Brassica
Brassica is a privately held Mediterranean fast-casual restaurant chain serving build-your-own sandwiches, salads, and hummus across Ohio, Texas, and Indiana, with catering delivery for groups of 10-50. Founded in Columbus in 2015 and backed by Chipotle since 2024.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersColumbus, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Brassica does
Brassica is a privately held, family- and operator-owned Mediterranean fast-casual restaurant chain headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, founded in 2015. The company operates a counter-service, build-your-own model offering customizable sandwiches, salads, and hummus plates made with organic whole wheat pita, artisan tahini, antibiotic-free meats, and locally sourced produce; signature items include Brassica fries (cooked in canola oil), the Brassarita beverage, and tahini chocolate chip cookies. As of mid-2025, Brassica operates 7 open restaurants in Ohio (Short North, Easton, Bexley, Upper Arlington, Shaker Heights, Westlake, and Harpers Station in Cincinnati opening winter 2025) and one in Houston, Texas, with three additional locations announced for Indianapolis (Indiana, July 2026), Sugar Land (Texas, January 2027), and West Chester Township (Ohio, Q1 2027), bringing the planned footprint to 11 units across three states.
The business model is direct-to-consumer restaurant operations with three revenue streams: dine-in counter-service sales, online ordering for carryout/curbside/delivery, and large-format catering delivery for groups of 10-50 people across the Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Houston metros. Pricing follows unit pricing on a pay-as-you-go basis; specific menu prices are not publicly disclosed. The technology stack is intentionally lightweight — Brassica uses third-party platforms for online ordering (North Star Cafe order platform), gift cards (MyGuestAccount), and recruiting (Harri) — and the company does not franchise, retaining full direct operation of every location. Customer acquisition is driven by an owned website (brassicas.com), Instagram presence, email marketing, and earned media coverage in regional and industry outlets.
In October 2024, Brassica received a strategic investment from Chipotle Mexican Grill — the dollar amount undisclosed — as part of Chipotle's stated initiative to invest in emerging Mediterranean brands and AI supply chain platforms. The investment is being deployed to accelerate the brand's multi-state expansion. Brassica differentiates on ingredient quality and sourcing (one of the largest buyers of local and organic produce in Ohio) rather than technology or pricing, and its competitive set includes Cava, Zoe's Kitchen, and other Mediterranean fast-casual concepts, against which it is substantially smaller in scale.
Brassica firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Brassica
- Legal name
- Brassica
- Website
- https://brassicas.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Brassica is a privately held Mediterranean fast-casual restaurant chain serving build-your-own sandwiches, salads, and hummus across Ohio, Texas, and Indiana, with catering delivery for groups of 10-50. Founded in Columbus in 2015 and backed by Chipotle since 2024.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Brassica industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Fast Casual Restaurant
- NAICS
- Limited-Service Restaurants (722513)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Brasseries, Bistros & Trattorias (THAFACAI)
Keywords
Where Brassica is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Columbus
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices11 records
Markets served
Brassica business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Dine-in Restaurant Sales: Counter-service restaurant model where customers order and pay at the counter for dine-in meals including sandwiches, salads, hummus, fries, and beverages.
- Catering Delivery: Large-format catering platters for groups from 10 to 50 people, featuring signature chicken shawarma, harissa-rubbed braised beef brisket, house-made hummus and baba, and a vibrant assortment of vegetables. Delivered to customer locations across Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Houston metro areas.
- Online Ordering: Direct online ordering platform for carryout and delivery orders across all restaurant locations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Individual menu items (sandwiches, salads, hummus, fries) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Brassica product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Brassica operates a fast-casual Mediterranean restaurant chain offering customizable sandwiches, salads, and hummus plates made with organic whole wheat pita, artisan tahini, and antibiotic-free meats. The chain serves dine-in, curbside pickup, online ordering, and catering delivery (platters for 10-50 people) across Ohio, Texas, and Indiana markets.
