Awards & Press

Dec15 12/15/2011 12:47:00 PM by Zoup!
Mayor Brummel along with the Western DuPage Chamber of Commerce welcomes Zoup to the community of Warrenville, wishing many business successes. read more...
Dec13 12/13/2011 12:56:00 PM by Zoup!
The new restaurant will be located in the Cantera Commons, 28341 Diehl Road in Warrenville. This location is owned by the husband and wife team of Joseph and Laura McKernan. read more...
Dec12 12/12/2011 12:52:00 PM by Zoup!
Zoup! Ranked #300 on the Entrepreneur - 2012 Top Franchise 500 Rankings

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Dec10 12/10/2011 1:31:00 PM by Zoup!
They call it Zoup! but it is soup you’ll get along with other healthful repasts at the restaurant opening soon at 4898 Portage St. NW in Jackson Township. From a collection of hundreds of recipes, Zoup! will offer a dozen varieties changing daily. read more...
Dec8 12/8/2011 1:38:00 PM by Zoup!
The cornerstone of the menu will be 12 daily varieties of soup, including low-fat, vegetarian, dairy-free and spicy options. Two will be standing items, chicken potpie soup and lobster bisque, while the rest will rotate from 100 different soups, said co-owner Todd Ashley of Washington, who is starting the franchise with his father, Ray Ashley, also of Washington. read more...
Nov30 11/30/2011 1:41:00 PM by Zoup!
“We are excited to continue Zoup!’s expansion into Illinois and open in such a populated business hub where people can come in for a quick meal during their busy work day,” Franchisee Joseph McKernan said. “We look forward to providing local appetites with fast, healthy meal options for lunch and dinner.” read more...
Nov15 11/15/2011 1:56:00 PM by Zoup!
The couple took an unusual route to becoming restaurateurs, having spent most of nearly two decades in information technology. Their son, Shane, 9, was the reason they decided to open a business. read more...
Nov15 11/15/2011 1:52:00 PM by Zoup!
“Part of the allure of Zoup! is we strongly encourage sampling,” says Toomire, noting that on Sall’s first visit in Ohio he tried two or three before picking. read more...
Nov10 11/10/2011 2:04:00 PM by Zoup!
Zoup! (complete with exclamation point) is scheduled to make its Ohio debut this week in the Huntington Center at 41 S. High St. The menu is built around soups ranging from traditional favorites such as chili to more exotic recipes that involve combinations of collard greens and barley. read more...
Nov9 11/9/2011 2:06:00 PM by Zoup!
"Zoup! selected NEXTEP because they offer a complete integrated solution," said Zoup!'s founder and CEO Eric Ersher. "NEXTEP's enterprise web management tools were also important, as our stores change soup offerings daily, and with NEXTEP we only have to make the change once, and that change is instantly made in our POS, menu boards, and online." read more...
Nov3 11/3/2011 2:09:00 PM by Zoup!
Oct26 10/26/2011 2:20:00 PM by Zoup!

Zoup will be opening its downtown doors just in time for the cooling temperatures.

Franchisee Denis Barboza plans to open the fast-casual soup chain Nov. 10 in the Huntington Center on Capitol Square.

