Multi-Unit Franchisees Launch Healthy Eating Franchise CHOP5 for Entrepreneurs Looking to Scale

CHOP5 Salad Kitchen, the Ohio-born franchise known for exceptional chop salads, wraps, crave-a-bowls and more, is changing the way people understand and experience healthy food by bringing Chipotle-style fast casual to the salad crowd. How? Unlike popular salad chains like Sweetgreen and Chopt, which do not offer franchise opportunities, this brand is a rare example of the magic that can happen when a business is built 100% with franchisees in mind. 

“The healthy eating segment is only going to continue to grow, and you need to have a team behind you that has the experience to make the right decisions and move quickly,” said CHOP5 President & Co-Founder Brian Mills. “We’re nimble and new, but we’ve also taken the time to grow the right way. CHOP5 is a brand built by franchisees for franchisees. That's what we’ve been our entire lives. It's our DNA. We are not just another corporation.”

From Franchisee to Franchisor: The Story of CHOP5

CHOP5 was created by several passionate and successful business owners who collectively operate more than 400 restaurants across the country, including Jersey Mike's, Papa John's, Qdoba and more. The CHOP5 co-founders include: 

• Brian Mills, a franchise industry veteran with decades of restaurant experience, serving as the Owner/President of SD Custom Pizza in San Diego and Vice President/Operating Partner of multiple franchises, including 100 Papa John’s Pizza units in California, Colorado and Minnesota.
• Allen Hertzman, a restaurant industry veteran who has managed Johncol, Inc., having owned and operated over 40 Papa John's in California and Ohio along with Rally's and Long John's Silvers franchises since 1991.
• Wade Oney served as VP of Operations at Domino’s Pizza while the brand experienced record growth in the 1980s. In 1994 he was named Chief Operating Officer for Papa John’s Pizza where he and his team launched the company to a $1 billion national brand. He is currently the franchise owner of 51 Papa John’s across central and south Florida. He is also the owner/operator of 7 Qdoba Mexican Eats franchise locations.
• Philip Horn, president of several franchise ownership groups who has managed multiple Papa John's and Jersey Mike's franchises across several states since 1991.
• Donald Bauer, vice-president of LaHoBa, LLC and RoHoHo, Inc., and the manager of numerous Papa John's franchises since 1995.
• Patrick Gaunce, the president of MRG, Inc. and SPG, Inc., franchise groups that have overseen multiple Papa John's franchises since 1989.

For Mills, entrepreneurship is in his blood. “My father was an entrepreneur, and I saw the successes and failures, good times and bad times,” said Mills. “But he had the drive to own his own business. As a young boy, I always figured I'd do something on my own. I remember driving by McDonald's as a little kid in Cub Scouts, and seeing 'billions sold.’ That made me excited about franchising. I eventually joined Domino’s and was part of that brand’s initial growth on the West Coast in San Diego. Seeing that system run changed my perspective. I saw franchising as safer than what my dad was doing.”

Over his career, Mills has built a massive franchise portfolio, but in 2015, he and his partners decided it was time to try on a different hat: franchisor. 

“Our philosophy in building this company revolves around the perspective of what franchisees want and need,” said Mills. “Having reached a certain level of success, our passion now lies in leveraging our expertise to create a platform that empowers our franchisees. Prospective franchisees often approach us, and I emphasize the importance of scaling and thinking big. It's not about buying a job; it's about building a legacy. We're dedicated to constructing a business that not only succeeds but also significantly enhances the wealth projections for the families of our franchisees.” 

So, Mills and his partners looked at the franchising landscape and recognized a major gap in the health food segment. 

In the last 10 years, there's been a significant shift towards healthier eating, with the popularity of plant-based meats, vegan choices, superfoods and gluten-free alternatives all signaling a move to more health-conscious diets. This trend is gaining momentum — with 60% of consumers acknowledging that the pandemic has heightened their awareness of health maintenance through healthy living. A survey conducted in 2022 revealed that approximately 70% of participants are aiming to improve their overall health, placing healthy eating at the forefront of their priorities. Furthermore, as the world recovers from the pandemic, salad spots are reclaiming their status as a favored, daily lunch destination for the bustling office crowd.

