newk’s Eatery is a fast-casual restaurant brand known for its signature hospitality and scratch-made meals. With nearly 100 locations across 12 states, Newk’s offers a diverse menu of hand-crafted salads, sandwiches, soups and pizzas — all made in-house with fresh, premium ingredients and without the use of fryers or microwaves. Guests can also enjoy convenient grab-and-go options and mobile ordering through the Newk’s app, available on Google Play and the App Store, for curbside, in-store pickup or delivery.
Newk’s has earned national recognition from Nation’s Restaurant News, Restaurant Business and Entrepreneur, and continues to be celebrated for food quality and guest loyalty. To learn more, visit Newks.com, join the Newk’s Rewards program, or follow along on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X. For franchise opportunities, visit newks.com/franchise.
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