read more...
Oct24 10/24/2011 2:39:00 PM by Zoup!
Eric Ersher, founder and managing partner of the Zoup! Fresh Soup Company, a 37-unit chain based in Detroit, said his company uses a “soup offering plan” to strategize which of its hundreds of recipes will be offered on the chain’s daily rotating menu. read more...
Oct22 10/22/2011 2:44:00 PM by Zoup!
The program was founded in Charleston, S.C., by Detroit native Mickey Bakst, general manager of the Charleston Grill at the Charleston Place Hotel. When he learned that one of the city's largest shelters had to eliminate one meal each week for lack of funds, he picked up the phone and organized 52 restaurants to fill the gap for the next 52 weeks. read more...
Oct18 10/18/2011 2:13:00 PM by Zoup!
Leaves turn; fall breezes blow in cool temperatures. It’s time to pull out the ladle, crackers and eat some Zoup! Find out what the new restaurant, Zoup!, will be serving up to keep you warm and cozy through the chilly months headed our way. read more...
Oct15 10/15/2011 1:17:00 PM by Zoup!
“We try to find owners who will be a great cultural fit and add to the long-term value of the Zoup brand,” he says. “We’re very rigorous in our franchise development process.” read more...
Sep23 9/23/2011 1:38:00 PM by Zoup!
Zoup! is a restaurant franchise that serves soup, salads, and sandwiches. The company has 26 locations throughout Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Connecticut, and New Jersey. read more...
Sep16 9/16/2011 1:29:00 PM by Zoup!
“Zoup” in Government Center offers twelve piping-hot, hand-craftedsoups daily, and as the fall approaches, one of the most popular is the roadhouse sirloin chili. read more...
Sep16 9/16/2011 1:22:00 PM by Zoup!
The first Columbus location of Zoup! Fresh Soup Company is expected to open this fall at the Huntington Center downtown, says owner Denis Barboza. The concept centers on, well, soup, and there will be 12 kinds each day. There are sandwich and salad options as well, and menu items that cater to vegetarians. Barboza says the shop will seat up to 65 guests. read more...
Sep11 9/11/2011 1:31:00 PM by Zoup!
My biggest mistake was not delegating and putting people in place who could run the business. After two years, we made the decision for Don to spend more time at home, but I was still spending way too many hours here. I wanted to be in control of inventory, hiring, and ordering. I was even checking every customers' to-go orders. I listened to my husband and the franchise founder, who both told me to spend less time at the restaurant. I knew they were right, but I had a hard time letting go.
read more...
Sep7 9/7/2011 1:36:00 PM by Zoup!
“The Grand Rapids community has supported me and my staff throughout the years with their most appreciated customer loyalty,” said Grant Winkelman, who is opening his third area Zoup franchise. “We wanted to take the opportunity to give back to the community by partnering with the Children’s Hospital, which has made such a powerful impact on an abundance of families in the area.” read more...
Aug26 8/26/2011 1:40:00 PM by Zoup!
Zoup! Fresh Soup, No. 2304: This fast casual concept includes 26 locations throughout Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Connecticut and New Jersey. It has grown 105 percent, with revenue jumping from $4.7 million to $9.7 million read more...
Aug25 8/25/2011 1:42:00 PM by Zoup!
Zoup!, a popular soup spot in Detroit, the Midwest and Northeast regions, is coming to Carmel. Carl and Millissa Kurcinka plan to open the restaurant this fall at 1430 W. Carmel Drive.
read more...
Aug11 8/11/2011 1:01:00 PM by Zoup!
“In good times and bad, soup carries powerful and intangible qualities that provide comfort and promote a genuine sense of well-being for many people,” said Eric Ersher, Founder and Managing Partner of Zoup!. “We look forward to growing our brand and feeding the local appetite with one-of-a-kind soup creations consumers love, but wouldn’t make at home.” read more...
Aug3 8/3/2011 1:03:00 PM by Zoup!
Instead of retiring, a local couple opened their own business and have been so successful, they're expanding to a second location.

