Taziki's Mediterranean Café is an American fast casual chain of franchised restaurants based in Birmingham, Alabama that purveys Greek and Mediterranean cuisine such as gyros, sandwiches, soups, and salads.[1][2][3][4][5][6]
 A Taziki's Mediterranean Café in Suwanee, Georgia | |
| Company type | Franchise |
|---|---|
| Industry | Fast casual restaurant chain |
| Founded | 1998 |
| Founders | Keith and Amy Richards |
| Headquarters | Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. |
Number of locations | 90 in sixteen U.S. states (November 2017) |
| Products | Greek cuisine and Mediterranean cuisine |
| Revenue | $28,800,000[1] (2014) |
| Owners | Keith and Amy Richards |
| Website | www |
History
editThe restaurant's concept was devised by Keith and Amy Richards after a 1997 vacation in Greece.[7] The first restaurant was a café that opened in 1998 at the Cahaba Mall Shopping Center (also known as the Colonnade) in Birmingham, Alabama.[8][9] In April 2014, the chain had locations in nine U.S. states;[10] total franchise sales were $28,800,000, with average sales of $1,100,000 per store.[1] By November 2017, there were over 90 locations across 16 states.[11]
REAL certification
edit
The franchise was the first in the United States to earn REAL certification from the United States Healthful Food Council (USHFC).[3][12][13] The certification is given to restaurants that serve vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, and where the food is primarily prepared from scratch.[3][12] The award recognises that the chain uses minimal processed foods, and give priority to local and organic ingredients.[3] However, there is no way to accurately measure the REAL certification's health benefits or what it actually means to consumers.[14]
The chain serves Gyro sandwiches made from Gyro loaf composed solely of lamb meat, rather than a mixture of lamb and beef.[15] Lamb meat is seen as a more sustainable choice than beef.
Philanthropy
editAccording to a corporate spokesperson, every restaurant location supports at least one charitable organization.[12][16][17][18] Nine of Taziki's locations partner with schools to offer Project Hope, styling "Hope" as an acronym for "Herbs Offering Personal Enrichment." This project provides disabled students with the opportunity to grow and package herbs that the local restaurant agrees to buy.[19][20]
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ a b c "The Future 50". Restaurant Business. 2014. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
- ^ Magee, Jay (November 25, 2017). "Restaurant review: Old World Mediterranean, Old South collide at Taziki's". Florida Times Union. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
- ^ a b c d Carlton, Bob (January 23, 2015). "Birmingham's Taziki's restaurant chain is first franchise in the U.S. to earn REAL seal of approval". Huntsville Times. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
- ^ Huggins, Paul (December 22, 2014). "Taziki's Greek restaurant in Madison on target for January opening; council OKs beer and wine license". Huntsville Times. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
- ^ "Taziki's Plans for 50 New Locations by End of 2014". QSR magazine. May 29, 2014. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
- ^ "Shamrock Sweetie Adoption Specials". Nashville Community Newspapers. August 20, 2014. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
- ^ Thornton, William (March 8, 2018). "Taziki's Mediterranean Cafe celebrates 20 years in business". AL.com. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
- ^ Carlton, Bob (August 2, 2017). "Taziki's Mediterranean Cafe unveils its new look". The Birmingham News. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
- ^ Bradbury, Shelly (August 2, 2013). "Taziki's Mediterranean Cafe's branches out; new restaurants planned in Chattanooga". Chattanooga Times Free Press. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
- ^ Koon, David (April 24, 2014). "Taziki's Mediterranean coming to McCain Mall". Arkansas Times. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
- ^ Schwartzberg, Eric (November 6, 2017). "Restaurant expands with first Butler County location". Hamilton Journal News. Retrieved November 22, 2017.
- ^ a b c Huggins, Paul (January 27, 2015). "Taziki's opens in Madison, bringing Mediterranean fare with national nutritional award". Huntsville Times. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
- ^
"Taziki's Becomes First REAL Certified National Franchise". QSR Magazine. January 15, 2015. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
United States Healthful Food Council (USHFC) announced today that Taziki's Mediterranean Cafe has become the first national franchise to achieve REAL Certification, the emerging national standard for foodservice nutrition and sustainability. With 40 locations across 11 states, Taziki's is also now the largest chain restaurant to complete the certification process.
- ^ Taub-Dix, Bonnie (June 22, 2017). "Should You Eat REAL Certified Food?". USNews & World Report LLC. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
- ^ Barney Wolf (2015). Tamara Thompson (ed.). Fast Food: Chapter 2 - Some Fast Food Chains work towards Sustainibility. Greenhaven Publishing LLC. p. 22. ISBN 9780737776331. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
- ^ "Taziki's Mediterranean Café Makes Texas Debut in Southlake July 1". MySouthlakeNews.com. June 26, 2014. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
- ^ Roberts, Michael (April 22, 2015). "Arkansas Food Bank to host fundraiser". Arkansas Times. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
- ^ Burkhart, April (February 16, 2015). "Empty Bowls luncheon to benefit Food Bank of Northeast Georgia". Athens Banner-Herald. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
- ^ Lorraine, Alison (November 15, 2017). "Star students will grow herbs for Taziki's in Dothan". WTVY. Dothan, AL. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
- ^ "Shelby County Schools District Profile" (PDF). Shelby County Schools. p. 24. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
Partners with Project HOPE... Providing employment to students with special needs through this unique entrepreneurial program