Following the debating consequences of the novel coronavirus pandemic, people around the world have been paying critical attention to health in wellness in ways they never have before. Form the foods we consume to the products we utilize, to the amount of exercise we partake in and how we’re prioritizing mental health, the way we view holistic wellness has changed for evermore, and for the better. When it comes to physical health, perhaps the most important contributing factors to maintaining fit and thriving bodies is by having a lifestyle bound by conscious eating, and frequent exercise. Although so many of us are constantly on the go, we cannot let our health go to the wayside. It’s critical to prioritize healthy options over carbohydrate-packed meal choices, and luckily, Hummus Republic makes it easy.
When one thinks of authentic, middle eastern food, they are quick to categorize the meal as heavy – heavy in calories and heavy in carbs. Founded by Israel natives, Hummus Republic, currently located throughout the state of California, takes pride in its one-of-a-kind healthy approach to Mediterranean cuisine.
The Hummus Republic has curated a menu and dining experience that the busiest of people can look forward to. The restaurant specializes in a healthier, faster, fresher, lighter, and tastier menu for the person who leads a busy yet must stay-in-shape lifestyle. The Hummus Republic believes that food is fuel, and with that mentality the owners are only incorporating nutrient rich ingredients into their items. From customizable bowls, wraps, and pita’s, there is nothing on The Hummus Republic menu that will not be appealing and appeasing to a consumer that aims to stay physically and mentally healthy and alert.
We got to chat with the brains behind this Mediterranean, Chipotle-style hummus hub for inside details about what makes this restaurant so unique, authentic, and addicting – and what they’re doing to continually spread awareness about the importance of healthy eating in 2021, a time so pivotal for consumers to recommit to their longterm health and wellness goals.
Many people altered their approaches to health and wellness in 2020. Being experts in all things healthy eating, why is it so important – especially now – to pay attention to the foods we consume, and prioritize organic ingredients?
A lot of us in 2020 realized that our best defense against the COVID-19 pandemic is prioritizing our health by eating natural whole foods. As cliche as the phrase, “we are what we eat” is, in this post-Covid-19 era, it rings truer than ever. What we eat is directly related to how we feel both physically and mentally, and most importantly the single best way to protect our health from decline. We choose organic ingredients whenever possible and prioritize transparency for our customers in regards to where our food comes from.
What separates Hummus Republic from other Mediterranean restaurants?
Most authentic Mediterranean cuisine does not have the variety of fresh vegetables, whole grains (such as bulgur), and plant-based proteins such as garbanzo beans, mushrooms, falafel, and soy protein that we provide. Unlike other Mediterranean restaurants, hummus has a majority of vegan and vegetarian ingredients (with the exception of a few animal products), because we believe in promoting a plant-based diet. Therefore, we have a wide variety of nourishing, high-quality, plant-based options that are still representative of authentic Mediterranean cuisine.
Describe your approach to health and wellness, and why being in the restaurant industry, is important to you.
At Hummus Republic, our corporate team truly lives the lifestyle that we promote in our business. Everyone eats Mediterranean-based diets with lots of fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. The Mediterranean diet is so nutritious, and we felt that there needed to be widespread accessibility to this diet across the world.
What are some of Hummus Republic’s core values?
Hummus Republic is committed to providing sustainable, healthy food for as many people as we can. We believe in a plant-based future and supplying more fresh vegetables, whole grains, and organic ingredients to people from all walks of life. Fast food no longer has to be bad for the environment or bad for your health. By serving nourishing meals, using compostable takeout containers, cups, and cutlery, our mission is to keep our customers healthy and the environment free of unnecessary plastic waste.
How do you hope to continue advocating for healthy and affordable eating across America?
The goal with our expansion is that we will be able to make healthy food convenient and accessible to all people. We’re most excited to enter small towns suffering from food deserts that don’t have access to many plant-based options. We want to provide all people with the opportunity to choose what they put in their bodies. Gentrification of healthy food is on rise and has gained popularity through celebrity influence. We don’t believe in following trends but instead supplying nourishing foods that are affordable, plant-based, and made from whole ingredients. We reject the idea of cutting corners in the food that we supply, but rather developing a business model that keeps the overhead costs low.
What makes Hummus Republic stand out compared to other similar restaurant chains, such as Sweet Green?
Our franchise model sets us apart because we are able to select franchisees who are also passionate about providing healthy, real food to the masses. This allows us to expand in areas that corporate chains would usually stay away from because it doesn’t necessarily fit their model. Our franchisees are passionate about providing healthy food to their communities. Along with our extraordinary team of franchisees, we also are dedicated to women empowerment with a large majority of our corporate team being women.
How do you see the business expanding and evolving in 2021?
We are quickly growing in 2021 and expect to open 8-12 more locations this year. We had quite a few franchisees join us before the pandemic hit and advised most against signing leases in 2020 while the market was so uncertain and rules and regulations in the industry were changing daily. Most of our franchisees are now ready to pick up where we left off and we all feel It’s the right time for us to push forward together.