Count Nutrients, Not Calories

TORONTO, May 09, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Freshii Inc. FRII, the global leader in the health-casual restaurant business, released an open letter to the Government of Ontario.

"Requiring the display of calories on menus will provide customers with nutrition information to help them make well-informed choices about what they eat and feed their children when dining out." – A Guide to Menu Labelling Requirements in Regulated Food Service Premises in Ontario.

We respectfully disagree with the above statement from the Government of Ontario. At Freshii, we believe that displaying only calories on a menu is misleading for our guests. The Ontario menu labelling legislation is overly simplistic and does not go far enough; it does not tell a holistic nutrition story, nor does it consider the customization demanded by today's guests. The legislation is not built for consumer evolution – but Freshii is.

The Freshii team spends a significant amount of time finding and implementing the latest nutrition trends, always thinking several steps ahead. Here is our approach to nutrition—how we energize millions of guests around the world every year.

1. Our menu is completely nutrition-led and developed by our In-House Nutritionist, Andie. Nutrition is at the heart of every decision we make as a company, every single day.
    
2. Every guest who enters a Freshii restaurant is greeted with the contact details of our In-House Nutritionist. At the location closest to company Headquarters, the front door reads, "Your certified Freshii Nutritionist is Andie. Email andie@freshii.com with any questions regarding our menu." Each day, Andie responds to dozens of guest inquires and helps them navigate Freshii's menu to meet specific dietary needs and health goals.
    
3. Our 10-page Nutrition & Allergen Guide is posted on our website and in every store, accessible to anyone at any time: https://freshii.com/static/menu_pdfs/15.pdf

"We designed our brand to allow all guests to live their own energized lives, whatever that looks like for them. We believe Freshii is for everyone." said Matthew Corrin, Freshii's Founder and CEO.

Corrin added, "If, after reading the contents of this letter, the Province of Ontario insists on threatening to fine our franchise partners, then we are prepared to take the appropriate steps to meet the minimum compliance as required by the rules. Freshii is a for-profit publicly traded company led by hundreds of passionate entrepreneurs who are living their Canadian dream through the Freshii brand. The thought of paying fines with money that could be invested in more thoughtful areas, like menu innovation and partnerships that move the needle on health in our communities, would be short-sighted."

"We commend the Province's desire to help consumers make better eating decisions, but I stand firmly behind our holistic approach to health and wellness. Our mission here at Freshii is to help citizens of the world live better by making healthy food convenient and affordable. We believe our approach to nutrition labelling is at the forefront of the industry." said Corrin.

Let's eat without regret. Let's love kale.
Let's embrace quinoa. Let's try new things.
Let's try unlikely combos. Let's eat things that are good.
Let's eat things that make us feel good. Let's eat and sit.
Let's be good to the Earth.
Let's let the Earth be good to us. Let's Eat. Energize.

https://freshii.com/ca/about#mantra

About Freshii

Eat. Energize. That's the Freshii mantra. Freshii is a health-casual restaurant brand that serves fresh food designed to energize people on the go. With a diverse and completely customizable menu of breakfast, soups, salads, wraps, bowls, burritos, frozen yogurt, juices and smoothies served in an eco-friendly environment, Freshii caters to every taste and dietary preference.

Since it was founded in 2005, Freshii has opened hundreds of restaurants in cities and countries around the world. Freshii can be found in all location types from cosmopolitan cities, college campuses, suburban neighborhoods and malls to fitness clubs, airports and small towns.

Inquire about how to join the Freshii family: https://freshii.com/us/franchising.
Learn more about investing in Freshii: http://ir.freshii.com.
Learn about the Freshii brand: https://vimeo.com/195658178.
Find your nearest Freshii: http://www.freshii.com.
Follow Freshii on Twitter and Instagram: @freshii.

For further information contact:
Melissa Gallagher
melissa.gallagher@freshii.com
647.302.7241