GLOBAL healthy eating brand Freshii opens its first Northern Ireland outlet at Belfast's Donegall Square on Thursday, creating 10 jobs.
Marketed as one of the fastest growing restaurant brands in the world, the chain aims to "energise" the Northern Ireland palate, according to franchise holders Dave O'Donaghue and Cormac Manning.
They said they were "thrilled" to be expanding across Ireland and are on track to open up to 50 stores within five years.
"We are really excited about bringing Freshii to Northern Ireland. We want to energise people in the north and satisfy the consumer demand for healthy and fresh food at affordable prices," Freshii Ireland chief executive O'Donaghue said.
Meal choices are based on fibre-rich, slow-burning carbohydrates, essential fats and lean proteins, with more than 70 ingredients and home-made salad dressings created daily.
The brand also aims to cater for all dietary and taste bud preferences, including vegetarian, vegan, gluten- free, dairy-free and wheat-free options.
After opening its first store in 2005, Freshii is now located across 20 countries and 85 cities, with six outlets operating across Dublin.
The announcement comes just weeks after healthy eating chain Slim's Kitchen said it was closing six of its eight shops in Northern Ireland.
A voluntary winding up order was issued and McKeague Morgan & Company appointed liquidator of GJD Restaurants Ltd, which owns the brand.
Slim's Healthy Kitchen was set up by Gary McIldowney in 2013 after the former electrician underwent a dramatic weight loss, shedding his own poor eating habits which had resulted in him tipping the scales at 24 stone.
