RISE - Menu Monitor

Noodles & Company
Headquarters
520 Zang St., Broomfield, Colorado 80021 USA
Tel: (720)214-1900 Fax: (720)214-1934
www.noodles.com
Ownership: Private
Segment: Limited Service Asian/Noodle
System Characteristics 2006 2005 2004
U.S. Systemwide Sales ($000) 142,500 123,000 92,500
Company-owned ($000) 117,500 115,000 91,000
Franchised ($000) 25,000 8,000 1,500
U.S. Number of Units 143 115 101
Company-owned 110 103 98
Franchised 33 12 3
International Sales ($000) - - -
International Units - - -
Average Sales/Unit ($000) 1,100 1,125 1,100
Concept Positioning |
Noodles & Company is one of the largest fast-casual, limited-service noodle concepts on the market. Noodles & Company is a
privately held company. The fun and friendly atmosphere boasts fresh and fast food that appeals to a wide demographic of
diners. Though its signature dishes consist of noodles, Noodles & Company is not limited to Asian food. The restaurant’s
globally inspired menu features noodle and vegetable bowls, soups and green salads with pasta. It also offers "noodle-less"
dishes, such as mixed grill and shrimp sauté. The restaurant only uses the freshest ingredients—artisan sauces, hand-picked
herbs, native spices, farm-fresh vegetables, grilled meats, shellfish, tofu, fresh noodles, whole grain noodles and dried pastas.
Approximately 77% of the restaurants are company owned; the remaining units are franchised. Noodles & Company is a
national chain with most locations in Midwest and West Coast states.
Restaurant buildings can be freestanding or built into shopping centers and are usually found in suburban locations. The units
are 2,500 sq. ft. and generally seat around 100 guests.
Interiors feature an understated, clean and contemporary décor with bold colors. The signature colors are ocher and sage,
while tables feature micro-laminated tops. The interior incorporates the use of natural materials and noodle shaped
elements—pendulum lamps, bamboo tables, iron post, half-moon menu boards and photographs featuring worldwide
marketplaces. Most units have outdoor seating when the weather permits.
Aaron Kennedy, a former brand manager at PepsiCo, founded Noodles & Co. in 1995 in Boulder, CO. That same year,
Kennedy and 25 investors, mostly family members, who still own a part of the private chain, opened the first Noodles & Co. in
Denver. The second restaurant launched in 1996 in Madison, WI. In 2003, the company started franchising and opened its first
franchised location in 2004. There are currently over 140 locations in the U.S. and new franchises are opening on a regular
basis.
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