Frutta Bowls acquired by Saladworks parent company

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Freehold-based smoothie chain Frutta Bowls has been acquired by Centre Lane Partners LLC, parent company of Saladworks, and along with one other fast casual restaurant has formed a new outfit called WOWorks.

Fruit and veggie-forward Saladworks, Frutta Bowls, and Colorado-based Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh each focus on the healthier side of fast casual.

“Today, we welcome both Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh and Frutta Bowls to the WOWorks family,” said Saladworks CEO Kelly Roddy is now also WOWorks’ chief executive.

“Like Saladworks, we believe Garbanzo and Frutta Bowls are complementary brands—all sharing a core DNA based upon fresh, flavorful and healthy food along with a heart for hospitality served through convenient business channels, which appeals to our millennial family and Gen Z guests,” Roddy said in a prepared statement. “We are excited to leverage the appeal of these unique and differentiated brands—along with the added size, scale and shared resources—to benefit all stakeholders including our team members, guests, business partners and communities.”

Roddy’s team will take over both brands’ infrastructure and operations. Garbanzo CEO James Park will stay on following the acquisition as special advisor to the CEO.

Frutta Bowls founder and CEO Brooke Gagliano, who started the company at age 23 and grew it to more than 20 locations, is now a franchisee of Frutta Bowls, according to a WOWorks spokesperson.