{"id":1815282,"date":"2026-09-03T09:53:39","date_gmt":"2026-09-03T07:53:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en-us\/news\/evergreens-launches-franchise-program-across-12-western-states\/"},"modified":"2026-09-03T09:23:41","modified_gmt":"2026-09-03T07:23:41","slug":"evergreens-launches-franchise-program-across-12-western-states","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en-us\/news\/evergreens-launches-franchise-program-across-12-western-states\/","title":{"rendered":"Evergreens Launches Franchise Program Across 12 Western States"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-bold-font-weight wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-weight:700\"><strong>After more than a decade building a company-owned restaurant network in the Pacific Northwest, <em>Evergreens<\/em> has officially launched a <a href=\"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en-us\/articles\/what-is-a-franchise\/\">franchise program<\/a>. The Seattle-based fast-casual brand, known for salads, wraps and bowls, is targeting development partners across <strong>12<\/strong> western states, with a founders&#8217; incentive offering reduced royalties to <a href=\"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en-us\/articles\/franchise-franchisee-franchisor-roles-responsibilities\/\">franchisees<\/a> who sign development agreements before the end of 2026.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Founded in Seattle in 2012, <strong>Evergreens<\/strong> has grown to <strong>14<\/strong> company-owned locations across Washington and Oregon over the past 14 years. The brand has reported two consecutive years of positive comparable sales growth: comps rose <strong>4.5%<\/strong> in 2024 versus 2023, then accelerated to <strong>9.2%<\/strong> in 2025 versus 2024. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Those figures exclude airport locations. The company spent the past year, according to its announcement, <strong>strengthening its operational systems and refreshing the brand&#8217;s visual identity<\/strong> before opening the network to outside investors.<\/p>\n\n\n        <div class=\"lf-gut-franchise-slider-wrapper\" data-slider-id=\"lf-gut-franchise-slider-6a9b9ddb70a4e\">\n            <div class=\"lf-gut-franchise-slider swiper\">\n                <div class=\"swiper-wrapper\">\n                                            <div class=\"swiper-slide lf-gut-franchise-card\">\n                            <div class=\"lf-gut-franchise-image-wrapper\">\n                                <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/hands-binoculars-on-pink-background.webp\" class=\"lf-gut-franchise-image\" alt=\"EVERGREENS\">\n                                                                    <div class=\"lf-gut-franchise-logo-center\">\n                                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/evergreens-minimal-text.png\" alt=\"Logo\">\n                                    <\/div>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                            <div class=\"lf-gut-franchise-content\">\n                                <div class=\"lf-gut-franchise-title-content\">\n                                    <div>\n                                        <a class=\"lf-gut-franchise-header-link\" href=\"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en-us\/franchise\/evergreens\/\">\n                                            <p class=\"lf-gut-franchise-title\">EVERGREENS<\/p>\n                                        <\/a>\n                                        <p class=\"lf-gut-franchise-tag-line\">Fresh, craveable salads, wraps and bowls<\/p>\n                                    <\/div>\n                                    <ul class=\"lf-gut-franchise-info-list\">\n                                        <li data-field=\"category\">\n                                            <span class=\"lf-gut-icon\"><?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"UTF-8\"?> <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M12.5852 21.9314H4.92807C3.01378 21.9314 2.05664 20.9355 2.05664 18.9438V10.9771C2.05664 8.98542 3.01378 7.98957 4.92807 7.98957M12.5852 21.9314C10.6709 21.9314 9.71378 20.9355 9.71378 18.9438M12.5852 21.9314H18.3281C20.2424 21.9314 21.1995 20.9355 21.1995 18.9438V5.00205C21.1995 3.01037 20.2424 2.01453 18.3281 2.01453H12.5852C10.6709 2.01453 9.71378 3.01037 9.71378 5.00205M4.92807 7.98957H9.71378M4.92807 7.98957V5.99789C4.92807 4.90247 5.7895 4.00621 6.84235 4.00621H9.81905C9.74248 4.30496 9.71378 4.63359 9.71378 5.00205M9.71378 7.98957V18.9438M9.71378 7.98957V5.00205M9.71378 18.9438V5.00205M13.5424 7.98957V12.9688M17.3709 7.98957V12.9688M5.88521 12.9688V16.9521M16.4138 16.9521H14.4995C13.9731 16.9521 13.5424 17.4003 13.5424 17.948V21.9314H17.3709V17.948C17.3709 17.4003 16.9402 16.9521 16.4138 16.9521Z\" stroke=\"#E53B12\" stroke-width=\"1.5\" stroke-miterlimit=\"10\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><\/path><\/svg> <\/span>Restaurant                                        <\/li>\n                                        <li data-field=\"locations\">\n                                            <span class=\"lf-gut-icon\"><?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"UTF-8\"?