Dive Brief:
- Woworks is on pace to open roughly 40 new restaurants by the end of the year, the company said in a Tuesday press release.
- The company has opened 23 units year-to-date and has another 15 restaurants in development.
- At its current rate, Woworks is on pace to significantly increase its openings this year compared to 24 openings in 2025.
Dive Insight:
Woworks moved toward co-branding as a development strategy following a spate of acquisitions that helped grow its multi-brand platform post-COVID-19.
Nearly half of Woworks’ new openings are co-branded restaurants, with common pairings including Saladworks and Frutta Bowls as well as Barberitos and Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh.
Several existing franchisees with single-brand restaurants are also adding Frutta Bowls as a second brand this year, providing a way to drive incremental revenue, Woworks said.
Woworks’ recent openings have spanned several states across the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and Southeast, including Ohio, Missouri, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Florida, Alabama, Virginia, Georgia and Texas, per the press release. It has grown in traditional retail outlets as well as non-traditional venues like university campuses.
The company also hired C-suite executives earlier this year to support its rapid growth rate — James Walker became chief growth officer and Nolan Woods was promoted to chief operations officer. Walker is overseeing franchise growth initiatives, while Woods leads operations and training initiatives across Woworks’ portfolio.
Woworks has nearly 240 units open nationwide and also owns Zoup Eatery and The Simple Greek.
Other chains on rapid growth trajectories this year include Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, which plans to open 60 units this year, as well as Cava, which is on pace to open 75 units in 2026. MTY Group’s Kahala Brands, which oversees Wetzel’s Pretzels and Cold Stone Creamery, opened its first co-branded units this year and has another 40 in the pipeline.
