Dutch Bros’ Salad and Go acquisition faces rival challenge

Two of the fastest-growing drive-thru coffee operators in the US are battling for control of up to 130 Salad and Go stores after the QSR chain filed for bankruptcy in August 2026

At the start of August 2026, US drive-thru coffee chain Dutch Bros announced a $105m agreement to acquire 65 Salad and Go sites across Arizona, Nevada, Oklahoma, and Texas.

The deal, subject to applicable approvals and other customary closing conditions, came just hours after Texas-based QSR chain Salad and Go filed for bankruptcy and permanently shuttered its remaining 70 sites in Arizona and Nevada. The chain had already closed nearly 70 stores in Texas and Oklahoma over the previous nine months.

The Dutch Bros transaction was expected to close by the end of September 2026, with the Arizona-based coffee chain converting 65 acquired sites – all of which are drive-thru – under its own branding over the following 12 months.

However, that plan has now hit a roadblock.