Protein Bar & Kitchen Plans Major Expansion

Protein Bar & Kitchen (Chicago), which describes itself as a “better-for-you, fast-casual restaurant brand,” says it plans to open up to 100 franchise locations nationwide over the next five years. In addition, the brand is opening licensed and/or company-owned outlets at airports, hospitals and college campuses.

“After taking the past few years to re-think and perfect our franchise model and our brand post-pandemic, it’s a huge milestone for us to officially re-announce franchising,” said President and CEO Jeff Drake. “It’s all come together, with customer loyalty rates and AUVs [average unit volumes] proving the adjustments to the menu, modernized and brightened décor and ordering convenience platforms are all working.”

The brand’s menu includes protein shakes, smoothies, breakfast scrambles, high-protein salads, wraps and bowls customizable for all diets. Its franchise model features a small footprint along with a seamless dine-in, carry-out, delivery, mobile app/online ordering and catering customer experience.

The company said its initial strategic franchising efforts will focus on Illinois and neighboring states, with future growth planned for the Southeastern U.S.

Beyond that, the company has also secured licensing agreements to open locations in Chicago’s O’Hare, New York’s La Guardia and Salt Lake City’s airports and corporate-owned locations in the lobby of Prentice Women’s Hospital in Chicago and at Northwestern University Henry Crown Sports Pavilion in Evanston, Ill.