Don, 69, and Pat, 57, opened Zoup! Fresh Soup Co. in Solon in 2006 and now they are opening a second franchise site in Warrensville Heights in early November. read more...
Jul26 7/26/2011 12:57:00 PM by Zoup!
Ersher says keeping everyone in the C-suite on the same page boils down to the culture of the brand. “We are very clear about what the brand stands for,” he says, noting the company has 14 “Zoup!isms,” operating philosophies used to create clarity regarding expectations and to empower employees to make the right decisions. “I believe our culture is very strong, and when there is someone not similarly aligned, it’s noticeable.” read more...
Jul15 7/15/2011 1:08:00 PM by Zoup!
Matt experienced a Zoup! in Ohio, loved the concept, and shared his enthusiasm with friend and former co-worker, Andy. After researching the franchise, they opened this very welcoming location in Downers Grove. read more...
Jun15 6/15/2011 5:11:00 PM by Zoup!
An executive for Zoup! Fresh Soup Co. says the company plans to bring its fast-casual soup restaurant concept to the Dayton region over the next couple of years. read more...
Jun6 6/6/2011 12:52:00 PM by Zoup!
Zoup! Fresh Soup Company is opening its first central Indiana location, on West Carmel Drive between Pennsylvania and Old Meridian streets in Carmel. The Michigan-based chain has 33 locations in nine states. The restaurants serve a rotating 12 varieties of soup each day, along with sandwiches and salads. read more...
Jun6 6/6/2011 12:45:00 PM by Zoup!
“From a cultural perspective, the Zoup franchise owners loved seeing the Zoup brand up on the big screen,” says Ersher, who started the soup chain in 1998. Today, it has 40 employees and 33 stores, 30 of which are franchises. Another 10 franchises are in development. read more...
Jun2 6/2/2011 9:54:00 AM by Zoup!
“We created Zoup! after discovering that really good soup is hard to find,” said Eric Ersher, Zoup!’s founder and managing partner. “We strive to offer authentic, hand-crafted soups that are as good — and as ‘feel-good’ — as the homemade soups our mothers and grandmothers used to cook up.” read more...
May16 5/16/2011 5:14:00 PM by Zoup!
Today Americans consume more than 10 billion bowls of soup each year, and if two Detroit-area cousins have their way, a large number of those bowls will come from Zoup! Fresh Soup Company, their 11-unit fast-casual chain. read more...
May4 5/4/2011 9:41:00 AM by Zoup!
Ice cream shouldn't be the only food you get to test drive. At Zoup! the sample station gets its own counter stop, where you can try all of the 12 soups offered that day. read more...
Apr15 4/15/2011 9:51:00 AM by Zoup!
Offering counter service, Zoup is expected to fill an uptown gap between fast food and sit-down service. Customers can taste test the soups, before placing an order. read more...
Mar9 3/9/2011 4:43:00 PM by Zoup!
Founded in 1998, Zoup! restaurants specialize in “award-winning” soups using “nothing but the finest and natural ingredients,” according to a press release. read more...
Mar9 3/9/2011 4:37:00 PM by Zoup!
As consumers continue to seek fresh, healthy dining options for their on-the-go lifestyles, Zoup! Fresh Soup Company is stirring the pot in Denver with plans to open six restaurants in the next five years. read more...
Mar2 3/2/2011 4:33:00 PM by Zoup!
Toomire, who says he is a big fan of soup, said he was blown away when he visited a restaurant in Ohio. “I thought it was outstanding.” When Toomire, 47, lost his job, he looked into the business concept. The Streamwood resident runs the day-to-day operations of the 2,542-square-foot restaurant, which employs about 17 full- and part-time employees. read more...
Feb16 2/16/2011 4:29:00 PM by Zoup!
DC's first franchise devoted entirely to soup is slated to open this spring at 1101 Vermont Ave. NW. With numerous locations around the country, the concept of Zoup seems to be a hot one. Zoup will serve 12 hand-crafted soups each day from its collection of proprietary recipes, as well as salads and sandwiches. read more...
Feb6 2/6/2011 1:44:00 PM by Zoup!
Abhay Manglik will open his initial location of Zoup!, a franchise of a Southfield, Mich.-based restaurant company, in about 2,000 square feet at 1101 Vermont Ave. NW. Although Zoup serves sandwiches and salads, soup is the headliner: The restaurant makes more than 100 varieties, featuring 12 choices a day. read more...
Jan20 1/20/2011 5:08:00 PM by Zoup!
Zoup! Fresh Soup Company open its first Illinois location on Jan. 17 at 2948 Finley Road in Downers Grove. The restaurant has 12 rotating daily varieties of soup, including at least one low-fat, vegetarian, dairy-free and spicy recipe. Each order is served with a hunk of fresh baked bread. The menu also includes made-to-order salads and sandwiches. read more...
Jan20 1/20/2011 9:20:00 AM by Zoup!
“In good times and bad, soup carries powerful and intangible qualities that provide comfort and promote a genuine sense of well-being for many people,” said Eric Ersher, Founder and Managing Partner of Zoup!. “We’ve taken soup to the next level by giving consumers one-of-a-kind soup creations they love, but wouldn’t make at home.” read more...
Jan19 1/19/2011 5:02:00 PM by Zoup!
Rantz adds that the Downtown Lansing business community has been just as welcoming to the new restaurant as his customers. Thanks to a conversation with Downtown Lansing, Inc.'s director, Mindy Biladeau, the business was able to take advantage of the Lansing Economic Development Corporation’s sign incentive program to create the first street-level, projecting sign in the Zoup franchise. read more...
Jan19 1/19/2011 4:53:00 PM by Zoup!
The appeal of Zoup!, Rantz says, is what drew his interest as a franchise owner: quality food delivered with attention to detail.
read more...
Dec3 12/3/2010 4:50:00 PM by Zoup!
They said Evansville and Tri-State soup lovers had responded well to the East Side restaurant and they were encouraged to branch out to the North Side. read more...
Dec2 12/2/2010 4:47:00 PM by Zoup!
Cheeseburger soup? Buffalo chicken soup? Soup versions of macaroni and cheese, chicken pot pie, even Sicilian pizza? Downtown office workers will have a chance to try them all when Zoup! opens Dec. 13. read more...
Nov15 11/15/2010 9:37:00 AM by Zoup!
With the economy in the dumps, an array of franchisers are raising their standards for prospective buyers. They're demanding candidates bring much more cash to the table, as well as a stronger track record of experience in the industry. In some cases, they're even inspecting the buyers' current operations to see just how well they're run. read more...
Oct31 10/31/2010 9:47:00 AM by Zoup!
As the leaves change and the jackets come out of hiding, taste buds start switching to comfort food in a bowl of warm, satisfying soup.  October marks the five-year anniversary of the Zoup! Fresh Soup Company’s Maumee location. The restaurant that has centered its menu around, you guessed it, soup. read more...
Jul22 7/22/2010 9:26:00 AM by Zoup!
“What I found when I was tasting the soups is that you find that your mind will take you back somewhere else. It reminded me of some of the things my grandmother used to fix,” he said.  This is a man who clearly loves his soup. read more...
May15 5/15/2010 9:46:00 AM by Zoup!
If you look at the line of customers at Zoup (1101 Vermont Ave. NW; 202-682-9687, Zoup.com), you'll see it's not just the chain's 12 daily soups that are hot right now. It's the first D.C. location for the company, whose menu notes which varieties are low-fat, vegetarian, dairy-free or a combination.
read more...
Apr8 4/8/2010 9:23:00 AM by Zoup!
“The food is great, but the service is going to make the difference,” Dianne said.
read more...
Jan1 1/1/2010 3:54:00 PM by Zoup!

