Souplantation

Historynew ideas and innovations, and is home to
The first Souplantation restaurant opened onSouplantation's corporate offices.
Mission Gorge Road in San Diego in 1978. ThisThe company strongly promotes the freshness
restaurant and a second one were purchased inof its ingredients and the fact that everything on
1983 by Garden Fresh Restaurant Corp., foundedthe menu (including soups, bakery items and
by Michael Mack to operate the chain.pasta) is made from scratch everyday at the
The company has expanded across the west andstore location. Salads are left out on the buffet
southwest and has locations in several Southeastfor 20 minutes, and then thrown out and a new
states including 19 restaurants in Florida. They alsosalad is made. The chain positions itself as a
have stores in Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado,healthier alternative to fast food and markets
and Utah.intensively to families with children.
As of 2008[update] the company had 110Featured menu items are rotated monthly often
restaurants in 15 states and claims to havealong a theme, while the standard offering remain
served "265 million guests since 1978." Theunchanged. Themes, named according to the type
company also employs a "Kitchen Cabinet" ofof food being served, include Asian, Greek, Italian
mothers to advise it on product development andand Customer Favorites.
customer service. The chain has received severalProblems
awards.Although the restaurant calls for strict sanitation
Formatregulations and handwashing procedures,
Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes restaurantsSouplantation restaurants have been the source
specialize in fresh salads and soups, offering aof two foodborne illness outbreaks within five
grandiose salad bar, homestyle soups, hot pastas,months of each other. An outbreak of E. coli in
as well as breads, muffins and pizza baked onMarch 2007 was linked to the Lake Forest,
premises. They are open for both lunch andCalifornia Souplantation, which resulted in a
dinner.voluntary shutdown. Also, an outbreak of Shigella
The salad bar includes a wide variety ofin July/August 2007 was linked to the Pasadena,
vegetables, fruits, nuts, croutons and other saladCalifornia Souplantation, which also resulted in a
condiments, as well as a few prepared featuredvoluntary shut down for a thorough resanitation.
salads, that change monthly. Other sections includeReferences
up to 8 soup selections, a small bakery offering^ a b Company website (2008-11-10). "Soup
muffins and pizza foccacia, a pasta section with aPlantation". Our Company. Retrieved 2008-11-10. 
few different pasta and sauces and a dessert^ Soup Plantation map of locations (2008-11-10).
section offering fruit, puddings, and soft-serve icemap/ "Map". Our Company. map/. Retrieved
cream.2008-11-10. 
Fountain beverages are self-serve and purchase^
of a fountain soft drink permits unlimited refills. As^
typical with buffet-style restaurants, customers^ press release: "Guess Who's Coming To
are discouraged from taking home leftovers.Breakfast!"
Reduced prices are provided for children (those^ Bernhard, Blythe (2007-04-10). "New case
under two years old are admitted free) andidentified in E coli outbreak". The Orange County
seniors.Register. Retrieved 2007-04-11. 
Although most stores are only open during the^ Cheng, Erik (2007-08-10). "Pasadena Public
afternoon and evening, some Souplantation andHealth Department investigates Shigella outbreak".
Sweet Tomatoes locations are also open SundayPasadena Health department. Retrieved
mornings for breakfast. The company's home city2007-08-10.
of San Diego is often a test market for trying