Veggie Grill INFO
About Veggie Grill
Founded in California in 2006, Veggie Grill is the largest plant-based restaurant chain with 35 restaurants and 700+ team members across the country. Driven to take a stand and change American food culture for the better, the brand has empowered millions of customers to not only try vegan food, but to crave it. Veggie Grill offers a wide array of craveable and convenient plant-based options, including hot sandwiches and burgers, entrée salads, bowls, shareable sides, organic teas and house-made desserts. Fueled by its beloved reputation, the chain has expanded to include locations in California, Oregon, Washington, Illinois, Massachusetts and New York City.
Why Veggie Grill? / Why Now?
While all 35 locations have been strictly corporate-owned up until now, the Veggie Grill brand is officially launching its franchise opportunity and giving entrepreneurs the chance to get in on the ground floor of the explosive plant-based movement. With more and more Americans realizing the personal health and environmental benefits of a plant-based diet, Veggie Grill is well-positioned to flourish in markets all over the country as the largest plant-based chain in the country. Veggie Grill offers franchisees a uniquely robust platform to build the business of their dreams, while also educating consumers in their community, changing lives and saving the environment.
What Sets Veggie Grill Apart?
The Veggie Grill concept was born after founders T.K. Pillan, Ray White and Kevin Boylan collectively experienced the tremendous health benefits of a plant-based diet and learned more about inhumane and unsustainable factory farming methods used to produce meat and dairy products.
The Veggie Grill menu was designed to give American consumers all of the benefits of a plant-based diet, without sacrificing any of the delicious options they know and love. The menu includes a wide array of options — soups, salads, bowls, sandwiches, burgers, desserts, wings, wraps and tacos — all made using 100% vegan, plant-based products.
Thanks to its position as an innovative leader in the vegan quick-service restaurant industry, Veggie Grill also provides exclusive access to the latest and greatest in plant proteins and made-from-scratch culinary inspirations, and works closely with industry leading suppliers.
Additionally, the chain recently rolled out two additional virtual sister concepts to compliment the Veggie Grill brand — Más Veggies Vegan Taqueria and Vegan Bowls for All. This allows Veggie Grill operators to offer three plant-based menus under one roof, utilizing one kitchen and staff to leverage three concepts across third-party delivery platforms.
Why is Veggie Grill a Strong Franchise Investment?
Veggie Grill offers franchisees resources and support like an established business model, comprehensive training and a robust onboarding process to ensure franchisees are set on the right track to success. As plant-based pioneers, the Veggie Grill team also helps franchisees leverage this knowledge to come in swinging on the ground floor of the plant-based movement.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the brand retrenched and found ways to further optimize its business model. For example, to help further simplify operations for owners, Veggie Grill strategically aims to open in non-traditional locations and bring on a smaller menu. By shrinking indoor dining by 30%, the brand only requires a footprint of 1,700 to 2,200 square feet. This lowers operating costs and allows operators to reach more customers with less staff.
The Veggie Grill team will also help franchisees secure real estate in prime, suburban business districts. These are locations that have at least three demand generators, for example strong residential population, daytime population and/or high foot traffic...
Why the Category?
Although the trend has already been growing in popularity for years, the plant-based food market is expected to skyrocket over the next decade, with a study by Bloomberg predicting a growth from $29.4 billion market in 2020 to more than $162 billion in 2030. The shift has also been accelerated as legacy franchise brands like KFC, McDonald’s and Burger King roll out plant-based options.
Not only can plant-based meat diets lower the risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity, cancer and other chronic diseases, but they can also positively impact the environment. According to a study by the Good Food Institute, plant-based meat both emits 30% to 90% less greenhouse gas and causes 51% to 91% less aquatic nutrient pollution than conventional meat.
Why You?
If you are a skilled restaurant operator and have a passion for healthful and sustainable eating, Veggie Grill offers an industry leading platform that creates an opportunity for both financial results and a positive impact in your community.
Veggie Grill aims to sign two to three franchise deals this year, followed by five next year and up to 10 in the years after. When it comes to target markets, the team is looking to develop in all major metro markets across the country with an emphasis on California, Washington, Colorado, Texas, New York, Massachusetts and Florida.
The Investment & How Much Can I Make?
The total initial investment necessary to start a Veggie Grill ranges from $749,000 - $1,297,000. For more information, visit: https://veggiegrill.com/
Awards and Accolades
Veggie Grill was voted "Best American" restaurant by The Los Angeles Times readers in 2012.
Veggie Grill was listed as one of the 25 Most Innovative Consumer Brands of 2016 by Forbes.
Veggie Grill received VegNews Magazine's winner for Favorite Vegan Chain in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, and 2022.
Veggie Grill was selected as one of Fast Company's 3 Midsize Brands That Matter as part of its 2022 Brands That Matter Awards.