These days it’s close to impossible to not find yourself hungry in a drive-thru line. If you’re a vegetarian it’s probably the most exasperating situation you have to deal with. To sustain your lifestyle you’re left with nothing but fries and frozen iceberg lettuce salad choices from fast food restaurants. Amy’s Drive-Thru in Rohnert Park, CA serves only vegetarian and some vegan fast-food items. After two years of bliss and success at this pioneer location, Amy’s Drive-Thru is planning on expanding with six new restaurants and becoming a chain. According to Fast Company, another location will be added to Rohnert Park. The remaining five locations are undisclosed but will be in Northern California.
You’ll find Amy’s Drive-Thru on the same street as several processed meat competitors. Still, Amy’s meat-free and GMO-free menu is standing strong. Amy’s Drive-Thru started as Amy’s Kitchen, a food brand that’s supplied grocery stores nationwide with organic and vegetarian frozen meal options since 1987. Amy’s Director, Paul Schiefer, is quoted stating, “Over the years we felt we’ve been part of changing frozen food, and we had customers and partners saying, ‘Hey I wonder if you can do the same thing for fast food.’” A change is indeed emerging. The launch of Amy’s Drive-Thru is surely paving the way for more vegetarian options in fast foods.
Most people associate a higher cost with healthier food options and turn away. This is true, it does cost more for a food company to provide organic, healthy, and specialized food options. Most fast food restaurants hire around fifteen employees for each location. However, Amy’s Drive-Thru has around ninety employees at one location. It takes more people to prepare their food to the satisfactory level promised. Amy’s Drive-Thru prioritizes quality and not cost. Employees are paid more than minimum wage and a veggie cheeseburger at Amy’s Drive-Thru is only $3.99. Amy’s food researcher Fred Scarpulla Jr. also admitted there is little profit made from gluten-free options.
Sticking to their mission statement, “returning to the roots of American fast food, serving lovingly handcrafted food to nourish hard-working citizens, busy families and road-weary travelers” Amy’s Drive-Thru has a bright future ahead.
