Dive Brief:
- Just Salad has raised $200 million in a new funding round led by Wellington Management, D1 Capital Partners, Neuberger Berman and Stripes, the company said Monday.
- The fundraising valued the roughly 90-unit brand at $1 billion.
- The proceeds will be used to support growth,investment in consumer experiences, new technology and menu changes, according to the press release.
Dive Insight:
Nick Kenner, the CEO and founder of Just Salad, said the investment round shows that there’s a significant opportunity for growth in quick-service salad concepts.
“The quick-service food industry is in the early days of disruption, and the average consumer desperately wants healthy, craveable, convenient and accessible options,” Kenner said in a statement.
The new investment could be a sign that, despite eroding consumer confidence, investors are likely to continue injecting capital into growing restaurant brands — something experts predicted would be an industry trend in 2025.
The chain’s emphasis on salads and on convenience puts it at the convergence of multiple, long-term diner trends: many consumers are seeking healthier, whole-food options and portability. Bowl-based meals, like salads, can fulfill both demands.
Since 2023, Just Salad has made a number of moves designed to expand its real estate options and strengthen its leadership team. In early 2025, Just Salad opened its first unit with a drive-thru, a move that should give the chain the flexibility to pursue suburban growth, similar to competitor Sweetgreen’s decision to open a drive-thru in 2022. That development could help the brand expand beyond its current markets in densely populated New York, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania.
In 2023, Just Salad added Goldman Sachs alum Jared Garber as chief financial officer. Earlier this month, the chain named new chief marketing, development and experience officers.
