EXKi
 | This article's tone or style may not reflect the encyclopedic tone used on Wikipedia. (November 2013) |
| Industry | Fast casual restaurants |
|---|---|
Number of locations | 86[1] |
| Website | www |
EXKi [ekski:] is an international chain of healthy fast-casual "grab-and-go" restaurants. The Belgian owners have stated[2] that the name is a play on the French word "exquis", meaning "exquisite" or "delightful".[3]
As of October 2014[update], EXKi currently operates 70 restaurants in Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands and United States.[1]
History
The concept was conceived during a 1999 reunion of three former classmates: Frederic Rouvez, Nicolas Steisel and Arnaud de Meeûs. Their idea was a fast-casual restaurant where the food was “natural, fresh & ready”.[citation needed]
In January 2001, they opened their first EXKi restaurant in Brussels.
In 2002, EXKi won the "Best Concept" award from the French international real estate conference MAPIC, and was awarded their "Best Food and Beverage Retail Concept" award in 2012.
In June 2014, the chain opened their first United States location on Park Avenue South in Manhattan.[4]
References
- ^ a b "RETAIL BRIEFS: Belgian fave opens in NYC, Tartinery in Brookfield Place". Real Estate Weekly. 25 October 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-06-10. Retrieved 2014-06-10.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ Weiss, Lois (23 September 2013). "Belgian food group settles in on Park Ave". New York Post. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
- ^ http://mobile.nytimes.com/2014/01/29/dining/moscow-57-on-delancey-street-and-more-restaurant-openings.html