“The direction of food trends is unmistakable,” said Mills. “While classics like pizza and burgers are here to stay, there's a significant move towards healthier eating. People are seeking healthier options without compromising on taste. CHOP5 was inspired by the realization that while anyone can mix ingredients in a bowl, the expertise of a chef elevates a simple salad to something extraordinary. That is why we teamed up with a renowned chef to help create our menu.”

That renowned chef is Phil Yandolino, chief culinary officer at BRAVO BRIO Restaurant Group (BBRG). Yandolino is a trained chef with over 25 years of experience in the food service and restaurant world. He currently owns Kitchen Social, a casual restaurant with five locations throughout Ohio.

The flagship CHOP5 eatery opened in Columbus, Ohio in 2016, and immediately developed a loyal following in the city. Despite the pandemic hitting in 2019, the brand has since expanded to include an additional location in Ohio and one in Florida. 

“Unlike competitors, we prepare salads in full view of the guest, ensuring freshness and quality with house-made recipes and dressings,” said Mills. “We emphasize not only healthy options but also flavorful and satisfying meals that appeal to a broader audience. But it’s not just about our food — it’s about our experience. We know from many years of experience that great guest service is going to bring guests back. It helps to elevate our value. That is our secret sauce.” 

Similarly, Mills says community involvement has also been an essential piece of building the CHOP5 brand. The brand’s Full Bellies campaign, for example, aims to end hunger in communities by allowing franchise owners to support local teams, organizations and charities by donating fresh produce to food pantries for every dish sold.

CHOP5 Stands Out with a Robust Support Infastructure and Expert-Backed Leadership Team

In an effort to build a franchise program that was markedly different from most in the industry, the CHOP5 team, which boasts over 100 years of collective franchising and day-to-day restaurant ownership experience, focused on creating the structures, flexibility and support that they wanted as franchisees themselves. The result anticipates a more collaborative, engaging relationship with owners.

“It’s part of our mission to provide a supportive community that welcomes new business owners, nurtures them on their journey through business growth and provides the resources and information they need to build a successful franchise operation,” said Mills. “Partnering with our ownership group offers an unmatched opportunity to learn from seasoned business people, including from our own failures, which is as vital as our successes. We aim to support our franchisees in their growth, which is a departure from the norm of leaving franchisees to grow the business independently.”

And as a franchisee-first company, Mills says the viability and scalability of the business model, including everything from royalty structures to real estate requirements, is of paramount importance. 

“It took a lot of work for us to figure out this business model and get it to the point it is today,” said Mills. “For example, during COVID, we realized that we could bring in big volumes out of a smaller footprint, so we adjusted our requirements. We also saw early on that we needed to create signature salads, not just build-your-own. With an established guest base after seven years, we’re not newcomers anymore, but we’re still fresh. We've taken our time to ensure we're prepared to franchise.”

For an initial investment of $356,700 to $873,700, CHOP5 offers franchisees a rare opportunity: join an emerging brand at the ground floor, while still enjoying all the benefits of an established and expert leadership team that has been in the industry for decades. 

“As a franchisee, getting in early on a franchise like CHOP5 is an advantage, allowing for a broader vision and prime territory,” said Mills. “As franchises become popular, availability diminishes, leaving prospects with less desirable options. CHOP5 offers a burgeoning market in healthier fast-casual dining, which we believe will only continue to grow.”

Why Now Is the Time to Join CHOP5

Looking ahead, Mills says the brand's investment appeal lies in its scalability, experience-backed leadership and adaptability in the evolving market. The ideal franchisee is a business-savvy individual, possibly with experience in other franchises, who is eager to be part of a growing story.

“We’re looking for leaders, innovators, restaurant industry veterans and especially those excited by the prospect of owning a mission-driven business led by a team of the industry’s best and brightest who want to play an active role in your success,” said Mills. “For us at CHOP5, selecting the right franchise partners is crucial, especially in the beginning. We are going to be true partners.”

For the right people, Mills says there is an amazing opportunity to capitalize on the growing segment of healthy eating alongside like-minded operators wanting to take advantage of the brand’s franchisee-first focus. The team is currently looking to grow in states where locations already exist, including Ohio and Florida. 

“We believe growth should happen organically with the right people at the right time. It’s almost like a club you have to get let in,” said Mills. “We’re committed to supporting our franchisees as it's pivotal to our business. We're running the business through franchisee eyes because that's in our DNA. We want franchisees to be successful because it means the franchise will be successful — it's a team effort.”

For more information, visit: https://1851franchise.com/chop5