Fresh, fast, food

Back in 2002, we wrote about Healthy Bites Grill, a healthy alternative to fast food that had just been launched in Florida. While HBG is experiencing slow growth, Kauai, a South African healthy fast food chain, is expanding rapidly. Since 1996, Kauai has opened an average of four stores a year, all of which are tiki-themed (Kauai is a Hawaiian island). Currently, Kauai has 46 outlets in South Africa: 18 full concept restaurants, and 26 ‘Kauai in Motion’ – smaller outlets offered exclusively at Virgin Active Gyms. The menu features healthy non-vegetarian, vegetarian and vegan salads and sandwiches, and a large variety of juices and smoothies. Everything is made to order, and free from artificial additives. Kauai is actively seeking franchisees within South Africa. Considering its smart approach and proven success with consumers, why not set up a joint-venture to take this concept further afield? Gyms, shopping malls and high streets everywhere could do with more healthy food options: there’s still a mega opportunity in establishing the world’s first healthy equivalent to McDonald’s!