Product overview
Brassica is a Mediterranean fast casual restaurant chain founded in Columbus, Ohio in 2015. The company operates on a build-your-own model, offering customizable sandwiches, salads, and plates made with organic whole wheat pita, artisan tahini, nutritious chickpeas, and antibiotic-free meats. The core products include signature sandwiches, Mediterranean salads, house-made hummus, Brassica fries, specialty beverages (Brassarita), and dessert items (Tahini + Chocolate Chip Cookie). As an add-on service, Brassica offers catering delivery featuring large-format platters for groups of 10-50 people across its Ohio and Texas locations. The company differentiates through its commitment to locally grown, organic, and artisan-produced ingredients, and sustainable food practices.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Sandwiches (Create Your Own)
Companies that use Brassica
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Brassica technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Brassica partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Brassica competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Salad and Go: Salad and Go is a fast-growing drive-thru salad concept expanding across the Southwest. Its focus on value-oriented, healthy fast-casual puts it in adjacent competitive space with Brassica's value proposition.
- Honeygrow: Honeygrow is an East Coast fast-casual chain offering customizable stir-fry, salads, and smoothies with an emphasis on local sourcing. Its build-your-own format and ingredient-focused positioning make it a comparable emerging peer.
Direct peers
- Freshii: Freshii is a health-focused fast-casual chain offering salads, wraps, bowls, and smoothies with a customizable format. Its emphasis on healthy eating and customizable meals aligns closely with Brassica's customer value proposition.
- Zoës Kitchen: Zoës Kitchen operated Mediterranean-inspired fast-casual restaurants and was acquired by CAVA in 2018. It represents the direct competitive model Brassica operates within and demonstrates both the opportunity and consolidation dynamics of the segment.
- CoreLife Eatery: CoreLife Eatery operates fast-casual restaurants focused on bowls, salads, and grain plates with a build-your-own format. Its menu architecture and health-conscious positioning make it a comparable peer for Brassica.
- CAVA: CAVA is the leading Mediterranean fast-casual restaurant chain with 300+ locations and a build-your-own format similar to Brassica's. As the publicly-traded category leader, it represents Brassica's most direct competitive benchmark and validates the Mediterranean fast-casual thesis.
- Pita Mediterranean Street Food: Pita Mediterranean Street Food is a fast-casual Mediterranean franchise with build-your-own pitas, salads, and bowls. It competes directly with Brassica on menu format, price point, and target customer segment.
- Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh: Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh is a Mediterranean fast-casual chain offering build-your-own Mediterranean plates similar to Brassica. Its direct concept overlap makes it a close comparable for menu, operations, and unit economics.
Broad incumbents
- Sweetgreen: Sweetgreen is the publicly-traded market leader in fast-casual salads with 200+ locations. While not Mediterranean, it competes for the same health-conscious, build-your-own, premium-ingredient customer segment Brassica targets and represents the broader fast-casual healthy-eating incumbent.
Regional players
- MAD Greens: MAD Greens is a regional fast-casual chain based in the Rocky Mountains serving salads, bowls, and wraps. While not Mediterranean, it competes for the same health-conscious customer and offers a comparable sub-scale regional comparison case.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Brassica social profiles
Digital presenceBrassica compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Brassica financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Brassica leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Brassica funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Brassica M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Brassica
What does Brassica do?
Brassica operates a fast-casual Mediterranean restaurant chain offering customizable sandwiches, salads, and hummus plates made with organic whole wheat pita, artisan tahini, and antibiotic-free meats. The chain serves dine-in, curbside pickup, online ordering, and catering delivery (platters for 10-50 people) across Ohio, Texas, and Indiana markets.
Is Brassica a public or private company?
Brassica is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Brassica founded?
Brassica was founded in 2015. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Brassica based?
Brassica is headquartered in Columbus, United States, in the North America region.
How does Brassica make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Dine-in Restaurant Sales are the primary driver. The others are catering Delivery and online Ordering.
Who are Brassica's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Salad and Go and Honeygrow. Direct peers are Freshii, Zoës Kitchen, CoreLife Eatery, CAVA, Pita Mediterranean Street Food and Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh. Sweetgreen is listed as a broad incumbent. MAD Greens is listed as a regional player.
Does Brassica have an API?
No public API is recorded for Brassica.
What industry is Brassica in?
Brassica's product category is Fast Casual Restaurant. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAFACAI, Brasseries, Bistros & Trattorias. Its NAICS code is 722513.