Noodles & Co operates and franchises fast-casual restaurants with hundreds of locations in the United States. Close to half of its restaurants are located in one of five states: Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Virginia. Noodles' product consists of Asian, Mediterranean, and American dishes that are all cooked to order with high-quality ingredients. The core menu excludes artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, and sweeteners, and the company is committed to offering hormone-free and antibiotic-free meat and poultry. Approximately 15% of all locations are franchised restaurants, and royalties from the franchises account for more than 1% of total sales.