Business of the Week: Zoup! Fresh Soup Company

On Nov. 8, Zoup! Fresh Soup Company opened its newest location in Lower Nazareth Township. For those unfamiliar with Zoup!, it is a fast-casual soup restaurant with 30 locations, mostly in the Northeast.

“This location has been tremendous for us,” said Zoup! manager Donna Burke of the Lower Nazareth Commons plaza on Route 248. “People like variety, and we all offer something different. Sometimes parents will come in with a Five Guys [Burgers and Fries] bag for the kids, but they’ll be in the mood for soup and a sandwich.”

The Lower Nazareth spot is the sixth to open in Pennsylvania.

The restaurant has 15 tables, all contemporary furnishings, and has the appeal of a café. Many people have likened Zoup! to Panera Bread because of its first-glance similarities. Burke counters by acknowledging that Panera puts more of an emphasis on its breads and sandwiches, while Zoup! is decidedly more soup-centric.

The chain began in 1997 in Michigan, the product of a dream to open a quick-service restaurant with the allure of delicious, homemade soups.

The restaurant offers literally hundreds of soup varieties throughout the year, including seasonal specials such as pumpkin and autumn soup.

“One of the cool things about [Zoup!] is it’s not the same menu every day,” Burke said, adding that on any given day, 12 different soups grace the menu, with new choices rotating each day.

The most popular soups offered so far at the Lower Nazareth location have been the chicken pot pie and lobster bisque, according to Burke.

The menu also features salads and sandwiches.  The Southwest Turkey sandwich, with chipotle mayo and pepper-jack cheese, has proved to be an area favorite, Burke added.

"I was a big fan of Panera Bread," said Eric Cesare, a regular patron of the local Zoup!, adding that he was a first-time customer at the Zoup! location on Airport Road.

As a resident of Tatamy, Cesare is pleased the new location is right next door.

"It's great that they opened [a Zoup!] closer to home," he said.  "The sandwiches are good, but you can tell the focus is on soups."

More than 30 soups are low-fat, and more than 20 are dairy-free. There are also many vegetarian and gluten-free options. All recipes are original and kept secret by the corporation, according to Burke.

Zoup! encourages samplings of any of its 12 daily soup options.

“In other places, people might order the same thing all the time,” Burke said. “We offer samples so that people try something they normally wouldn’t try.”

And that's exactly what Cesare does.

"I like to try a different [soup] every time I go in," he said."

According to Burke, the local Zoup! is already building a loyal customer base, with some patrons visiting four times a week.

“It’s about getting customers in the door, and making their experience the best we can,” she said.

One popular feature of Zoup! is the ability to order and pay online.

“It’s very convenient for the business crowd [during] lunch when the restaurant is standing-room only," Burke explained.

Zoup! also does plenty of catering. Since opening, Zoup! has catered for local businesses, doctors’ offices, hospitals, and area events.

The business is a member of the Nazareth Area Chamber of Commerce and plans to involve itself further in the community in the coming year.

Zoup! is open seven days a week and offers free wi-fi service.  The menu and nutritional information, including the daily soup choices, are available at www.zoup.com.