Popular drive-thru salad chain files bankruptcy and shuts locations
Salad and Go tried to prove for years that fast food didn't have to mean burgers and fries. You could pull up to a drive-thru, order a fresh salad, and be back on the road in minutes. But now, that idea is heading to the exit lane. The Arizona-based chain has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and announced that all 70 of its remaining locations are closing permanently, with its final meals served on August 5.
From startup darling to sudden shutdown
Founded in 2013, Salad and Go built its reputation on a pitch to make fresh, healthy meals as quick and affordable as a drive-thru burger. The concept caught on. Over the years, the company expanded beyond Arizona. With more than 60 million meals served, it became one of the more recognizable names in the growing "healthy fast food" movement.
But scaling a restaurant chain turns out to be a lot harder than assembling a salad. The company says it was squeezed by rising operating costs, weaker consumer demand, and challenges tied to its previous expansion strategy. Those problems eventually became too much to overcome.
The internet talk about 'the explosive diarrhea parasite'
As if business pressures weren't enough, July brought another problem that quickly went viral for all the wrong reasons. A nationwide Cyclospora outbreak, linked by investigators to contaminated iceberg lettuce served at some Taco Bell locations, made headlines and spread across social media. The microscopic parasite causes cyclosporiasis, an illness that can lead to severe diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms.
Online, however, people gave it a much less clinical nickname: "the explosive diarrhea parasite."
The important distinction, though, is that Salad and Go was not linked to the outbreak. Still, the company says the widespread attention surrounding the foodborne illness hurt consumer confidence across the fresh-produce industry, making an already difficult financial situation even worse.
The dream was to spread across various locations
The closure also prompted an emotional response from Salad and Go's original founders, who sold the company in 2021 and now operate another restaurant chain.
In a post on Instagram, they reflected on the company's original vision, writing, “We dreamed that anywhere there was a McDonald's, there would also be a better and healthier alternative that people could afford. Although we exited in 2021, watching the company announce the closing of its remaining locations is heartbreaking.”
“To everyone who was ever a part of the Salad and Go journey with us, we thank you,” the former owners added.
Sources: Independent, KTAR News, Instagram
