Modern Market
Modern Market is a company.
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Financial History
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Leadership Team
Key people at Modern Market.
Modern Market is a company.
Key people at Modern Market.
Key people at Modern Market.
Modern Market Eatery is a fast-casual restaurant chain founded in 2009 in Boulder, Colorado, specializing in fresh, chef-crafted meals made from scratch using whole, sustainable ingredients like salads, grain bowls, toasted sandwiches, brick oven pizzas, and all-day breakfast options.[1][3][5] It serves health-conscious customers seeking quick, clean, and flavorful food without artificial additives, operating nearly 30-32 locations across Colorado, Texas, Arizona, and beyond, including Denver International Airport and Notre Dame's campus, with a reported revenue of $54.7 million and 333 employees.[1][4] The company solves the problem of accessing nutritious, farmers-market-inspired meals in a fast-paced world, emphasizing free delivery on $30+ orders, a rewards program, catering, and fundraising events, while exhibiting strong growth through franchising and acquisitions.[3][5]
Acquired by Thrive Restaurant Group in September 2024 after raising $11.47M and previous ownership by Butterfly Equity (2018) and formation of MRC with Lemonade, Modern Market benefits from synergies with brands like Qdoba, enhancing supply chain efficiencies for fresh ingredients.[2][4][5]
Modern Market Eatery originated from the simple idea that "faster food can be better food," launched in 2009 in Boulder, Colorado—where co-founder Bert Pigliacampo attended college—initially as modMarket.[1][4] Founders Pigliacampo and McColgan (forming MRC in 2019 with Lemonade under Butterfly Equity) drew inspiration from farmers markets to create a mission-driven brand nurturing "happiness from the inside out" via clean, delicious meals crafted by farmers, ranchers, and chefs rather than food scientists.[1][3][4][5]
Early traction came from rapid expansion to nearly 30 locations and consistent rankings on Fast Casual's "Top 100 Movers & Shakers" list, fueled by a 2022 franchising revival with a 41-unit deal alongside Thrive Restaurant Group (operators of Applebee’s and others).[1][4] The 2024 acquisition by Thrive marked a pivotal moment, integrating with Qdoba for scale while maintaining scratch-made focus.[2][4]
Modern Market rides the fast-casual health revolution, capitalizing on post-pandemic demand for convenient, "better-for-you" meals amid rising wellness trends and sustainability focus, where consumers prioritize transparent, additive-free food over traditional fast food.[1][3][5] Timing aligns with supply chain optimizations from Qdoba/Thrive integrations, reducing costs via shared fresh ingredient sourcing across 800+ units, amid market forces like inflation pushing value-driven, eco-conscious dining.[4]
It influences the ecosystem by pioneering scalable franchising in natural eateries (e.g., 41-unit Thrive deal), inspiring competitors like Togo's or Bruxie while normalizing scratch kitchens in casual dining, and supporting communities through fundraisers that blend profitability with social good.[2][4][5]
Modern Market is poised for accelerated multi-state expansion via Thrive's footprint in Kansas City, Wichita, Texas, Iowa, North Carolina, and Arkansas, potentially surpassing 50 locations soon by marrying franchise growth with company-owned strongholds in Colorado.[4] Trends like AI-enhanced customer feedback, protein-focused customization, and sustainable packaging will shape its path, amplifying efficiencies and loyalty in a $50B+ fast-casual market.[3][4]
Its influence may evolve as a Thrive flagship for "clean" casual dining, setting benchmarks for flavor-fueled health that redefine faster food as genuinely better—proving the 2009 Boulder spark can scale nationwide.[1][2]
