Saigon Hustle has won The Perfect Pitch, a “Shark Tank” style contest at the Fast Casual Executive Summit in Denver, Colorado.
Following a global contest seeking the best new concepts in fast-casual dining today, Saigon Hustle has won The Perfect Pitch.
The contest, a “Shark Tank” style event, was held at the Fast Casual Executive Summit on Oct. 14. The Fast Casual Executive Summit brings together hundreds of restaurant owners, operators and managers for a two-and-a-half day event. This year’s show was held in Denver, Colorado.
During the contest, five concepts gave presentations about their companies before a panel of judges, including Zack Oates, founder and CEO of Ovation, Etkin Tekin, co-founder and CEO of Haven Hot Chicken, last year’s The Perfect Pitch winner, and Michele Walters, business development officer for Coastal States Bank. The winner received $3,500 and a year of free service with Ovation.
Saigon Hustle, a Vietnamese food concept based in Houston, Texas, took home both the audience award and the judge’s award.
With food at the heart of this fast casual, meals start with a protein and a base, of which there are five of each. It’s easy to choose and easy on the go.
The brand opened in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021 with three employees. Today, the company has 30 and opened its second store just last week.
“We’re so, so excited,” Sandy Nguyen, co-founder of Saigon Hustle, said after the event. “We’re exhausted because we just opened the second location, so this just tops off how we feel.”
Other contestants during the event included: Gai Chicken & Rice, Much Ado About Pizza, Pasta di Guy and Shootz.
About Networld Media Group
Founded in 2000, Networld Media Group is a leading media communications company specializing in digital media, events and associations in the technology, restaurant, banking, and retail industries. It’s media brands include ATMmarketplace.com, DigitalSignageToday.com, FastCasual.com, KioskMarketplace.com, QSRweb.com, RetailCustomerExperience.com and RewardsThatMatter.com. Events under the Networld umbrella include the Fast Casual Executive Summit, the Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit and the Self-Service Innovation Summit.
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