Culinary innovation often starts with a fresh set of eyes. Consider the menu of Toastique, one of America’s hottest foodservice concepts. There is the Avocado Smash, which is made with avocado with watermelon radish, marinated tomatoes, chili oil, microgreens on multigrain toast. Or there’s the 3 Cheese Italian: prosciutto, melted swiss and fontina with roasted garlic onion jam, topped with dressed arugula on jalapeño cheddar toast.

Boasting such a diverse menu has enabled Toastique to achieve exceptional growth throughout 2023, opening five new locations in Hoboken and Chatham, New Jersey; Columbia, Maryland; Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; and Colorado Springs, Colorado, as well as signing franchise agreements for 27 additional units across the country. The brand’s impressive mid-year momentum continues to solidify its reputation as an up-and-coming leader in the breakfast and lunch industry.
 Toastique was founded in 2018 by former Division 1 collegiate cheerleader Brianna Keefe, who believes healthy food should be simple to understand and appreciate, easy to enjoy, and above all, accessible to everyone. With a unique menu that includes toast-focused creations, all-natural smoothies, cold-pressed juices and açaí bowls, Toastique is truly unlike any other health-focused franchise on earth. 

“We have had exponential growth in 2023,” says Keefe, chief executive officer.

Keefe studied management design in college and worked in the hotel industry. She attended James Madison University in Virginia where she participated as a college cheerleader, among other of her many jobs.

“I always wanted to own something on my own,” she recalls, recognizing the entrepreneurial spirit she has always had. “I love making toast – good quality bread that makes you feel good. I love fresh simple foods that are good for you. People need to realize that good bread means good carbs.”

The first corporate store opened July 1, 2018, and the operation has expanded quickly since.

One of the defining characteristics of the brand is homemade – everything.

Her main goal is continuing to grow strategically with the right partners. “They see our vision and want to be a part of it. You have to be passionate about what you do.”

Growing reputation

The management team at Toastique is driving demand for toast-focused creations. Source: Toastique

The four newest grand openings were the brand's largest to date – a testament to the strength of its business model and growing reputation. Several of Toastiques’ existing stores have also seen record-breaking success this year. 

The DuPont store in Washington D.C., which opened in September 2021, is nearing the million-dollar mark, reflecting an exciting 40% year-to-year growth in sales. The team hopes to have four corporate stores crossing the million in sales mark this year as well. Toastique is also looking to expand to several new markets and hit the 40-unit mark by this time next year. 

By the end of 2023, Toastique locations will open in Newport Beach, California; Tampa and Sarasota, Florida; Virginia Beach, Virginia; Bakersfield, California; and Dallas, Texas. Next year, Toastique anticipates entering Nashville, Charlotte, San Jose, Los Angeles, Michigan, Omaha, Austin, Atlanta, San Antonio, and Las Vegas.

Further, the company is expanding its catering department to all areas within Northern Virginia, Metro DC, Maryland, and surroundings.

Early inspirations

From a young age, Keefe has been passionate about food, nutrition, and fitness in all its forms, which overtime transitioned into a passion and love for clean living. In high school she made smoothies and juice every day, sparking the dream of owning her own health cafe.

In college, being a D1 athlete, she quickly learned how important it was to have wholesome meals throughout the day to keep her energy up while on the go. Day in, day out, Keefe expanded her original avocado toast, to various toast creations to accommodate her busy schedule anytime of the day.

She appreciates beauty in a simple and honest form. She takes the color of the fresh, crisp produce, mixes it with her passion and love of healthy living to create the beautiful delicacies of Toastique.

“We make all the toppings in-house. People can taste the difference. We took everything up to the next level – like with our watermelon radishes.”

Beyond many variations of toast-based dishes, the menu includes bowls, including the Cocolada: Pineapple / Banana / Coconut Milk / Lime and topped with Banana, Pineapple, Coconut, Sliced Almonds, Candied Ginger, Granola, Lime Wedge, and Honey Drizzle

Additionally, the concept serves juices and smoothies.

Cold-pressed juices take extra time and labor to create but are well worth it., according to Toastique. Cold-Pressed juices are designed to give your body extra nutrients that you may not be sustaining in your daily lifestyle.

Cold-Pressed juices are designed to completely untangle the fibers that hold the cells of fruits and vegetables together by slowly grinding then pressing, according to Toastique. The cold-pressed juicing process allows the ingredients to sustain their nutritional value and yield up to 30% more juice than a standard juicer (centrifugal juicing).