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Mendocino Farms CEO Kevin Miles explains rebrandMendocino Farms CEO Kevin Miles explains rebrand

Fast-casual concept strips ‘Sandwich Market’ from signage and offers new trade dress and uniforms.

Ron Ruggless, Senior Editor

January 24, 2022

Mendocino Farms LLC introduced a rebranding this week that strips “sandwich market” from its signage and offers new trade dress and uniforms.

Kevin Miles, CEO of the Los Angeles-based fast-casual brand, said the refreshed look, which extends from signage and hats to cups and catering trays, was about a year and a half in the making. Besides uniforms and packaging, it also includes the brand’s website and ordering platform.

“We started this journey of really doing a lot of research around the brand — speaking with customers and team members and even our vendors alike — to understand what they think of the brand,” Miles said.

The new look will be retrofitted to existing units and be used as the brand expands, which will include new markets like Georgia, Miles said.

The CEO said that as Mendocino Farms’ menu has broadened with salad offerings and grain bowls, the new branding more accurately reflects the fast-casual concept’s focus. Mario Del Pero and Ellen Chen founded the brand In Los Angeles in 2005. Miles was named CEO in July 2019.

The new look, based on an “Eat Happy” theme, is more an “evolution” of the brand, Miles said.

Mendocino Farms received an investment from Whole Foods Market Inc. in 2015.

The brand has 42 locations in California and Texas, including two delivery-only locations, the most recent of which opened in Oakland, Calif., in October 2021.

Contact Ron Ruggless at [email protected]

Follow him on Twitter: @RonRuggless

About the Author

Ron Ruggless

Senior Editor, Nation’s Restaurant News / Restaurant Hospitality

Ron Ruggless serves as a senior editor for Informa Connect’s Nation’s Restaurant News (NRN.com) and Restaurant Hospitality (Restaurant-Hospitality.com) online and print platforms. He joined NRN in 1992 after working 10 years in various roles at the Dallas Times Herald newspaper, including restaurant critic, assistant business editor, food editor and lifestyle editor. He also edited several printings of the Zagat Dining Guide for Dallas-Fort Worth, and his articles and photographs have appeared in Food & Wine, Food Network and Self magazines. 

Ron Ruggless’ areas of expertise include foodservice mergers, acquisitions, operations, supply chain, research and development and marketing. 

Ron Ruggless is a frequent moderator and panelist at industry events ranging from the Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators (MUFSO) conference to RestaurantSpaces, the Council of Hospitality and Restaurant Trainers, the National Restaurant Association’s Marketing Executives Group, local restaurant associations and the Horeca Professional Expo in Madrid, Spain.

Ron Ruggless’ experience:

Regional and Senior Editor, Informa Connect’s Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality (1992 to present)

Features Editor – Dallas Times Herald (1989-1991)

Restaurant Critic and Food Editor – Dallas Times Herald (1987-1988)

Editing Roles – Dallas Times Herald (1982-1987)

Editing Roles – Charlotte (N.C.) Observer (1980-1982)

Editing Roles – Omaha (Neb.) World-Herald (1978-1980)

Email: [email protected]

Social media:

Twitter@RonRuggless

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ronruggless

Instagram: @RonRuggless

TikTok: @RonRuggless

 

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