gusto!

What gusto! does

gusto! is a privately held fast-casual restaurant chain headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, founded in 2014 by Nate Hybl. The company operates 13 storefronts across metro Atlanta — from Downtown and West Midtown to Buford, Alpharetta, and Sharpsburg — plus a catering delivery service covering metro Atlanta, Athens, and the Buford corridor. Its core product is a build-your-own bowl and wrap platform: customers select a base (mixed greens, brown rice, half-and-half, or a warm wrap), a protein (grilled chicken, spicy chicken, grilled steak, panko crispy chicken, grilled shrimp, umami tofu, or grilled baby bellas), and one of eight signature globally-inspired 'gusto' flavor medleys such as Jerk Ginger Pineapple, Tahini Cucumber Feta, Polynesian Chili Mango, and Chipotle Mango Avocado. The menu is supported by a lifestyle-segmented architecture (vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, low-carb, dairy-free, macro-conscious, Mediterranean) and a kids' menu, with an interactive nutrition calculator on the website.

Revenue is generated through three primary streams: per-transaction in-store and online bowl/wrap sales (ordered via whatsyourgusto.com or a mobile app), corporate and event catering (BYOG buffet-style for 20-100 guests, small-gathering bowls, and custom large-event packages of 100+), and a recurring engagement layer via the gusto! Fam Club loyalty app on iOS and Android. Catering minimums sit around $100 per location with a $30 standard delivery fee, and large-event contracts are negotiated directly. Marketing is multi-channel — organic social (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube), email via Mailchimp, website content, and the rewards app — with Nick Tapp as Director of Marketing.

The technology stack is conventional: a web-based ordering platform, a Givex-powered gift card system, a third-party rewards app, and a lifestyle/nutrition content site. There is no documented API, no AI/ML capabilities, no patents or trademarks on file, no disclosed funding rounds, no M&A activity, and no institutional investors — the company is bootstrapped and founder-controlled. Headcount is 251-500, and the most recent strategic activity in 2024-2025 has been a measured cadence of 1-2 new storefronts per year (West End in Sep 2024, Sharpsburg in May 2025) combined with menu and catering-vertical expansion.

Name

gusto!

Legal name

gusto!

Website

https://whatsyourgusto.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

gusto! is a privately held fast-casual restaurant chain in Atlanta operating 13 storefronts serving build-your-own healthy bowls and wraps with globally-inspired flavors, plus a corporate and event catering business and a mobile loyalty app, targeting health-conscious consumers, corporate clients, and event hosts across metro Atlanta.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fast-Casual Restaurant

NAICS

Limited-Service Restaurants (722513), Caterers (722320)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Salad & Bowl Concepts (Grain/Protein/Healthy Bowls) (THAFABAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialty & Dietary Catering (Vegan, Kosher, Halal, Allergy-Friendly) (HSACAGAH), Corporate Catering & Refreshment Services (HSACADAD), Full-Service Catering (Off-Premise) (HSACAGAA)

Keywords

• Fast-casual dining
• Customizable bowls
• Healthy restaurant
• Catering services
• Globally-inspired flavors

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices13 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual bowl and wrap sales: Customers purchase made-to-order bowls, wraps, and salads at individual restaurant locations. The build-your-own model allows customization with bases, proteins, and flavor combinations.
2. Catering services: Corporate catering, holiday party catering, and large event catering for groups of 20 or more. Includes delivery, setup, and various menu options for dietary preferences.
3. Rewards program and mobile app: gusto! Fam Club rewards app drives customer loyalty through points, exclusive contests, and discounts. Catering rewards program allows corporate clients to earn points on catering orders.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

gusto! operates a fast-casual restaurant chain selling build-your-own bowls, wraps, and salads featuring globally-inspired flavor combinations and multiple protein and base options. The company also provides full-service catering (delivery and setup) for corporate events, holiday parties, and gatherings of 20 or more guests across the greater Atlanta metro area. Customers can order in-store, online, or via the gusto! Fam Club mobile rewards app.

