Health food franchise Chopped is to create 90 jobs as part of its continued rollout. The business’s first franchise is due to open on Dublin’s Grafton Street in January 2016.

Chopped’s Grafton Street store will employ ten staff and will be followed by five more store openings across Dublin early next year. Chopped already runs wholly-owned outlets on Baggot Street, in Ballsbridge and in Fairview in Dublin.

In mid-November, a Chopped Raw concession was opened in Stephen’s Green to serve raw juices and smoothies. The four Chopped outlets currently employ 69 people.

Chopped was founded in 2012 by Dublin entrepreneurs Brian Lee (pictured) and Andy Chen, with a focus on healthy food delivered in salads, sandwiches and wraps. Both have experience in the healthy living sector – Lee is also the owner of Fit Studios, while Chen is a director of TRX studios.

Their Chopped venture is already turning a profit, booking a gain of nearly €58,000 in 2014, finishing that year with net worth of €18,000.

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Speaking at the announcement of the new franchises, Brian Lee said: “We knew Ireland wanted a healthier option and the fact that so many people approached us looking to franchise Chopped really confirmed this.

“Franchising is the best way to maintain the growth of Chopped and it’s a fantastic endorsement of the Chopped product that we have six franchises on board already.”

Running a Chopped franchise comes with a turnkey capital cost of around €150,000. This includes a provision for working capital and the fee for a single store franchise is €15,000.

In November, Chopped invested €250,000 in a new production facility in Artane to service the new franchises.