Zoup's On

Granted, you don't need cold weather to enjoy soup, but few dishes go down the gullet more pleasurably on a frigid winter day than a cup - or bowl - of soup. And if that soup is fresh, well, all the better.

And at Zoup! fresh soups are the specialty, and locals now have a chance to sample these goods as a franchise location recently opened at 1300D Worcester St. (Rte. 9 east) in Natick's Sherwood Plaza.

Founded in 1998 and based in Southfield, Michigan, the company now has more than 70 restaurants in 16 states and Canadian provinces.

"We created Zoup! after discovering that really good soup is hard to find," said Eric Ersher, Zoup!'s founder and CEO. "Also, in talking to people, it became clear that there's something special about soup and the way it elicits thoughts of family, well-being and comfort for many people. We strive to offer authentic, hand-crafted soups that are as good "" and as "�feel-good"� "" as the homemade soups our mothers and grandmothers used to make." The husband-and-wife team of Mark and Lori Fox own the Natick franchise, and Mark recently discussed their new restaurant with Daily News staff writer Bob Tremblay.

QUESTION: Why did you buy this franchise? ANSWER: First, I have always loved soup. I was evaluating franchise business opportunities and discovered Zoup! which offered a huge variety of great tasting soups along with its made-to-order salads and sandwiches. I also saw that the wide variety of health-focused menu options would align with customer preferences here in this area.

Q: What did you do before you bought this franchise? A: I spent more than 25 years in corporate senior management and executive positions in the computer/semiconductor industry. Prior to this, I had six years of experience working at Bergson Ice Cream and Food Shops in Needham during high school and college.

Q: Describe the restaurant's cuisine.

A: Zoup! features hundreds of award-winning soup recipes with 12 rotating daily varieties, including low-fat, low-cal, vegetarian, dairy-free and gluten-free options, all served with a hunk of freshly baked bread. Customer favorites include chicken pot pie, lobster bisque and vegetarian split pea. The menu also features made-to-order salads and sandwiches.

Q: What makes you different from the competition? A: Soup has a special intangible quality like no other food. It brings out feelings of comfort and warmth. We strive to deliver those feelings with our high-quality soups served in an environment where everything matters. For folks looking for healthy options, we have 40 soups under 175 calories that can be complemented with a made-to-order salad or sandwich under 350 calories.

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