As for most industry watchers, culminating the very best of the breed in a fast-growing segment is often a difficult task. With more than 600 fast casual concepts in the $580 billion restaurant industry, paring the list down to just 100 is not for the faint of heart.

read more...
Sep16 9/16/2009 9:35:00 AM by Zoup!
Its version can only be described as the way grandma makes it. One sample told me I'd need at least a bowl to satisfy the craving. Zoup's Chicken Potpie was chock full of fresh vegetables in a creamy, flavorful sauce. But the star of the show was the large chunks of chicken I found in every spoonful. read more...
Sep16 9/16/2009 9:32:00 AM by Zoup!
Zoup serves up variety for lunch, with 12 different soups to choose from daily. From decadent soups, such as Cheeseburger Royale, to healthy favorite Frontier 7 Bean, you're bound to find something to satisfy any craving. But the only way to pick your favorite is to sample. read more...
Jun7 6/7/2007 5:28:00 PM by Zoup!
"We continue to grow through franchising and are getting more aggressive now that we've established a stronger infrastructure and further evolved the brand," he said. read more...
Jun19 6/19/2006 5:23:00 PM by Zoup!
For some, soup is an afterthought, a second-stringer in a restaurant's lineup. For Eric Ersher, however, soup is the star, while other offerings play supporting roles. read more...
Jan5 1/5/2005 5:22:00 PM by Zoup!
In addition to soup rotation and sampling, the third plank of Zoup's strategy is its Web site, which plays a major role in interacting with both customers and franchisees. Since most of Zoup's outlets are situated in high-density, white-collar office markets, its customers are an unusually computer-savvy bunch who can sign up for Zoup's daily e-mail, which announces soup flavors and specials. The number of names on the mailing list is in the thousands. read more...