Chopped Leaf

What Chopped Leaf does

Chopped Leaf is a Canadian fast-casual restaurant chain founded in 2009 in Kelowna, British Columbia, and now headquartered at 531 North Service Rd East, Oakville, Ontario, under parent company Innovative Food Brands. The company operates on a franchise model with 122-124+ franchise-owned locations across seven Canadian provinces (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Saskatchewan) and one US state (Washington). Its core product is a customizable menu centered on made-to-order salads, wraps, and bowls—marketed under a proprietary "comfort greens" positioning that reframes healthy food as craveable rather than diet-oriented—with extensions into sandwiches, quesadillas, soups, kids' items, and exclusive house-made signature dressings.

The underlying operational and digital stack comprises daily hand-chopping of fresh toppings on-site, a Deliverect-integrated online ordering platform with country-specific storefronts (chopped-leaf.deliverectdirect.com for Canada; the-chopped-leaf-group-usa.deliverectdirect.com for the US), a Feel Good Rewards mobile loyalty application on iOS and Android (with points, visit-based free items, and birthday rewards), and an e-gift card program operated through a partner microsite. Non-traditional placements inside universities (McMaster, Mohawk College, University of Fraser Valley) and healthcare centres (Covenant Health) are used to align the brand with health-conscious audiences and capture captive foot traffic.

Chopped Leaf earns revenue through multiple streams: dine-in and takeout sales at franchise locations (transaction fee passthrough), third-party delivery orders, corporate and community catering (serving groups of 10-100+ guests), gift cards and digital orders, and franchise royalties and fees from franchisees. Franchise economics require a minimum of $150,000 unencumbered cash from new operators, with multi-unit operators running up to 10 stores. Marketing combines a mobile app loyalty program, organic social (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter/X), content marketing around nutrition and wellness, email newsletters, PR coverage in trade publications, franchise show presence, and influencer partnerships supporting product launches. Customer segments include health-conscious consumers (primary), office and corporate catering clients, families and community groups, and aspiring franchisee entrepreneurs.

Name

Chopped Leaf

Legal name

The Chopped Leaf Limited

Website

https://choppedleaf.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Chopped Leaf is a Canadian fast-casual franchised restaurant chain operating 122+ locations across Canada and the US, serving customizable salads, wraps, bowls, sandwiches, and soups to health-conscious consumers, corporate catering clients, and franchisee operators. Founded 2009 and owned by Innovative Food Brands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fast-Casual Restaurants

NAICS

Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food Manufacturing (3114)

SIC

Food And Kindred Products (2000)

akta.pro primary industry

Prepared salads, sandwiches & wraps manufacturing (AFAKAHAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Drop-Off Catering & Boxed Meals (HSACAGAB)

Keywords

• Fast casual dining
• Customizable salads
• Wraps bowls sandwiches
• Franchise restaurant chain
• Healthy comfort food

Headquarters

HQ city

Oakville

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Dine-in and Takeout Sales: Revenue from customers dining in or taking out at franchise-owned Chopped Leaf locations across Canada and the US. The menu includes salads, bowls, wraps, sandwiches, quesadillas, soups, and kids' items.
2. Third-Party Delivery: Revenue generated through third-party delivery platform partnerships, where orders are placed via aggregators and prepared for pickup or delivery.
3. Catering Services: Corporate and event catering orders including wrap trays, salad platters, individually labelled meals, and group ordering, targeting office lunches, birthday parties, team events, and community gatherings. Multiple revenue stream opportunities exist including school lunch programs.
4. Franchise Royalties and Fees: Chopped Leaf earns revenue from franchisees through initial franchise fees and ongoing royalties. Franchisees operate independently owned locations under the Chopped Leaf brand with a minimum $150,000 unencumbered cash requirement.
5. Gift Cards and Digital Orders: Revenue from e-gift cards sold through the app and online ordering platforms, with digital ordering available for pickup and delivery in both Canada and the US.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Chopped Leaf operates a fast-casual restaurant chain serving made-to-order customizable salads, wraps, bowls, sandwiches, quesadillas, soups, and kids' menu items, all prepared with fresh, hand-chopped ingredients and proprietary signature dressings. The chain also offers corporate and event catering, a mobile loyalty program (Feel Good Rewards), and franchise opportunities for multi-unit operators.

