Salad and Go, a made-to-order fast-casual restaurant concept, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and announced that all of its locations will close immediately. The company, which serves salads, wraps and breakfast items, was founded in Gilbert and expanded to more than 60 stores across Arizona.
In addition to its restaurants, Salad and Go operates a large distribution center on 27th Avenue in Phoenix, which has supported the chain's operations in the state. The company did not provide further detail on how the facility or the shuttered restaurants will be handled as part of the restructuring process.
According to the company, Salad and Go's co-founders exited the business in 2021, when they sold the chain to an investment firm. No additional information was released regarding the investor group, transaction pricing, or any subsequent changes in strategy following the ownership transition.
The company cited a distressed financial position as a key driver behind the bankruptcy filing. Salad and Go said that this situation was compounded by a recent Cyclospora scare that affected the broader food industry during July. While the company stated that Salad and Go was not implicated in the Cyclospora outbreak, it acknowledged that the incident weakened consumer confidence across the sector and added to existing challenges.
Salad and Go also indicated that it had been steadily closing locations prior to the most recent announcement, suggesting that financial pressures had been building over time. The decision to close all Arizona locations marks a significant escalation from earlier efforts to manage the footprint through selective shutdowns.
Under the Chapter 11 process, Salad and Go expects to pursue a court-supervised restructuring framework. The company said this process is intended to help it realize the value of its assets and address its obligations to creditors and other stakeholders. Specific plans for the disposition or restructuring of restaurant leases, the Phoenix distribution center, or any owned real estate were not disclosed.
The announcement underscores the operational and financial strain facing some fast-casual concepts, particularly when confronted with both internal challenges and broader industry headwinds. For Arizona, the shutdown of more than 60 Salad and Go locations, along with impacts related to the Phoenix distribution center, represents a meaningful reduction in the presence of this particular brand across the state.
