WOWorks is accelerating its restaurant expansion in 2026, with 23 new locations already opened and another 15 currently in development. The latest growth puts the better-for-you restaurant platform on track for nearly 40 new restaurants this year and brings its total footprint to nearly 240 locations nationwide.
The expansion is being driven by a combination of traditional restaurant openings, co-branded locations and non-traditional venues, as WOWorks looks to give franchisees more ways to grow across its portfolio of six brands: Saladworks, Frutta Bowls, Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh, The Simple Greek, Barberitos and Zoup! Eatery.
The company, founded in 2020 and backed by Centre Lane Partners, has expanded across the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and Southeast this year, with new restaurants in Ohio, Missouri, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Florida, Alabama, Virginia, Georgia and Texas.
The growth has also taken WOWorks beyond the U.S. for the first time. A new Frutta Bowls location in Cambridge, Ontario, marks the company’s first expansion into Canada and adds an international dimension to its franchise strategy.
WOWorks is also targeting locations outside conventional retail corridors. New restaurants have opened at the University of Georgia’s Tate Student Center and the University of Notre Dame, while the company has also entered the healthcare sector with a location at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
“Consumers today want food that fits their life: fresh, customizable and genuinely good for them,” said Kelly Roddy, CEO of WOWorks. “That’s exactly what WOWorks was built for, and it’s why our brands are resonating with guests from coast to coast as we open new doors nearly every week in a multitude of venues.”
Co-Branding Drives New Growth
Co-branding has become a major component of WOWorks’ expansion. Nearly half of the company’s openings so far this year have combined two brands in a single location.
Saladworks and Frutta Bowls have been paired in several locations, while Barberitos and Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh provide another combination of complementary concepts. The model allows franchisees to operate multiple brands from one site while giving customers a broader selection of food.
WOWorks is also using the strategy to expand within its existing franchise network. Several single-brand restaurants have added Frutta Bowls this year, allowing established locations to introduce a second concept rather than opening an entirely new restaurant.
“We’re excited to see so many of our franchisees continue to expand within the WOWorks platform,” Roddy said. “They are doubling down on brands they already know deliver results and picking up new brands that fit within spaces they already are operating.”
For franchisees, the approach creates another route to multi-unit growth. Rather than developing each location around a single concept, operators can potentially use an existing footprint to introduce an additional brand and broaden their customer proposition.
The strategy also reflects a wider focus on real-estate efficiency within restaurant franchising. Co-branded formats can allow complementary concepts to share a location and, depending on the format, infrastructure and operating resources.
WOWorks’ franchise proposition specifically promotes co-branding, flexible footprints, multiple revenue streams and the ability to serve different dayparts as part of its development model.
Expanding the Better-For-You Restaurant Portfolio
WOWorks’ brands are positioned around fresh, customizable and health-conscious dining.
Saladworks and Frutta Bowls offer customizable salads, bowls and made-to-order options, while Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh focuses on Mediterranean-inspired food. Barberitos brings customizable Southwestern and Mexican-style fast-casual offerings to the portfolio.
The combination gives WOWorks a range of concepts that can address different consumer preferences while maintaining a common focus on customization and convenience.
That positioning is also central to the company’s franchise expansion strategy. Consumers increasingly want meals that can be adapted to individual dietary preferences while remaining convenient, creating opportunities for restaurant concepts built around customizable menus.
WOWorks is using its portfolio to address that demand across multiple formats, from traditional storefronts to universities and healthcare facilities.
From Six Brands to One Franchise Platform
WOWorks’ current expansion strategy builds on the portfolio it has assembled since its formation.
The company expanded significantly in 2022 through the acquisition of Barberitos Southwestern Grille and Cantina and Zoup! Eatery. Those acquisitions brought additional concepts into the WOWorks platform and created opportunities to share resources, purchasing capabilities and operational expertise across the brands.
Today, the company is increasingly using that portfolio as a franchise growth platform.
Instead of treating each brand as a standalone development opportunity, WOWorks is encouraging franchisees to move between concepts, introduce additional brands into existing locations and explore co-branded formats.
The result is a model designed to support both new franchise development and expansion among existing operators.
The strategy also gives WOWorks more flexibility in choosing where its brands can operate. Traditional retail sites remain part of the expansion plan, but universities, healthcare facilities and other non-traditional venues provide additional opportunities to reach customers where they already spend time.
Franchise Growth Remains a Priority
With 23 restaurants already opened and 15 additional locations in development, WOWorks expects to approach 40 new restaurants during 2026.
The company is continuing to seek experienced franchisees across its portfolio, with co-branding and multi-brand development forming an increasingly important part of its proposition.
WOWorks’ franchise model highlights flexible footprints, co-brand opportunities and multiple revenue streams, giving operators the ability to select formats based on available real estate and local market demand.
The company’s first Canadian location also signals potential for the platform to move beyond its established U.S. footprint. While the majority of its current expansion remains domestic, the Cambridge opening demonstrates that individual brands within the WOWorks portfolio can be adapted for international development.
For WOWorks, the latest growth is therefore about more than adding restaurants. The company is building a multi-brand franchise platform in which operators can expand through new locations, introduce additional concepts into existing restaurants and pursue non-traditional sites.
With nearly 240 restaurants and 15 more in development, the company is entering the final months of 2026 with multiple expansion channels working simultaneously, strengthening its position in the growing better-for-you fast-casual segment while giving franchisees more ways to scale.
