Fresh Choice was a chain of buffet-style restaurants which operated in California, Washington, and Texas under the names Fresh Choice, Fresh Plus, Fresh Choice Express, and Zoopa. The first restaurant was opened in Sunnyvale, California in 1986. Fresh Choice went out of business in December 2012.
Fresh Choice marketed itself as a healthier alternative to fast food restaurants with reference to menu options that include choices relatively low in fat, carbohydrates, and/or calories. The soups were marketed as "home style." All restaurants also had salad bars, artisan pizza, and breads.
Fresh Choice obtained its produce from local farmers, and tries to use seasonal, local and organically grown produce. Starting in 2009, the company has embarked on a plan to grow many of its own vegetables. The Sacramento Magazine Diners' Choice Awards voted Fresh Choice as the restaurant with the most health-conscious menu in 2008 and 2009.
Restaurants used energy-efficient lighting, heating, cooling and cooking equipment, to minimize impact on the environment. Fresh Choice is enrolled in PG&E's Climate Smart Program, through which Fresh Choice makes voluntary, charitable contributions that fund greenhouse gas capture and reduction projects to make its Northern California restaurants' energy usage carbon neutral. Additionally, Fresh Choice sponsors and participates in events such as 2009 Earth Day in Sacramento, California International Marathon and health fairs.
Fresh Choice's major competitor was Sweet Tomatoes (known as Souplantation in Southern California).
Fresh Choice recently closed approximately half its locations. According to Capitola-Soquel Patch (http://capitola.patch.com/articles/capitola-fresh-choice-closes-new-restaurant-coming-soon) Fresh Choice will be re-organizing the restaurants into a new concept of ala carte fare and charging people by the pound for their salads. They will also have a beer and wine bar, a breakfast bar, and updated seating. Many patrons have recently been complaining (according to the company facebook page) of higher prices, lower quality, and seemingly inattentive staff. Some locations that had opened as recently as the past two years have already closed and one location which was supposed to open in Stockon has been permanently shelved according to the company.
On December 15, 2012, Bay Area News Group reported that all Fresh Choice locations would be closing permanently.
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