Crisp & Green Buys 33 Rival Salad Locations, Targets 100 Stores

Crisp & Green has agreed to buy 33 MAD Greens and Snappy Salads restaurants from Salad Collective, the Coors family's restaurant group, QSR reports.

The Minneapolis-based fast-casual salad chain plans to convert all 33 locations to its own brand over time. Combined with previously planned openings, the deal should push Crisp & Green to 100 restaurants by the end of 2026 — a decade after its founding. Financial terms weren't disclosed.

Who stays involved?

The Coors family, which built its name in beer, will remain a strategic minority partner after handing off its salad business. That gives Crisp & Green continuity in the acquired markets rather than a clean break.

The deal expands the chain's footprint in Phoenix, Austin, Denver and Dallas, on top of new markets. Crisp & Green currently operates about 60 locations.

Why the middle of the country?

Crisp & Green has largely skipped the coasts and concentrated in the middle of the country. Founder Steele Smiley says healthy chains face less competition there.

Demand for fresh food "isn't limited to New York, Los Angeles or other coastal cities," Smiley said.

How has it funded the growth?

No venture capital backs the chain. Crisp & Green has grown through:

• Company-owned stores
• Franchising
• Friends-and-family money

Buying rivals' locations rather than building from scratch shortens the path to 100 stores. If the conversions land on schedule, Crisp & Green will have doubled its footprint by the end of 2026 — without a single dollar of VC money.

By Grace Kim