Product overview

gusto! is a fast-casual restaurant chain headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, founded in 2014 by Nate Hybl. The company operates 13 locations throughout metro Atlanta (Avalon, Buford, Chamblee, Chastain, Decatur, Downtown, East Cobb, Peachtree, Ponce, Sharpsburg, Tucker, West End, and West Midtown) plus catering delivery to Alpharetta, Athens, and Peachtree City. The core product is a customizable build-your-own bowl and wrap platform where customers select a base (mixed greens, brown rice, half-and-half, or warm wrap), a protein (grilled chicken, spicy chicken, grilled steak, panko crispy chicken, grilled shrimp, umami tofu, or grilled baby bellas), and one of eight globally-inspired gusto flavor medleys (Jerk Ginger Pineapple, Tahini Cucumber Feta, Chipotle Mango Avocado, Queso Verde Queso, Ginger Lime Peanut, Sweet Soy Sriracha, Polynesian Chili Mango, or Lemon Pepper Ranch). The product portfolio extends beyond individual dining through specialized catering services (Corporate Catering, Holiday Party Catering, and Vegan/Vegetarian Catering), a loyalty rewards program via the gusto! Fam Club mobile app (iOS/Android), lifestyle-specific menu options (Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-Free, Low Carb, Dairy-Free, Macro-Conscious, Mediterranean Diet), a nutrition calculator, a dedicated kids' menu, and web-based online ordering for pickup, delivery, and catering.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Customizable Bowls & Wraps Build-your-own bowls and wraps with choice of base (mixed greens, brown rice, half-and-half, or warm wrap), protein (grilled chicken, spicy chicken, grilled steak, panko crispy chicken, grilled shrimp, umami tofu, or grilled baby bellas), and signature gusto flavor medleys. Sold to individual diners in-store, for takeout, or delivery.
• Catering Services Full-service catering for events including BYOG Buffet-Style (20-100 people), Bowls & Wraps for small gatherings, and Large Events (100+ people) with custom options. Includes delivery, setup, utensils, and chafers.
• Corporate Catering Specialized catering service for office lunches, meetings, and corporate events with build-your-own bowl options and group order link functionality for business clients.
• Holiday Party Catering Catering service for seasonal celebrations including Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, Hanukkah, 4th of July, and other holiday gatherings.
• Vegan & Vegetarian Catering Plant-based catering options featuring vegan bases, toppings, sauces, and tofu protein for groups with dietary preferences.
• gusto! Fam Club Rewards Program
• Kids' Menu
• Online Ordering Web-based ordering platform for takeout, delivery, and catering orders across all 13 metro Atlanta locations.
• Panko Crispy Chicken Protein Juicy chicken perfectly breaded with seasoned panko, developed as a 10-year anniversary protein addition to the build-your-own menu.
• Grilled Steak Protein Juicy, savory, protein-packed grilled steak added as a new protein option for build-your-own bowls and wraps.
• 12-inch Steamed Warm Wrap Larger, steamed 12-inch tortilla offered as an alternative wrap base for the build-your-own menu.

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• CAVA: Public fast-casual Mediterranean bowl/wrap chain with build-your-own model. Directly competes with gusto! on the customizable healthy bowl category, though at much larger national scale.
• Sweetgreen: Public fast-casual chain specializing in customizable salads and warm bowls. Closest direct competitor on format, customer profile (health-conscious urban/suburban), and price point.
• Honeygrow: East-coast fast-casual chain with build-your-own stir-fry, salad, and bowl concept. Most direct format peer to gusto! in terms of customization, signature flavor profiles, and lifestyle-menu positioning.
• CoreLife Eatery: Fast-casual build-your-own bowl/salad concept with lifestyle-oriented menu (low-carb, vegetarian, gluten-free). Closely mirrors gusto!'s positioning around dietary inclusivity and customizable bases/proteins.
• Freshii: Fast-casual health-focused chain offering bowls, salads, wraps, and juices with build-your-own customization. Competes for similar health-conscious consumer and corporate catering occasions.

Broad incumbents

• Chipotle Mexican Grill: Largest fast-casual chain with build-your-own bowls and lifestyle menus (Whole30, keto, vegan). Competes for the same customizable bowl occasion but with much broader menu and national scale.
• Panera Bread: Established fast-casual chain with soups, salads, and bowls and a strong catering business. Competes with gusto! across dine-in, online ordering, and corporate catering occasions.

Emerging players

• Salad and Go: Fast-growing drive-thru salad and wrap concept with value pricing. Competes in the same build-your-own healthy bowl category with a leaner operating model that pressures pricing in shared trade areas.
• Tropical Smoothie Cafe: Fast-casual franchise with wraps, salads and bowls alongside smoothies. Comparable on format and health-conscious positioning, with a much larger franchise-driven footprint.

Regional players

• Zoës Kitchen: Mediterranean-inspired fast-casual chain with bowls, salads and catering. Comparable menu style and catering-first positioning, though currently operating in different geographies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@whatsyourgusto
• Facebookfacebook.com/whatsyourgusto
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/whatsyourgusto
• Instagraminstagram.com/whatsyourgusto
• TikToktiktok.com/@whatsyourgusto
• Xx.com/whatsyourgusto

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about gusto!