Fast-casual restaurant chain Noodles & Company has opened a second ghost kitchen in San Jose, California, bringing its global made-to-order noodle dishes to another location after its first ghost kitchen in Humboldt Park in Chicago debuted in May, according to a company announcement on Thursday (Sept. 16).
The Noodles & Company San Jose ghost kitchen is available for delivery and pickup through the Noodles Rewards program.
Adding a second ghost kitchen allows Noodles & Company a new way to reach more customers, according to the announcement. The ghost kitchen enables customers to order food through the Noodles Rewards app or third-party delivery providers.
“We are very excited to open our second ghost kitchen location and grow our presence in San Jose,” said Stacey Pool, chief marketing officer at Noodles & Company, in the company announcement. “San Jose is an emerging market for us, and with this ghost kitchen test, we’ll be able to gain valuable insights on market trends and guest dynamics in the region.
“We’ll also be able to leverage these learnings for franchise opportunities in new markets, along with the expansion of our ghost kitchen concept. With various restaurant formats, we’re excited to capitalize on the rapidly growing delivery market and add new ways to serve our guests delicious noodle dishes with a side of convenience,” she added.
Noodles & Company reported 15% digital sales growth in the second quarter of 2021, which made up 56% of the company’s total sales.
Customers who download the Noodles Rewards app in the App Store or Google Play Store will get a free small entrée after their first purchase.
Related news: Noodles & Company on How Digital Innovation Boosts Brick-and-Mortar Business
Brad West, chief operating officer of Noodles & Company, recently told PYMNTS that its commitment to digital innovation is helping the company remain stable despite the changing economy and state of the restaurant industry.
More than half of the Colorado company’s sales at its 450-plus locations across the U.S. were made through to-go and delivery services before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the chain offering to-go service.
Noodles & Company added curbside pickup and delivery through its mobile app and website as the spread of the coronavirus continued, said West. The company also improved its relationships with third-party delivery services, including DoorDash and Uber Eats, and added Apple Pay as a contactless payment option.
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