New Markets and Award Recognitions Position the Noodles & Company Franchise for Momentum in 2024

Noodles & Company Entered Two New Markets and Received Prestigious National Accolades in 2023

BROOMFIELD, Colo., Nov. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Noodles & Company, (NASDAQ: NDLS) the national fast-casual chain known for its globally inspired noodle bowls, best-in-class service, and values-centric culture, entered new franchise markets and achieved high accolades in 2023 with honors from top publications including Forbes, Denver Business Journal, and Franchise Times. Noodles' franchise growth and award achievements demonstrate how the franchise continues to be an enticing opportunity for experienced multi-unit, multi-concept operators.

 This year Noodles & Company made significant strides in furthering its franchise growth strategy called, "under the rainbow," which it adopted in 2021 to grow its footprint in the Southern region of the United States. Noodles coined this term for its franchise strategy as the company's footprint ranges from coast to coast, creating a rainbow figure across the U.S. map, with a large percentage of restaurants in the upper Midwest. Noodles took notice of the downward migration of families relocating from the Midwest to the South and how this movement could be beneficial for franchising opportunities. The first result of this strategy was the signing of a new location in El Paso, Texas, followed by two multi-unit franchise deals in Dallas and Northern Arkansas.

"This year, we welcomed two new seasoned multi-unit franchise owners to our team who are collectively opening 24 Noodles locations and establishing a strategic and essential presence for the brand in new markets," said John Ramsay, vice president of franchise sales at Noodles & Company. "Furthermore, the accolades and milestones we reached this year position Noodles as an attractive opportunity for franchise investment."

2023 Achievements

As a company that puts its people first and prioritizes diversity, equity, and inclusion, Noodles & Company ranked on Forbes Magazine's respected America's Best Employers For Diversity 2023 list. To compile this list, Forbes partnered with market research company Statista to gather its annual list and surveyed 60,000 Americans to pinpoint the companies identified as most dedicated to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Denver Business Journal also included Noodles in its 2023 Best Places to Work. Noodles was recognized by Denver Business Journal for its unique culture focused on Uncommon Goodness and built on the value of "Loving Life," which begins by nourishing and inspiring its communities and every team member and guest who walks through the door. More than 200 Denver-based companies applied for this honor and only five brands were ultimately selected, showcasing Noodles' distinct commitment to its team members at every level of the company.

Further affirming Noodles & Company as a top employer in the fast-casual and franchise space, QSR Magazine also recognized Noodles on its 2023 Best Brands to Work For list. QSR honored Noodles as an employer of choice for the chain's emphasis on culture, industry-leading team member benefits, and for establishing a workplace that celebrates diversity and fosters growth.

In terms of top franchise focused awards, Franchise Times ranked Noodles & Company #157 in its annual Top 400 list. Notably, Noodles rose 16 spots from the previous year. The Franchise Times Top 400 is an exclusive annual ranking of the largest U.S.-based franchise systems by global systemwide sales. The project is the result of a five-month research and reporting effort that leads to the most credible and objective franchise ranking available.

Looking Ahead to 2024 

The various organizations that acknowledged Noodles & Company this year recognized the company's growth trajectory and its unique value proposition as an attractive franchise venture. Building on the momentum of its latest franchise agreements, the fast-casual Noodles brand continues to expand throughout the U.S. In 2024, Noodles & Company is focused on expanding its franchise footprint in the southern region of the country and throughout the U.S. with a heightened focus on markets where it sees brand growth potential, such as Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Texas, and Oklahoma.

To learn more about Noodles & Company and its franchising opportunities, visit Noodles.com/Franchising.

About Noodles & Company
 Since 1995, Noodles & Company has been serving guests Uncommon Goodness and noodles your way, with noodles and flavors you know and love as well as new ones you're about to discover. From indulgent Wisconsin Mac & Cheese to better-for-you Zoodles and Other Noodles, the company serves a world of flavor in every bowl. Made up of more than 450 restaurants and thousands of passionate team members and named one of America's Favorite Restaurants by Newsweek, and one of the Top 500 Franchises by Franchise Times, Noodles is well-known for its delicious noodles and industry-leading team member benefits. Noodles has been recognized by Forbes as one of America's Best Employers for Diversity in 2021, 2022 and 2023 and one of America's Best Employers for Women in 2021. Additionally, QSR named Noodles one of 2022 and 2023's Best Brands to Work For, and the Denver Business Journal has called Noodles one of 2023's Best Places to Work for its unique culture focused on Uncommon Goodness and built on the value of "Loving Life," which begins by nourishing and inspiring its communities and every team member and guest who walks through the door. The company has also earned the Women in the Lead Certification for its investment in women-empowering initiatives for its female team members and has proudly partnered with the Multicultural Foodservice & Hospitality Alliance to build cultural intelligence within its teams. To learn more and to find the location nearest you, visit www.noodles.com.

Contact: Danielle Moore, Press@Noodles.com 

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SOURCE Noodles & Company