ARIZONA — Salad and Go filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on August 4. The fast-food salad chain is closing all existing locations on Wednesday.

The company cited prior strategic growth challenges, weakening consumer demand, and higher costs as reasons for seeking bankruptcy protection. Salad and Go sent emails to customers notifying them of the company’s end.

"A Cyclospora outbreak in July, in which Salad and Go was not implicated, weakened confidence across the industry and compounded these challenges," the company said in a statement. More than 10,000 people were sickened by the July 2025 Cyclospora outbreak, according to foodsafetynews.com, which affected major chains like Taco Bell and Chipotle.

The water-borne parasite Cyclospora has sickened at least 10,000 people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Two people have died as a result of the Cyclospora outbreak, according to the Michigan Health Department.

Yum Brands' Taco Bell saw its traffic plunge after the Food and Drug Administration linked iceberg lettuce served at some of its restaurants to the Cyclospora outbreak. Taco Bell pulled the affected lettuce supply, and Yum executives have said that sales are already recovering.

Chipotle Mexican Grill has seen its sales dip due to consumers' mistrust of fresh lettuce, despite not being linked to the outbreak. The indirect effects of the outbreak on consumer confidence in fresh produce created headwinds for brands reliant on salads and wraps.

Salad and Go had about 70 locations in Arizona and Nevada remaining before the closure announcement. The Chapter 11 petition for Salad and Go was filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division, to provide a court-supervised framework for the company to realize the value of its assets and to meet its obligations in an orderly manner, according to nrn.com.

Salad and Go has assets valued between $500 million and $1 billion and liabilities in the same range, according to the company's bankruptcy filing. The court-supervised process will determine how creditors are paid and whether any parts of the business can be sold or restructured.

Mike Tattersfield, former Krispy Kreme CEO, became CEO of Salad and Go in 2025. "This is a painful day for everyone who built, worked for and loved Salad and Go," Tattersfield said.

During Mike Tattersfield's tenure, Salad and Go closed dozens of stores in Texas and Oklahoma. Mike Tattersfield closed 40 restaurants in Texas and Oklahoma shortly after taking the CEO role in 2025.

Charlie Morrison served as CEO of Salad and Go and previously led Wingstop. Under Charlie Morrison, Salad and Go more than doubled its store count. Charlie Morrison left Salad and Go in late 2024. Charlie Morrison currently heads Jersey Mike's.

Private equity firm Volt Investment bought out company founders Tony and Roushan Christofellis in 2021. Salad and Go was founded in 2013. Salad and Go opened over 60 stores in a couple of years and was one of the fastest-growing concepts in the country by 2023.

Salad and Go used commissary kitchens to wash produce and prepare protein options before shipping ingredients to restaurants for assembly. This operational model allowed for rapid expansion but required significant capital investment in supply chain infrastructure.

The collapse of Salad and Go illustrates the vulnerability of fast-casual concepts dependent on fresh produce to broader public health scares, even when they are not directly implicated. The July 2025 Cyclospora outbreak, which sickened thousands and affected major competitors, eroded consumer trust in lettuce-based menus across the industry. This loss of confidence compounded existing financial pressures for Salad and Go, including high operational costs and strategic missteps during a period of rapid expansion.

The bankruptcy filing in Texas initiates a legal process that will determine the fate of the company's remaining assets and obligations. With liabilities matching assets in the $500 million to $1 billion range, the outcome will impact creditors, employees, and the broader quick-service restaurant sector's approach to supply chain risk and growth strategies. The closure of all locations marks the end of a brand that grew rapidly under private equity ownership but could not sustain its trajectory during shifting market conditions and external shocks.

Why It Matters

The collapse of Salad and Go illustrates how fast-casual concepts dependent on fresh produce remain vulnerable to broader public health scares, even when not directly implicated. A Cyclospora outbreak that sickened at least 10,000 people eroded consumer trust in lettuce-based menus across the industry, compounding existing financial pressures for the chain. This loss of confidence contributed to the closure of all locations and a Chapter 11 filing involving up to $1 billion in liabilities.