Jordan Ellis
Co-Founder & CEO
With a background in culinary arts and a passion for local farming, Jordan built Zupas from a single soup pot into a nationally recognized fresh-food brand.
Our Story
Real Food. Real People.
The Zupas Story
Zupas was built on a simple belief: food should taste the way nature intended. From our first café zupas bowl to hundreds of daily guests across the United States, we've never stopped putting freshness first.
8+
Years Serving
Who We Are
From a Single Kitchen
From a Single Kitchen
to a Beloved Brand
Zupas was founded in 2016 by two longtime friends who believed fast food didn't have to mean flavorless food. Starting with a small kitchen in Madison, Wisconsin, they set out to craft soups, salads, and sandwiches using only farm-sourced, seasonal ingredients — the kind of honest zupas experience that keeps guests coming back.
Over the years, our cafe zupas concept earned a loyal community of food lovers across the United States who share our conviction: a meal should nourish you, delight you, and never leave you wondering what went into it. Every broth is simmered from scratch. Every dressing is made fresh. Every bite is intentional.
Today, Zupas serves thousands of guests each week, yet the spirit that started in that tiny Madison kitchen hasn't changed one bit. We still believe real food is the best food.
Farm-to-Table
Made Fresh Daily
Community First
Sustainably Sourced
No Artificial Fillers
8+
Years of Freshness
50K+
Happy Guests Monthly
120+
Menu Items
4.9
Average Guest Rating
What Drives Us
Our Mission & Vision
Every decision at Zupas — from the farms we partner with to the recipes we craft — is guided by a clear set of commitments.
Our Mission
To make real, wholesome food accessible to everyone — served fast, priced fairly, and crafted with visible care every single day.
Our Vision
A world where choosing a fast, convenient meal never means compromising on quality, freshness, or the planet.
Our Promise
Every bowl, every sandwich, every sip is made with ingredients you can recognize, trace, and trust — always.
Our Impact
We partner with local farms across the United States to reduce food miles and keep money inside the communities we serve.
What We Stand For
Our Core Values
These aren't slogans on a wall — they're the standards our team holds themselves to every shift, every service, every guest.
Freshness Without Compromise
Ingredients are sourced daily. We never freeze or pre-cook menu staples. If it isn't fresh today, it isn't on the menu today.
Community at the Core
Zupas grows because our communities grow. We reinvest locally, hire locally, and support food-access programmes in every city we serve.
Sustainability in Every Step
From compostable packaging to zero-waste kitchens, we work hard to make sure every delicious meal has the smallest possible footprint.
Radical Hospitality
Every guest deserves a warm welcome and a memorable meal. We train our team to treat the hundredth guest of the day with the same care as the first.
Our Journey
The Zupas Timeline
Eight years of growth, one consistent ingredient — genuine passion for real food.
2016
The First Kitchen Opens
Co-founders Jordan Ellis and Maya Chen opened the very first Zupas café in Madison, Wisconsin — a 40-seat spot famous for its rotating soup menu and house-made salad dressings.
2017
Best New Restaurant Award
Madison Magazine named Zupas "Best New Restaurant" in its annual dining guide, putting our café zupas concept on the regional radar and tripling weekend traffic overnight.
2018
Second Location & Catering Launch
Demand led us to open our second location in Milwaukee and launch a full catering programme for corporate clients and events across Wisconsin.
2020
Online Ordering Goes Live
We launched our digital ordering platform, giving guests across the United States the ability to customize and pre-order their favourite zupas meals for pickup or delivery.
2022
Zero-Waste Kitchen Initiative
All Zupas locations transitioned to fully compostable packaging and launched food-donation partnerships with local shelters, diverting over 2,000 kg of surplus food from landfill in our first year.
2024
National Expansion Begins
Zupas begins its national rollout, bringing the café zupas experience to new cities across the United States, guided by the same farm-to-table philosophy that started it all.
The People Behind the Food
Meet Our Team
From the kitchen to the counter, every Zupas team member shares the same belief in fresh food and genuine hospitality.
Maya Chen
Co-Founder & Creative Director
Maya leads recipe development and brand identity, ensuring every dish served at a cafe zupas location is as visually compelling as it is delicious.
Priya Kapoor
Head Chef & Culinary Director
Trained in Paris and passionate about sustainability, Priya orchestrates all seasonal menu updates and ensures kitchen quality standards are upheld across every Zupas location.
Marcus Webb
Director of Operations
Marcus keeps the Zupas engine running smoothly — from supply-chain partnerships with United States farms to the guest experience at every front counter.
Love what we stand for? We're always looking for passionate people to join the team.
View Open Positions