US-based quick-service salad restaurant (QSR) chain Salad Station plans to triple its store network in the country by 2026 with a franchise model.

The QSR chain is seeking franchisees in the Orlando/Daytona Beach area of Florida.

The brand has recently signed franchise agreements in Altamonte Springs/Apopka, Winter Park and Lakeland.

Salad Station has established its presence in the southern US states of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Arkansas, and will shortly do so in Tennessee.

Last month, Salad Station unveiled its plan to triple its footprint in the southeast region of the US. By the end of the year, it expects to open 30 new locations, with a further 17 by the end of 2024.

It currently operates 30 locations throughout the country. This month, it added restaurants in Monroe, Louisiana; and Madison, Mississippi.

The QSR brand plans to open its first drive-through location in Ocean Springs, Mississippi early next year.

The brand is known for its pay-by-the-pound model, offering more than 100 fresh, farm-inspired ingredients for a quick and healthy meal.

Its offerings include daily chopped produce, premium proteins, made-from-scratch salads, fresh prepped fruit, gourmet toppings, 16 select dressings and soups.

Salad Station founder and CEO Scott Henderson said: “Central Florida is an important area for us. Our Tampa location has been a tremendous success and we’d like to build off that along the I-4 corridor.

“Franchising a Salad Station is a unique opportunity to be a local hero. My mom and I opened the first Salad Station simply because we identified that our community was lacking a quick and easy way to eat a fresh and customisable meal, large or small.

“When leaving one of our locations, we hope our guest’s day is just a little brighter and they crave to have the same feeling the next day.”