Freshii is a Canadian fast-casual restaurant franchise focused on healthy, made-to-order meals. The brand was founded in 2005 in Toronto, originally called “Lettuce Eatery,” by entrepreneur Matthew Corrin. The company is now headquartered in Toronto, and U.S. corporate operations are managed from Chicago, Illinois.

Freshii launched its franchising program in 2008 under Freshii Development, LLC, and has since grown to over 300 locations in North America and roughly 500 worldwide across 17 countries.

The chain offers a nutrition-led menu of bowls, burritos, salads, wraps, soups, smoothies, juices, and frozen yogurt, with new items added every 90 days to align with current health trends.

Freshii differentiates itself through customization, transparent nutrition tracking, compact footprint flexibility (150–1,500 square feet), eco-friendly practices, and no on-site cooking requirement—reducing build-out costs and enabling locations in malls, street fronts, and non-traditional sites.

Training

Freshii Restaurant provides a multi-tiered and structured training system for its franchisees, covering initial, ongoing, and role-specific programs:

1. Pre-Opening Training: Freshii provides mandatory initial training for franchisee personnel before opening the restaurant. This training includes both virtual sessions via “Freshii University” and in-person components such as the Manager in Training (MIT) program at the Corporate Store in Toronto. The program covers topics like brand knowledge, menu details, food preparation, business operations, finance, and guest experience.
2. Manager in Training (MIT) Program: Required for the Operating Partner and/or General Manager, this hands-on program involves travel to Freshii’s Corporate Store. It focuses on operational skills essential for running a Freshii Restaurant and includes assessments to ensure competency.
3. Virtual Manager Training: This one-week online program offers approximately 20 hours of training covering brand principles, team development, leadership, scheduling, and operational procedures. It combines virtual classroom instruction, assessments, and self-study modules.
4. Self-Study Modules: Available on Freshii University, these are mandatory for all salaried managers and staff, including those hired after the restaurant opens. They align with and expand upon the topics taught in the initial training sessions.

Territory Protection

Freshii Restaurant grants its franchisees a “Designated Territory,” which is established during the agreement process based on demographics and market conditions. This area typically spans around 5 city blocks in urban settings or up to a 2-mile radius in suburban areas.

Within this territory, Freshii commits not to authorize another Freshii Restaurant, as long as the franchisee complies with their agreement.

However, this territory is not exclusive. Freshii and its affiliates retain the right to operate restaurants at non-traditional locations within the territory and can use other distribution channels such as internet sales or grocery store placements.