> <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"19\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 19 22\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M9.62821 12.2473C11.2775 12.2473 12.6145 10.8563 12.6145 9.14032C12.6145 7.42435 11.2775 6.03329 9.62821 6.03329C7.97893 6.03329 6.64192 7.42435 6.64192 9.14032C6.64192 10.8563 7.97893 12.2473 9.62821 12.2473Z\" stroke=\"#E53B12\" stroke-width=\"1.5\"><\/path><path d=\"M1.60735 7.32788C3.49292 -1.29611 15.7731 -1.28615 17.6491 7.33784C18.7498 12.3967 15.7252 16.6788 13.0739 19.3278C11.1501 21.2597 8.10635 21.2597 6.17292 19.3278C3.53121 16.6788 0.506638 12.3868 1.60735 7.32788Z\" stroke=\"#E53B12\" stroke-width=\"1.5\"><\/path><\/svg> <\/span>Not disclosed                                        <\/li>\n                                        <li data-field=\"contribution\">\n                                            <span class=\"lf-gut-icon\"><?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"UTF-8\"?> <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"25\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 25\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M2.05664 9.19308H21.1995M5.88521 17.1598H7.7995M10.1924 17.1598H14.0209M6.30635 4.21387H16.9402C20.3476 4.21387 21.1995 5.09021 21.1995 8.58561V16.7615C21.1995 20.2569 20.3476 21.1332 16.9498 21.1332H6.30635C2.9085 21.1432 2.05664 20.2668 2.05664 16.7714V8.58561C2.05664 5.09021 2.9085 4.21387 6.30635 4.21387Z\" stroke=\"#E53B12\" stroke-width=\"1.5\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><\/path><\/svg> <\/span>Liquid capital: $350000                                        <\/li>\n                                                                            <\/ul>\n                                <\/div>\n                                <a class=\"lf-gut-franchise-button\" rel=\"follow\" href=\"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en-us\/franchise\/evergreens\/?demandedocumentation=1&#038;utm_source=media&#038;utm_campaign=cta-slider&#038;utm_medium=https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en-us\/?p=1815282\">I want more info<\/a>\n                            <\/div>\n                        <\/div>\n                                                        <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"lf-gut-franchise-slider-nav\">\n                <div class=\"swiper-button-prev\"><\/div>\n                <div class=\"swiper-button-next\"><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        \n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-primary-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-1\">The Franchise Program: Target States, Format, and Terms<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Evergreens<\/strong> is initially targeting franchise development in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. Certain existing company-owned markets are reserved for continued corporate growth and are not available for franchise development. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The brand is looking for multi-unit operators with strong local market knowledge and a background in hospitality. Restaurants are designed for spaces of approximately <strong>1,000 to 1,700 square feet<\/strong> and require no exhaust hood and no on-site cooking, which reduces both construction complexity and buildout costs relative to concepts with full kitchen requirements. Target real estate types include inline and end-cap locations, lifestyle centers, mixed-use developments, and urban office corridors.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lc-gut-blog-post-author-quote\" style=\"--color: #e74c3c; \"><div class=\"lc-gut-blog-post-author-quote__content\"><div class=\"lc-gut-blog-post-author-quote__quote-wrapper\"><div class=\"lc-gut-blog-post-author-quote__svg-wrapper\"><svg class=\"lc-gut-blog-post-author-quote__svg\" width=\"56\" height=\"40\" viewBox=\"0 0 56 40\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M40.6 16.52H46.06C51.38 17.64 55.3 21.14 55.3 27.58C55.3 34.72 49.84 39.2 42.98 39.2C34.72 39.2 29.54 32.62 29.54 23.24C29.54 9.52 38.64 0.699999 55.58 0V5.04C46.62 6.3 41.3 9.52 40.6 16.52ZM10.92 16.52H16.52C21.84 17.64 25.76 21.14 25.76 27.58C25.76 34.72 20.3 39.2 13.44 39.2C5.18 39.2 0 32.62 0 23.24C0 9.52 9.1 0.699999 26.04 0V5.04C17.08 6.3 11.76 9.52 10.92 16.52Z\" fill=\"#e74c3c\"\/><\/svg><\/div><blockquote class=\"lc-gut-blog-post-author-quote__text\">We&#8217;ve spent more than a decade focused on building a brand that guests love and an operating model that works. Over the past year, we&#8217;ve taken another significant step forward, strengthening our operations, refreshing the brand, and building the infrastructure needed to support growth well beyond our existing footprint. Franchising allows us to take what we&#8217;ve learned operating our own restaurants and partner with great local operators who can bring Evergreens to new communities across the West.<\/blockquote><\/div><div class=\"lc-gut-blog-post-author-quote__author\"><div class=\"lc-gut-blog-post-author-quote__author-details\"><p class=\"lc-gut-blog-post-author-quote__author-pre-text\">A QUOTE FROM<\/p><p class=\"lc-gut-blog-post-author-quote__author-name\">Neil Harfert<\/p><p class=\"lc-gut-blog-post-author-quote__author-title\">President and CEO, Evergreens<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-primary-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-2\">Financial Profile: Sales Data and the Founders Incentive<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 2025, the top half of <strong>Evergreens<\/strong>&#8216; company-owned restaurants (excluding airport locations) reported average annual sales of more than <strong>$1.45 million<\/strong>. The founders&#8217; incentive program is available to franchisees who sign a development agreement in 2026. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Under its terms, those operators pay a royalty rate of <strong>3.5%<\/strong> of gross sales for locations opened in 2027, rising to <strong>4.5%<\/strong> in 2028, before transitioning to the standard rate of <strong>5.5%<\/strong> in subsequent years. No initial franchise fee range was specified in the brand&#8217;s public announcement. Prospective partners can submit inquiries and access additional program details at evergreens.com\/franchise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-primary-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-3\">What the Concept Offers Operators in a Competitive Segment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The fast-casual salad and bowl segment has attracted significant investment and consumer attention over the past decade, with brands like Sweetgreen, Saladworks, and Crisp and Green <strong>expanding nationally<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Evergreens<\/strong>&#8216; no-hood, limited-prep model is positioned to fit a broader range of real estate opportunities than concepts requiring full kitchen buildouts, which typically carry higher construction costs and longer permitting timelines. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The brand&#8217;s leadership has <strong>framed the franchise launch as the result of deliberate preparation <\/strong>rather than opportunistic timing, citing two years of operational improvement and brand refresh work completed before opening to outside development partners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>This content is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, financial, or professional advice. Laws and regulations vary by state and individual circumstances and may change over time. Readers should consult a qualified attorney, tax professional, or other licensed professional regarding their specific situation. Nothing herein creates an attorney-client relationship.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>After more than a decade building a company-owned restaurant network in the Pacific Northwest, Evergreens has officially launched a franchise program. The Seattle-based fast-casual brand, known for salads, wraps and bowls, is targeting development partners across 12 western states, with a founders&#8217; incentive offering reduced royalties to franchisees who sign development agreements before the end [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":788,"featured_media":1815288,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_titles_title":"Evergreens Launches Franchise Program in 12 Western States","_seopress_titles_desc":"Evergreens has launched its first franchise program, targeting 12 western states with reduced royalties for 2026 signatories.","_seopress_robots_index":"","_seopress_robots_follow":"","_seopress_robots_imageindex":"","_seopress_robots_snippet":"","_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_robots_breadcrumbs":"","_seopress_robots_freeze_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_custom_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_canonical":"","_seopress_social_fb_title":"","_seopress_social_fb_desc":"","_seopress_social_fb_img":"","_seopress_social_fb_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_height":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_title":"","_seopress_social_twitter_desc":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_height":0,"_seopress_redirections_value":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled_regex":"","_seopress_redirections_logged_status":"","_seopress_redirections_param":"","_seopress_redirections_type":0,"_seopress_analysis_target_kw":"","_seopress_news_disabled":"","_seopress_video_disabled":"","_seopress_video":[],"_seopress_pro_schemas_manual":[],"_seopress_pro_rich_snippets_disable_all":"","_seopress_pro_rich_snippets_disable":[],"_seopress_pro_schemas":[],"content-type":"","_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"1803809,1763391,1798207,1804572,1774636,1812754","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3594],"tags":[],"type-de-post":[2066],"class_list":["post-1815282","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-franchise-networks","type-de-post-articles-actualite"],"acf":[],"permalink_manager":null,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1815282","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/788"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1815282"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1815282\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1815495,"href":"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1815282\/revisions\/1815495"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1815288"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1815282"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1815282"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1815282"},{"taxonomy":"type-de-post","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/type-de-post?post=1815282"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}