Product overview

Chopped Leaf is a Canadian fast-casual restaurant chain operating over 120+ locations across Canada and the United States, founded in 2009 and owned/managed by Innovative Food Brands. The core offering is a customizable menu built around customizable Bowls, Salads, and Wraps, all featuring hand-chopped fresh ingredients and signature dressings. The product portfolio has expanded to include Sandwiches (featuring the new Toasted Ciabatta line launched May 2026), Quesadillas, Soups, and a Kids Menu. Services include Catering for events of 10-100+ guests, the Feel Good Rewards loyalty program with points earning and birthday perks, and Online Ordering via website and mobile app. The company also offers Franchise Opportunities for entrepreneurs with $150,000+ capital seeking to own a health-focused restaurant franchise. Menu items can be customized for gluten-friendly, vegan, vegetarian, and protein-focused dietary preferences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Feel Good Rewards: Loyalty rewards program allowing guests to earn points for every dollar spent, with free rewards unlocked on the third and 12th visits, and a free wrap for new registrants.

Products and services

• Bowls Made-to-order bowls featuring seasoned brown basmati rice, fresh vegetables, protein, and Chopped Leaf signature dressing. Available varieties include Goddess, Cobb, Bangkok, Bold Buffalo, Caesar, Harvest, Mediterranean, Santa Fe, Signature, Southwest, and Sunshine; customizable for gluten-friendly, vegan, or vegetarian preferences.
• Salads Fresh, made-to-order salads prepared with Chopped Leaf signature dressings and available in the same flavor profiles as bowls (Goddess, Cobb, Bangkok, Bold Buffalo, Caesar, Harvest, Mediterranean, Santa Fe, Signature, Southwest, and Sunshine). Can be made gluten-friendly by removing crushed pita chips, croutons, or chow mein noodles.
• Wraps Wraps made with whole wheat tortilla and Chopped Leaf signature dressing or sauce, available in the same flavor profiles as bowls and salads including Goddess, Cobb, Bangkok, Bold Buffalo, Caesar, Harvest, Mediterranean, Santa Fe, Signature, Southwest, and Sunshine.
• Design Your Own Customizable meal builder allowing customers to choose greens (chopped mix, romaine, spinach), proteins (grilled chicken, sirloin steak, lemon dill tuna, prawns, tofu, falafel, eggs), cheese, choppings, and dressings to accommodate vegan, vegetarian, gluten-friendly, and high-protein dietary preferences.
• Sandwiches Premium sandwiches served on ciabatta and sourdough breads. The current lineup includes the Toasted Ciabatta range (Chicken Club, Cranberry Pesto Chicken, Southwest Steak, Spicy Chipotle Chicken) and updated classics (Jalapeño Popper Grilled Cheese, Tuna Melt).
• Quesadillas Toasted quesadillas served with ranch and salsa. Available varieties include Baja, BBQ, Pesto, and Veggie, featuring seasoned grilled chicken, cheddar, and various vegetable toppings.
• Soups Fresh soups with daily selection variations. Available varieties include Broccoli and Cheddar, African Spiced Lentil, Chicken Noodle, Loaded Potato, Mexicali, Moroccan Chickpea, Spicy Creamy Tomato, Thai Curry, and Wild Mushroom.
• Kids Menu Child-friendly menu items including Chickie Bowl, Chickie Caesar Salad, Chickie Caesar Wrap, Chickie Quesadilla, Chickie Ranch Wrap, and Grilled Cheese.
• Signature Dressings House-made proprietary dressings exclusive to Chopped Leaf. Varieties include Caesar, Chipotle Lime Citrus, Chipotle Ranch, Chopped Balsamic, Evil Peanut, Goddess, Greek Vinaigrette, and Ranch, available across menu items or for individual purchase.
• Catering Services Corporate and event catering offering wrap trays, salads, bowls, and individually labeled meals for groups of 10 to 100+. Customizable for vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and keto-friendly preferences; available for pickup or delivery.
• Feel Good Rewards Loyalty Program Mobile loyalty program available on iOS and Android that enables guests to earn points on every purchase, redeemable for discounts or free menu items. Features double points on favorite items, free meal every 12 visits, birthday rewards, exclusive in-app offers, and a free wrap upon signup.
• Online Ordering Website-based and mobile app ordering for pickup or delivery, available separately for Canada and US markets through the Deliverect platform integration.
• Franchise Opportunities Franchise program requiring minimum $150,000 unencumbered cash, offering multi-unit and single-unit ownership, multiple revenue streams (dine-in, takeout, delivery, catering, school lunch programs), and comprehensive support including development, training, operations, marketing, and IT.

