Baja Fresh Positioned for Growth and Expansion Throughout the United States and International Markets.

New Ownership Lays Out Strategic Growth Plans for Baja Fresh and La Salsa Locations

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- California-based Baja Fresh Mexican Grill, voted the Platinum award-winning Mexican Chain in America by Restaurants & Institutions, announced today Baja Fresh and La Salsa Fresh Mexican Grills have laid out strategic plans for growth and are poised for expansion throughout the United States and into International markets. Under new ownership, the company will focus its expansion efforts on strategic markets, including California, Nevada, Washington D.C., Missouri, Illinois, Georgia and Florida to name a few and on growing the company internationally.

"Baja Fresh and La Salsa are strategically focused on growing into new markets and on an international scale whether through franchise opportunities or new locations," said James Walker, president of Baja Fresh. "With our new restaurant designs encompassing a smaller footprint, we are now able to deliver our product to the customer with the freshness and quality they expect without paying for excess space which is not being fully utilized. It is a win-win for all parties -- the customer and us."

In addition to its traditional approach to expansion, Baja Fresh has developed a new model restaurant that encompasses a smaller footprint, allowing the company to enter new markets such as airports, colleges, and universities with new locations that encompass a mere 600 square feet. To help the company capitalize on these market opportunities, the company has recently partnered with HMSHost. Based on this relationship Baja Fresh is now the preferred fast casual Mexican food chain and is available as part of HMSHost's airport and motorway operations across the United States. The initial outlets are slated for Los Angeles International Airport and the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

Baja Fresh and La Salsa are also focused on making locations more cost efficient and effective to aide in the company's growth. Baja Fresh has downsized its restaurant design to approximately eighteen hundred square feet, twelve hundred square feet less than the original design.

Additionally, as part of its growth strategy, Baja Fresh and La Salsa will focus significant efforts on new franchise opportunities throughout the United States and in International markets. To help facilitate the growth of its franchise business, the company has instituted new policies to allow franchisees to have the option to open a single unit or multi-unit franchise locations.

For more information regarding franchise opportunities with Baja Fresh and La Salsa please contact Craig Hopkins, VP, franchise development and real estate at 805-495-4704 or [e-mail] or Kelly Burns, franchise development and real estate coordinator at 805-495-4704 or [e-mail]. For La Salsa franchise opportunities, contact Craig Hopkins at 805-367-0423 or [e-mail] and Kelly Burns at 805-367-0423 or [e-mail].

About Baja Fresh and La Salsa

Baja Fresh, founded in 1990, and La Salsa, founded in 1979, are both headquartered in Thousand Oaks, Calif. Baja Fresh operates or franchises 289 restaurants nationwide. La Salsa operates or franchises 100 restaurants.

Baja Fresh was named as the Platinum award-winning Mexican Chain in America by Restaurants & Institutions Consumer's Choice in Chains study in July 2007. Learn more about Baja Fresh at www.bajafresh.com.