SALADWORKS founder John Scardapane, a trained gourmet chef with extensive food industry experience, had wanted to open a unique restaurant that would serve healthy, delicious food to the masses. After giving it much thought, he developed a concept for a restaurant that would serve only fresh, made-to-order salads. It was a niche that needed to be filled and SALADWORKS, as he would call his concept, would be perfect to fill it. It was a bold idea, but Scardapane needed a break to see his ideas come to fruition.

Scardapane’s opportunity came in 1986 when a friend, who happened to be a manager of a major regional mall in southern New Jersey, suggested he consider purchasing a failing pasta restaurant in the mall. Scardapane quickly opened his very first SALADWORKS. Although unabashed about his salad-only concept, others were skeptical.

Initially, mall management requested that Scardapane add sandwiches to his menu, insisting that his restaurant couldn’t generate enough revenue to survive on salads alone. However, determined to prove them wrong, SALADWORKS kept salad as its core menu item and quickly became the top-grossing concept in the mall food court. In the first year alone, the store attained four times the projected sales volume.

Scardapane developed various salads that were not only delicious, but were served in substantial portions. Thus, each salad satisfied the appetite and was a full meal unto itself. Scardapane also prepared samples of the entire menu selection and displayed them in full view of the customers so they could see for themselves the abundant portions, as well as the quality and freshness of the ingredients.

Scardapane also wanted unmatchable customer satisfaction at his SALADWORKS. He wanted customers to receive the individual attention they demand by allowing them to order their own salad creations "on the spot." This approach caters to the individual's wants and adds an element of fun to the eating experience. That is why nothing at SALADWORKS is pre-packaged.

Scardapane’s philosophy and vision for SALADWORKS was that he would "rather be the best than the biggest" and to be the nations leading eating option for all those living a healthy lifestyle. His philosophy and vision have served the stores well, as the popularity of the concept has been well received and subsequent store locations have opened in rapid succession. The majority of stores have been the top-rated units in their respective food courts for both sales and service. Some of the malls giving SALADWORKS top ratings have even used "mystery shoppers" to rate their SALADWORKS locations on its customer service.

As SALADWORKS prospered, Scardapane received numerous inquiries weekly from business prospects interested in owning and operating their own SALADWORKS locations. Scardapane also received countless solicitations from developers throughout the country who wanted SALADWORKS stores in their food courts, strip malls, downtown office buildings and transportation centers. Responding to the growing interest in the concept, Scardapane started franchising in 1992. SALADWORKS has continued to build a strong management team to provide franchisees with the best support possible to ensure their individual success.

In just five short years after the "birth" of SALADWORKS, loyal customers in Philadelphia so embraced its product that Philadelphia Magazine awarded "Best of Philly" to SALADWORKS for the best "quick lunch" in the entire city.

You can now join Scardapane and his network of SALADWORKS franchisees, offering top-quality, fresh, delicious salads to customers who have come to appreciate the nutritious and satisfying meals, as well as the excellent service they receive.