‘A local destination’
Fresh&Co opens in Doctor Phillips, plans for Winter Park, Baldwin Park eateries
AN e w York City restaurant chain that gets ingredients from local farms is expanding across Orlando. Fresh&Co opened its first restaurant outside New York City at 7728 W. Sand Lake Road in Doctor Phillips on Jan. 20.
The fast casual eatery plans to open at 527 S. Park Ave. in Winter Park around March, and another restaurant at 4851 New Broad St. in Orlando’s Baldwin Park neighborhood around May, said chief operating officer Alex Perez.
“Our goal is to have six stores [in Central Florida] by June of 2023,” Perez said.
Perez said Fresh&Co is working with Lake Meadow Naturals in Ocoee for cage-free eggs and antibiotic-free chicken and expects to source more ingredients from Florida farmers when they are in season.
The availability of fresh ingredients nearby was one of the reasons for the Florida expansion, as well as finding a partner in local franchisee Bimal Patel.
“We want Fresh&Co to be a local destination,” Perez said. “Florida offers all the best prime ingredients you can get.”
The Sand Lake Road restaurant is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. It employs 24 people, Perez said.
The menu offers salads, grain bowls, sandwiches, soups, smoothies and breakfast. There are vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options. Most sandwiches and salads cost around $10-$13.
Healthy food is expected to be a priority for consumers this year after they ate comfort food during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a survey from the National Restaurant Association of more than 350 professional chefs with the American Culinary Federation.
Immunity-boosting snacks and ingredients as well as plant-based sandwiches and alternative sweeteners were expected to be top trends in 2022.
This is just the latest restaurant to emphasize farm-to-table dining in Orlando.
Perez said customers are more educated today thanks to social media. He believes the Winter Park restaurant’s success will be driven by its proximity to Rollins College.
“When we toured Orlando, we really saw a need for fresh food, fresh healthy food, in the market,” Perez said.