Zoup! soups come to Menlo Park Mall in Edison
Leo Mariani Jr. owns several Zoup! locations throughout the country, including in the Menlo Park Mall in Edison. Zoup! is a lunch-driven business that mainly sells soup. / ZOUP! PHOTO
ZOUP! FRESH SOUP COMPANY FRANCHIS
Address of business: Menlo Park Mall, Route 1 and Parsonage Road, Edison
Type of business: Restaurant
Principal: Leo Mariani Jr.
How long in business: One month
Number of employees: 20
Telephone number: 732-603-2006
Web site: www.Zoup.com
EDISON — When Leo Mariani Jr. was looking for a location for a Zoup! Fresh Soup Company franchise, Edison was at the top of his list.
"Ours is a lunch-driven business," he said. "I was looking for a location with a density of daytime white-collared population."
Zoup! opened at the Menlo Park Mall on March 22.
"It's a couple of miles from the Metro Park office buildings on Wood Avenue and we also get the mall customers," Mariani said.
Zoup!, which also has franchises in Connecticut, Indiana, Pennsylvania and other states, offers a unique selection of hundreds of different soups - including 12 always-rotating daily varieties - made from hundreds of proprietary, hand-crafted recipes.
Each soup is served with a hunk of fresh bread: sourdough, French or multigrain.
Zoup! also offers made-to-order GreenZ! Salads, Try Two! Combos, grilled and rolled SandwichZ! and an array of beverages and desserts.
"It's healthy, nutritious, all-natural cuisine. There's something for everybody," said Mariani, who lives in Northeast Pennsylvania.
The owner said he hopes to open a second Zoup! restaurant in New Jersey by the end of the year and plans to open a total of five over the next five years.
"I've worked in New Jersey much of my professional life," Mariani said. "As a result, I am convinced that the state's economic profile, population density, diversity and its residents' demand for quality make it a perfect match for the many healthy options Zoup! offers on a daily basis."
Mariani, who has a bachelor's degree from Catholic University of America and a master's of business administration from St. Joseph's University, spent more than 20 years in the telecommunications industry as a senior-level planning and logistics executive before following his dream to own a restaurant.
His research led him quickly to Zoup! and founding managing partner Eric Ersher. Mariani said he likes Ersher's philosophy of slow, cultured growth and focus on providing the ultimate client experience for the Zoup! chain. He opened his first Zoup! franchise in August.
Ersher said the company's presence in Edison and New Jersey complements the broader expansion strategy into other markets.
"Our goal to expand the Zoup! franchise into states, such as Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Illinois, Massachusetts and New Jersey has been realized," Ersher said. "We feel confident that this is only the beginning. Zoup! serves growing demand for fresh, healthy meals served in a casual, comfortable setting. It is the right concept at the right time."
Zoup! Fresh Soup Company was founded in 1998. The company operates six company-owned stores, 14 franchises and two licensed locations.
See original story: http://www.dailyrecord.com/article/CN/20100422/BUSINESS/4220309/Zoup-soups-come-to-Menlo-Park-Mall-in-Edison
