Opens in a new tab

FRANCHISE RESALES

Buy a Giardino Gourmet Salads Franchise

Giardino Gourmet Salads is a fast-casual restaurant brand built around a “garden-to-bowl” concept of fresh, scratch-made salads, grain bowls, wraps and soups. Founded in October 2004 in Coral Gables, Florida by Ody and Kenny Lugo, the brand grew from a goal to teach guests where real food comes from and to make whole-food meals approachable and affordable.

The menu centres on a build-your-own format the company calls Nutritional Empowerment, where guests assemble “My Way” salads, bowls and wraps from more than 75 fresh ingredients, including gluten-free and vegetarian options. The model combines made-to-order counter service with dine-in, takeaway and catering.

The brand operates as a regional network concentrated in South Florida and franchises through parent company Giardino Enterprises, LLC, based in Miami. It positions itself on fresh, locally relevant healthy dining rather than national scale, with a faith- and community-rooted culture and longstanding catering and repeat-customer business. Giardino marked its 20th year of operation in 2024.

Latest Resales

  • There are currently no Giardino Gourmet Salads resales available
Register your interest

Why buy a Giardino Gourmet Salads Franchise?

Buying a Giardino Gourmet Salads franchise offers entry into the fast-casual healthy-dining category through an established South Florida brand with two decades of operating history. The customizable, ingredient-led format gives the concept a clear point of difference in a crowded restaurant market, and the menu’s catering and repeat-customer business can add revenue beyond walk-in dining.

The franchise is positioned as a lower-overhead restaurant model with corporate training, ongoing operational support and a recognised regional name, and the franchisor offers opening-unit incentives to multi-area developers. For an owner who shares the brand’s health-focused, community-oriented mission, the model pairs a straightforward menu system with a defined operating playbook.

Giardino Gourmet Salads Franchise Costs & Information

  • Minimum Qualifications

    • Initial Franchise Fee

      $40,000

    • Initial Investment

      $217,417 – $433,500

    • Cash Requirement

      $100,000 liquid cash

    • Net Worth

      $250,000

  • Royalty

    • Royalty Fee

      6%

      of gross sales

  • Training & Support

    • Ongoing operational support

    • Marketing assistance

    • Site selection

    • Construction guidance

    • Continuous training

Giardino Gourmet Salads – Additional  Information

  1. Training & Support

    Giardino provides a dual-phase corporate training program covering operations, customer service and its proprietary scratch-made methods, backed by accessible operational support and ongoing research and development on menu and systems. Franchisees also receive marketing assistance, including advertising materials and strategy, plus established vendor relationships and technology that support day-to-day ordering, pricing and management. Resale buyers should confirm with Giardino what initial and transfer training is provided to incoming owners and existing staff when ownership of a unit changes.

  2. Ideal Owner

    Giardino suits hands-on, community-minded operators who can manage a small restaurant team and uphold a fresh, scratch-made product standard. The franchisor looks for candidates with business or management experience and a leadership mentality rather than prior restaurant background, and a genuine interest in healthy food and hospitality helps. Strong people-management and local-marketing skills matter, as the owner role centres on daily operations, staff development and building repeat and catering business within the territory.

  3. Recognition & Awards

    Giardino has built its recognition primarily through two decades of operation in South Florida, where it is regarded as a well-known fresh-salad and garden-to-bowl concept with strong community and charitable ties. The brand marked its 20th anniversary in 2024 and highlights an internal culture of employee development, including "Employee of the Year" recognition. For resale buyers, brand-level reputation should be considered alongside the standing of the specific location, including local reviews, catering relationships and community visibility.

  4. Industry / Market

    Giardino operates in the US fast-casual restaurant segment, which generates well over $100 billion in annual sales and has been among the fastest-growing restaurant categories, outpacing traditional quick-service. Demand for fresh, customizable and better-for-you meals continues to rise as US consumers prioritise convenience alongside health, supporting salad- and bowl-led concepts. Restaurant performance stays highly local, so resale buyers should weigh neighbourhood demographics, lunch and catering demand, and nearby competition when evaluating a specific Giardino unit.

Learn more about
how to own a Giardino Gourmet Salads franchise resale

Please fill out the form below and a Franchise Flippers expert will be in touch with you shortly.

The Franchise Brand Index

This page is part of Franchise Flippers’ independent franchise Index, designed as an educational resource to help potential buyers explore the franchise resale market and compare brands.

Trademark & Affiliation Disclaimer

This website is an independent, informational resource. All trademarks, logos, and brand names displayed are the property of their respective owners and are used solely for identification and educational purposes. Their use does not imply any affiliation with, endorsement by, or sponsorship from the respective trademark holders.