000806 Who’s Eating Healthy? Survey Finds Many Men

Chicago - HeartWise Express, a health conscious quick-serve restaurant giving new meaning to the term “fast food,” reveals surprising results from a recent consumer survey. The survey found 45% of HeartWise Express patrons are men, challenging age-old claims that men lack concern for maintaining a healthy diet. Furthermore, 90% of all breakfast patrons eat at HeartWise everyday, with 35% of lunchtime patrons dining at HeartWise on a daily basis.

“More men are eating healthy at HeartWise Express because they don't feel they're giving up anything,” said Michael Moorman, Managing Partner of HeartWise Express. “We serve flavorful foods in healthy portions that leave people feeling satisfied. The fact that it's good for you is just a bonus.”

HeartWise Express offers a healthy alternative to typical fast food chains by serving a wide variety of low-fat, high quality menu items in a quick serve format. The diverse menu features smoothies, wraps, rice & noodle bowls, veggie burgers, sandwiches, salads, side dishes and fresh baked goods, all prepared with less fat and more fresh and natural ingredients. Nutrition information for each item is clearly displayed on menus and tabletop charts.

“We've built an extremely loyal customer base because of our commitment to offering a wide array of healthy, global menu items and our sales figures show it,” said Rosemary Deahl, President and CEO of HeartWise Express. “Sales for the first six months of this year reveal a 68% increase over sales figures from 1996. Proof that our concept is continually strengthening and gaining market share.”

The 2,703 square foot restaurant with seating capacity for 85 guests serves breakfast along with fresh in-house baked goods and a full lunch/dinner menu. Hours of operation are 6:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. HeartWise Express serves an average of 1,000 customers a day and estimates 35% of their lunchtime customers frequent the restaurant on a daily basis.

HeartWise Express was founded by Rosemary Deahl, CEO of Big Deahl Productions, a Chicago-based commercial film production company specializing in the food industry. After years of working closely with prominent fast food restaurants, Deahl discovered a void in the market for healthy, fast and tastefully presented cuisine, which led to the development of the HeartWise Express concept. In 1996, HeartWise Express opened its doors at 10 South LaSalle, Chicago. Deahl plans to expand the HeartWise concept both locally and nationally.

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