Saigon Hustle emerged victorious in The Perfect Pitch competition, a “Shark Tank” style event held at the Fast Casual Executive Summit in Denver, Colorado.
From left, Zack Oates, founder & CEO of Ovation, Cassie Ghaffar and Sandy Nguyen, co-founders of Saigon Hustle, and Cherryh Cansler, editor of Fastcasual.com. Photo: Willie Lawless/ Networld Media Group
Saigon Hustle was selected as the best new concept in fast-casual dining through a global contest that sought innovative ideas. The event took place on October 14 during the Fast Casual Executive Summit, which gathers hundreds of restaurant professionals for a two-and-a-half-day program. This year’s summit took place in Denver.
During the competition, five different concepts presented their business plans to a panel of judges that included Zack Oates, founder and CEO of Ovation; Etkin Tekin, co-founder and CEO of Haven Hot Chicken, last year’s winner; and Michele Walters, business development officer for Coastal States Bank. The winning team received a $3,500 prize and a year of complimentary service with Ovation.
Saigon Hustle, a Vietnamese food concept located in Houston, Texas, not only won the judge’s award but also the audience award.
At the heart of this fast-casual dining experience, customers can choose from five different protein and base options, allowing for quick and convenient meals on the go.
Launched in 2021 amid the COVID-19 pandemic with just three employees, Saigon Hustle has since expanded to 30 employees and opened its second location just last week.
“We’re incredibly excited,” said Sandy Nguyen, co-founder of Saigon Hustle, after the event. “We’re exhausted because we just opened our second location, so this really caps off an amazing feeling for us.”
Other contenders in the competition included Gai Chicken & Rice, Much Ado About Pizza, Pasta di Guy, and Shootz.
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