Restaurant chain CEO vows to ‘disrupt fast food’ after unveiling new menu item – and it’s already a hit

THE CEO of a salad bar chain has vowed to be disruptive as the company adds a new product to menus.

Sweetgreen executives are rolling out a new potato treat known as ripple fries.

And diners can pair the air-fried snack with a pickle ketchup or garlic aioli.

Jonathan Neman, the chain’s co-founder, said he wanted fans to enjoy “permissible indulgence” by snacking on the fries that are cooked in avocado oil.

“We want to give you those things that you want, that you’re used to eating—things like fries—and do it in a Sweetgreen way, in a way that we kind of think about as a permissible indulgence,” he told investors on a company earnings call as reported by Restaurant Business.

But Neman appeared to reveal the motive behind rolling out the new addition.

“We want to disrupt fast food,” he said.

And the snack appears to have gone down a treat with fans.

“Had them with the aioli. They were pretty good,” one diner said.

Others have revealed that the fries are best paired with the aioli dip instead of the ketchup.

The fries are being trialed at establishments in southern California, but bosses hope to roll them out nationwide.

Neman has gushed over the benefits of the snack.

“They’re seed-oil-free and air-fried. They’re absolutely delicious. And so that’s a test we’re working on now,” he said.

The company has also tested items, including wraps and desserts.

Bosses have also launched Brussels sprouts that are covered in a maple glaze.

“We see a big opportunity — call it outside the bowl — around things like sides, beverages, and desserts,” Neman said.

Earlier this year, the chain started offering caramelized garlic steak as an option for salads and bowls, but The U.S. Sun reported how some felt the product was underwhelming.  

Sweetgreen was founded in 2006 and has more than 200 stores nationwide.

In May, Neman appeared on The Casey Adams Show, a business podcast, and explained the motive behind founding the chain.

He revealed that one of the values that inspired the business was thinking sustainably.

LOYALTY PROGRAM CHANGES

Neman explained that he was inspired by the idea of building for the future.

“We looked around the restaurant industry and we saw the challenge with many restaurants was that over time as they got bigger, their quality of products got worse,” he said.

“At the same time, the world changes very quickly especially you know in food and retail.”

And chiefs are looking for ways how to entice new shoppers to the brand.

Plans are reportedly in place to redesign the company’s loyalty program.

The program will offer more rewards to its subscribers, according to Restaurant Dive.

Sweetgreen first launched its loyalty initiative in 2023.

The company gave customers two choices – a free program and a paid subscription that offered discounts.

Customers who wanted to take advantage of the chain’s Sweetpass+ program would have to pay $100 a year.