As temperatures slip, warm up with Saladworks' new line of 12 soups

Saladworks, the nation's leading alternative to pre-fab Fast Food and originator of the fresh tossed-to-order salad concept has introduced an exciting new addition to its menu of acclaimed salads with 12 new soup varieties.

Recognizing market trends and a growing consumer demand, Saladworks, a pioneer in the fast casual category, is now turning its attention to soup. At all area Saladworks locations in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Delaware, customers can now enjoy a variety of healthy soups that are made on premises, and serve as the perfect accompaniment to a fresh tossed salad.

Soups are reasonably priced at $2.99 for a cup, 8 ounces, $3.49 for a bowl, 12 ounces and $4.29 for 16 ounces. Saladworks offer a small soup with a salad for $1.99. Each Saladworks will serve two to six different soups per location.

"With Fall upon us and Winter just around the corner, there's nothing that warms up the bones quite like a cup of hot and hearty soup," says Saladworks founder John Scardapane. "So, we've introduced 12 new soups that are perfect for chilly weather."

The new soups, which took more than two years to develop the perfect recipes, are made from the highest quality ingredients, including: Chicken Orzo, which was developed from a Scardapane family recipe, a hearty combination of chicken and orzo with just the right touch of seasoning to give it a homemade flavor; Crimini Mushroom, a medley of gourmet crimini and button mushrooms in a velvety cream stock; Old World Italian Wedding Soup, with meatballs and escarole in chicken stock; and Tuscan Bean Minestrone, fresh vegetables and hearty white ebans in a Mediterranean vegetable stock. In addition, Saladworks will offer seasonal soup specials such as Butternut Squash Soup, which is available for fall.

In addition to its line of soups, Saladworks offers more than 12 salad varieties every day, including: Bently, a signature blend of hearthstone baked ham, roasted turkey and Italian provolone with chopped eggs and diced tomatoes over Iceberg and Romaine lettuce; Mandarin Chicken, Spring Mix, grilled chicken breast, mandarin oranges, cucumbers, carrots, craisins, and chow mein noodles; and Nicoise, Iceberg and Romaine lettuce, pasta, tuna, tomatoes, chopped eggs and black olives.

Since its inception, Saladworks has emerged as a leader in the quick-casual food arena, by offering a tasty, yet healthy alternative to the pre-fab, vacuum packed and flavor deprived food found at most fast food chains. By giving customers the freshest and finest ingredients, which are expertly prepared in front of them by an always-accommodating staff, Saladworks has developed a proven successful concept.

The company, which has grown at an average rate of 40 percent per year for the past three years, has experienced its largest expansion to date by opening more than 18 new locations in 2005. Saladworks, a 20-year-old innovator of the rapidly growing salad category, is taking a 'fresh' approach to Franchising that will put more than 250 locations on the map by 2010.

Saladworks New Soups

CHICKEN ORZO

A hearty combination of chicken and orzo, an Italian "rice-shaped" pasta, perfectly seasoned to give it our signature homemade flavor. A wonderful Saladworks' version of Chicken Noodle Soup!

CREAM OF BROCCOLI

A rich blend of large pieces of whole broccoli in a creamy base, flawlessly seasoned to bring out its distinctive flavors.

OLD WORLD ITALIAN WEDDING

The traditional "meatball" soup, prepared with real escarole in a chicken stock and wonderfully spiced to remind you of the wedding feasts served on the hillsides of Italy.

CHUNKY TOMATO BISQUE

Generous tomato bits augment this flavorful soup with its rich and creamy base to sooth your soul.

TUSCAN BEAN MINESTRONE

A Mediterranean vegetable soup, chock full of fresh vegetables and hearty white beans. Sure to fill and satisfy you!

CRIMINI MUSHROOM

A fantastic medley of crimini and button mushrooms blended into a velvety cream stock.

CREAM OF ASPARAGUS

Enjoy the wonderful springtime flavor of fresh asparagus year round with this winning recipe in a perfect cream based mixture of Saladworks signature spices.

NEW ENGLAND CLAM CHOWDER

A generous offering of succulent clams in a traditionally thick stock that has a hearty, smoked potato background.

MARYLAND CRAB

A spicy recipe that features sweet bay-style crab meat in a time-honored mixture of tomatoes and vegetables.

MAMA'S CHICKEN NOODLE

Home style favorite with Pennsylvania Dutch style noodles simmered in a rich chicken stock.

VEGETARIAN VEGETABLE

Vegetables, vegetables and vegetables! There's no doubt that this creation is truly a "garden in a bowl" of large pieces of savory veggies in an original vegetable stock.

CHICKEN POT PIE

A true "comfort" food filled with chicken, Spaetzel dumplings, and sweet peas in a creamy base.