Plant City Grows — Co-Founder Anderson Talks Franchising Potential & Social Impact
Plant City Co-Founder Kim Anderson, photo credit Harmless Studio
Republished from GoLocalProv
By GoLocalProv News Team and News Editor Kate Nagle
Plant City has now grown to three locations in Rhode Island in less than two years -- and now franchising the business model is on the table.
“We are working with a nationally known firm to explore [franchising opportunities],” Plant City Co-Founder Kim Anderson told GoLocal in a wide-ranging interview.
Plant City in Providence calls itself the world's first plant-based vegan food hall and marketplace --- and the two new "Plant City X" models are plant-based fast-food.
“I could build 10 more in the next 3 years — or with a franchising model, it could explode," said Anderson.
Plant City's growth stands in stark contrast to the hundreds of restaurants that have closed in the region.
With a focus on sustainability, the Plant City model is to remodel existing buildings, and oftentimes in stark contrast to what was there before.
On Thursday, Anderson announced that a new Plant City X will go in where a former Burger King used to be in Warwick.
The Warwick location will be the second Plant City X with a drive-thru. The first was opened during the pandemic in Middletown, where a Papa Gino’s once was.
The original Plant City in Providence is located in a former steak-and-seafood establishment — where the Mile-and-a-Quarter was for years and later was turned into a club complete with "stripper poles."
Rhode Island in Focus
Anderson spoke about why they chose the Warwick location.
"We have an awful lot of customers from the West Bay who were saying please, please, please, open [a Plant City] over here -- they also said they didn’t want to go to Route 2," said Anderson, who noted the location on Centerville Road was originally slated for another business, but "then it came back on the table."
For Anderson, having a proven model is key to expansion, which she said they have seen at Plant City X in Middletown.
"In the Middletown location — in the winter, in a pandemic, no commuting traffic — it gave us proof of concept," said Anderson. "It really showed plant-based food and a sustainable food system can be delicious, fun and fast. It’s very different than any other fast-food restaurant. We make all the food there by hand, and that was a challenge."
Anderson said she "hopes" to have the Warwick Plant City X open in about three months.
And by the end of the summer, Anderson said she expects to have 250 employees across the three Plant City locations.
"It’s very challenging. You just have to keep working at it and looking for really good people," said Anderson of the struggles most restaurants are facing in hiring. "We ask customers to please be patient — the workers are trying to serve you as well and fast as they can."
Anderson said business -- and employees -- are now getting back to "pre-pandemic levels" in Providence.
As for Warwick, Anderson made a plug.
"I am looking for a great store manager for that location," she said.
Bigger Picture
For Anderson, the Plant City concept isn't just about plant-based eating -- it is much more.
"We are a family who invests for impact against climate change — that’s how we started," said Anderson. "Eating a plant-based diet has a dramatic effect — but everything we do, we're animal-free. We’re palm oil free, we're 100% compostable, we're powered by wind and certified kosher. We've gone to the limits to show this can be done, and nothing’s perfect —but we've shown that it can be delicious and fun."
Anderson said eating plant-based is not just critical for the climate, but also for environmental and social justice reasons — and even to prevent the next pandemic.
"As far as social justice, people aren’t aware what goes on," said Anderson, of animal slaughterhouses, which she preferred to call "abattoirs."
"They exist in communities where people don't have another choice. People don’t say they want a career in slaughtering animals," said Anderson. "It’s harmful not only to the workers' mental and physical health, it’s very harmful to the local communities. The ammonia and off-gassing are causing asthma and disease in children, and life long illnesses."
Anderson said that author Michael Greger -- who has written How Not to Die as well as How to Survive a Pandemic has eaten at Plant City, and discussed with Anderson how the next animal-to-human pathogen pandemic could be much worse than COVID-19.
"This was the dress rehearsal with a 1% death rate," said Anderson of the coronavirus pandemic. "The next one is going to come from these [animal] facilities, and you won’t be able to get a grocery store. People will not be able to leave their homes."
Anderson said her global concerns are what drives her, but at the end of the day, it is about changing lives.
"I feel an incredible pressure to move as fast as I can and lead with great food," said Anderson. "I love when people come up to me, and the husband says his wife wanted him to eat [plant based], and now they're hooked."
