Where We Buy: Retail Real Estate with James Cook
Naked Farmer CEO Jordan Johnson
Why It Matters
Naked Farmer’s approach highlights a scalable way to bring truly local, nutrient‑dense food to consumers, addressing growing demand for transparency and sustainability in dining. As supply chain disruptions become more common, the model offers a resilient alternative that benefits both diners and regional farmers, making the episode especially relevant for anyone interested in food, sustainability, or innovative restaurant concepts.
Key Takeaways
- •Seasonal menus built on local farm harvests.
- •Regional supply chain supports Southeast farmers directly.
- •Pandemic spurred digital farmer's market and brand trust.
- •Transparent sourcing within 500‑600 miles enhances flavor.
- •Fast‑casual model blends fine‑dining techniques with speed.
Pulse Analysis
Naked Farmer has turned the fast‑casual restaurant model into a showcase for local sourcing and seasonal menus. By partnering with farms across the Southeast, the chain designs each menu around what is at peak harvest, delivering fresher flavors and higher nutrient density than produce shipped from distant regions. This farm‑to‑table approach not only differentiates the brand in a crowded market but also resonates with diners seeking transparency and authenticity in their meals.
Operationally, the company built a regional supply chain that contracts directly with farmers for each season, guaranteeing thousands of pounds of vegetables and proteins. The pandemic forced a rapid pivot to a digital farmer's market, allowing the brand to deliver farm boxes straight to consumers when grocery shelves were empty. This crisis response reinforced trust, proved the resilience of a localized supply network, and highlighted the strategic advantage of owning the farm‑to‑plate pipeline in a fast‑moving casual setting.
Customers are willing to pay a modest premium—often $3‑$5 more per meal—for the integrity and flavor that comes from transparent sourcing within 500‑600 miles. The brand’s elevated interiors, refined materials, and storytelling about each farmer further justify the price point. Looking ahead, Naked Farmer plans to replicate its regional model in new markets, establishing fresh supply chains that support local agriculture while scaling the sustainable restaurant concept nationwide.
Episode Description
Naked Farmer is a fast casual restaurant chain that launched in Florida about six years ago with a plan to offer good meals with ingredients sourced from local farms. CEO and founder Jordan Johnson explains how the company builds direct relationships with Southeast farmers, plans seasonal menus nine to 12 months in advance, and applies fine dining culinary techniques in a fast casual setting. Johnson also discusses the company's origin story, including pivoting to a digital farmer's market during the pandemic, the challenges of entering new markets like Nashville and Charlotte, what makes an ideal restaurant location, and upcoming spring menu items like crispy sesame tofu and cucumber ranch salad. Now with 10 locations across Florida, North Carolina, and Tennessee, Johnson shares his vision for scaling regionally while keeping the mission of fixing the food supply system at the center of the brand.
James Cook is the Director of Retail Research in the Americas for JLL.
James Cook is the director of retail research in the Americas for JLL.
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Email: jamesd.cook@jll.com
YouTube: http://everythingweknow.show/
Read more retail research here: http://www.us.jll.com/retail
Theme music is Run in the Night by The Good Lawdz, under Creative Commons license.
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