With three locations in busy airports and its first franchise agreements signed, Protein Bar & Kitchen is looking to grow well beyond its current count of 16 locations.
Thanks to locations open in three busy airports and it first franchise agreements signed, Protein Bar & Kitchen’s development plans are taking off.
Still, CEO Jeff Drake is not ready to celebrate just yet. The head of the better-for you fast casual concept sees plenty of empty runway ahead to grow his brand beyond its current count of 16 locations.
Protein Bar opened locations in New York’s LaGuardia Airport in September, in Chicago O-Hare International Airport in August and Salt Lake City International Airport last November.
Portein Bar & Kitchen CEO Jeff Drake
“We see airports as a tremendous opportunity for us to drive brand recognition and brand value and we’ll continue to look at more opportunities there. When people see them in busy airports, they go this brand is really ready to franchise, which we are,” Drake said.
The Chicago-based brand signed a three-unit agreement for the western suburbs of Chicago last month with franchisee Girish Patel after inking its first franchise development deal for three units in Indiana in June. Protein Bar opened in Crown Point in Northwest Indiana in June and features the brand’s first drive-thru lane.
Patel plans to open his first Protein Bar in Naperville, Illinois, in early 2025.
Founded in 2009 by Matt Matros, Protein Bar serves customizable protein shakes, salads, wraps, bowls and breakfast scrambles. Average gross sales for its company owned stores was just under $1.4 million in 2023, according to the company’s franchise disclosure document. The initial investment ranges from $369,500 to $685,000.
The past year was a busy time for Protein Bar, which launched its franchise system in 2023. In April, the company debuted an app with Incentivo following partnerships with restaurant management software companies Toast and Chowly.
Signing its first two franchisee agreements was a pivotal step for the company, said Drake.
“The initial strategy for us right now is to focus on what I call the legacy Big 10 market with our franchise development,” he said, referring to the college sports conference. “Think Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Iowa; basically, all the markets that circle in and around Illinois and Chicago, and then grow out from those markets. We think the protein meals and snacks our kitchens prepares is a fantastic solution for college campuses and licensed partners.”
Protein Bar currently operates corporate stores in Northwestern Medicine Prentice Women’s Hospital in downtown Chicago and at Northwestern University Henry Crown Sports Pavilion in nearby Evanston, Illinois.
The company’s LaGuardia Airport location—its first store to offer an espresso menu and the brand’s newest smoothie, Gr8 Greens—is operated by airport concession company Shree Group. Its O’Hare Airport store is company owned in partnership with BT Express and DCGG.
Protein Bar’s Salt Lake City Airport location, which is operated by Ohm concession group, is the highest-performing food brand in Concourse A, Drake said. The brand is scheduled to open in Boise Airport in Idaho in 2025, a store that will be operated by Delaware North Companies.
“It takes a long time, oftentimes years, to get into airports, but once you get it finalized and you open in a major travel hub it’s a great advantage to have with all the foot traffic there and the great credibility it provides your brand,” Drake said. “We’ll be looking at more opportunities in non-traditional venues moving forward.”
Related: Despite Challenges, Brands and Operators See Big Runways at Airports
As for future franchise development, Drake said Protein Bar will continue to build out from its Chicago-based operations.
“We’re getting a lot of inbound interests in franchising with us, which is great, but I feel like we need to continue to be disciplined in approach to franchising and not chasing something outside of Chicago at this time,” he said. “We want to stay close to our headquarters, which I think works out better for all sides at this point. The challenge will always be in making sure that you find the right partner who’s going to operate your stores well.”
Protein Bar & Kitchen opened a location in Salt Lake City International Airport last November.