Quantifiable outcome

• Locations grew from 1 (2009) to 124+ locations across Canada and US by 2025
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 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

Integration4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Third-Party Delivery Platforms (aggregators)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 4 May 2026Ongoing third-party delivery partnerships enabling Chopped Leaf to serve customers through aggregator platforms. Part of the national marketing campaign supporting the May 2026 sandwich launch, which included exclusive promotions on these platforms.
• Influencer Partners (May 2026 campaign)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 4 May 2026Influencer partnerships deployed as part of the national marketing campaign for the new toasted ciabatta sandwich launch in May 2026, alongside digital promotions and third-party delivery exclusives.
• University and College CampusesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChopped Leaf locations operate within university campuses (e.g., University of Fraser Valley, McMaster University, Mohawk College), creating strategic partnerships where the brand serves students and faculty in health-focused environments aligned with the brand's positioning.
• Healthcare and Wellness CentresminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-traditional Chopped Leaf locations operating inside healthcare and wellness centres (e.g., Covenant Health Centre, Lakewood Covenant Community Health Centre), aligning the brand with health-conscious audiences in relevant environments.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Sweetgreen: US fast-casual salad and bowl chain with a tech-forward operating model, strong brand, and significant venture backing. Directly comparable in core product category, customization philosophy, and target demographic, though materially larger and US-focused.
• Salad and Go: US-based drive-thru salad chain offering affordable, healthy salads and wraps with strong unit growth. Comparable product mix (salads/wraps/bowls) and convenience-led positioning, though US-only with a drive-thru operating model.
• CAVA: US Mediterranean-inspired fast-casual chain serving customizable bowls, salads, and dips. Comparable in customization-led menu design, dietary accommodation, and a focus on craveable healthy food, though Mediterranean-specific vs Chopped Leaf's broader North American profile.
• Tossed: UK-origin and US-expanding fast-casual chain offering customizable salads, wraps, and bowls with house dressings. Highly comparable on menu design and 'build-your-own' philosophy, though primarily US East Coast and UK focused.
• Freshii: Canadian-headquartered fast-casual chain serving customizable salads, wraps, bowls, and smoothies with a similar franchise model. Direct overlap in menu, customer demographic (health-conscious urban/suburban), and Canadian origin makes Freshii the closest comparable peer to Chopped Leaf.
• Mr. Greens: US-based fast-casual salad and wrap chain with a franchise model and customizable menu. Directly comparable on product, customization, and franchise expansion approach, with a presence in markets overlapping Chopped Leaf's US entry.
• Chop't Creative Salad Company: US East Coast fast-casual chain specializing in creative, customizable salads with signature dressings. Closely aligned with Chopped Leaf's 'Design Your Own' model and house-dressing differentiation, though smaller and geographically narrower.

Emerging players

• Mad Greens: US Denver-based fast-casual salad, wrap, and bowl chain with a similar customizable menu and signature dressings approach. Comparable in product mix and dietary flexibility, though US-only and at smaller scale.
• Crisp & Green: US-based fast-casual salad and bowl franchise concept. Comparable customizable menu and franchise growth model but smaller and more regionally concentrated than Chopped Leaf.

Broad incumbents

• Panera Bread: Large US bakery-cafe chain with a broad menu including salads, soups, sandwiches, and bowls. Overlaps with Chopped Leaf on soup, sandwich, and salad categories but operates at significantly larger scale and a broader menu portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/choppedleaf
• Facebookfacebook.com/choppedleaf
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-chopped-leaf
• Instagraminstagram.com/thechoppedleaf

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 Chopped Leaf