---
title: "Noodles & Co.’s Q2 Earnings Highest in 6 Years Thanks to This New Menu Item"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/a9f019d6-b29a-4374-a0ea-2e8c8d39a511
source: "1851 Franchise"
original_url: https://1851franchise.com/noodles-cos-q2-earnings-highest-in-6-years-thanks-to-this-new-menu-item-2707210
category: "Fast casual"
industry: "Restaurants"
segment: "Fast casual"
topics: ["Finance & M&A","Marketing"]
published: 2018-07-19T20:15:04.000Z
modified: 2026-11-01T04:09:27.053Z
image: https://newimage.1851franchise.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=85,format=webp,width=1280,height=720/story/featureImage/1bc9c605dc1652669ad276bf6e5719324665.jpg
---

# Noodles & Co.’s Q2 Earnings Highest in 6 Years Thanks to This New Menu Item

**TL;DR:** Noodles & Co.'s Q2 earnings increased by 5.4% due to the introduction of Zoodles, a healthier menu option. The company's same-store sales and traffic increased by 5.4% and 3.1%, respectively, marking its best quarterly performance in 6 years.

*originally published in 1851 Franchise on 2018-07-19. [Read the original](https://1851franchise.com/noodles-cos-q2-earnings-highest-in-6-years-thanks-to-this-new-menu-item-2707210).*

## Story

Noodles & Co. made the move to include a healthier menu option in May when it introduced Zoodles, zucchini spirals resembling noodles that serve as an alternative to pasta. An article in National Restaurant News detailed how the low-carb option was added to the menu as its own dish but proved to be a popular substitute in many of the brand’s signature menu items as well. The offering was the catalyst for a 5.4 percent increase in same-store sales and a 3.1 percent increase in traffic, the company’s best quarterly performance in 6 years.

Executive chairman Paul Murphy said Zoodles are widening the chain’s customer base from its overall pasta-only connotation, creating the opportunity for people “to really kind of re-ID the company and what Noodle stands for.” Noodles & Co. leadership said it is developing a plan to provide more health-conscious options on its menu.

## Entities

- 1851 Franchise (publication)
- Restaurants (sector)
- menu pricing (topic)
- Noodles & Company (company)
- unit performance (topic)
- healthy menu options (topic)

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Originally reported by 1851 Franchise (https://1851franchise.com/noodles-cos-q2-earnings-highest-in-6-years-thanks-to-this-new-menu-item-2707210). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/a9f019d6-b29a-4374-a0ea-2e8c8d39a511).