Konala founder Trace Miller’s life was saved by diet as a child. Now he’s built a fast-food brand proving healthy and fast aren’t mutually exclusive. Three new locations opening within 90 days. Forty more in development.
When Trace Miller was three years old, doctors told his family he would never learn to read and would likely die before his thirteenth birthday. He had been diagnosed with Lennox-Gastaut epilepsy and was experiencing more than 100 seizures a day. What saved his life wasn’t a drug or a procedure, it was diet. A specialist put him on a strict, nutrient-rich meal plan, and over time the seizures stopped entirely. Trace is believed to be the first person completely cured of the condition.
That experience — food as medicine, health as something worth fighting for — is the entire foundation of Konala. And right now, the rest of the country is starting to catch up to what Trace has known his whole life.
Konala, the healthy fast-food franchise known for its high-protein bowls and streamlined drive-thru model, is continuing to grow its footprint nationwide with three new locations opening in priority markets and more than 40 units in active development across California, New Jersey, Utah, Idaho, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Washington.
The Expansion Begins
Konala opened its Spokane location on April 30 at 1028 N Hamilton Street, directly across from Gonzaga University’s basketball stadium. The corporate-owned restaurant occupies the ground-floor corner of a new 40,000-square-foot student housing development owned by NBA Hall of Famer and Gonzaga alumnus John Stockton.
Shortly after, Konala will open its first Utah location in Provo on May 28 at 210 Cougar Blvd, adjacent to Brigham Young University’s campus. Franchisee Tyson Adams is behind the Provo opening, which marks the start of a five-unit development agreement to expand throughout Utah. Adams is already evaluating more sites in Salt Lake City and additional Utah markets.
“Opening my first Konala location is a very exciting moment for me,” said Adams. “It’s one thing to believe in a concept, but another to see it start coming to life. The Provo site is just the beginning — we’re already looking ahead to locking in the next few locations.”
A third opening is scheduled for early July in Belleville, New Jersey, where franchisee Anthony Menicola is preparing to open at 11 Franklin Ave — further expanding Konala’s presence to the Northeast.
“We’re moving fast, but that’s intentional,” said Trace Miller, Founder and CEO of Konala. “Konala was built to scale quickly without sacrificing strategy or quality. We have franchisees signing leases, pursuing multiple locations, and preparing to open, while our corporate team is doing the same. From day one, the goal has been to build a model that makes healthy food as delicious and convenient as possible — and that’s exactly what we’re doing.”
Built Different, By Design
After his military service, Trace and his wife Jammie returned to Idaho and got their start in the restaurant industry with a food truck and then the Bunker Bar, serving burgers and comfort food. It was successful. It also wasn’t them.
“My wife and I knew we needed to pivot to something that resonated with how we actually live,” Trace has said. “For us, food is more than fuel. It can be a cure. And there was nobody in fast food treating it that way.”
That gap became Konala. Founded in 2023 and named after their two rescue dogs, Kona and Nala, the brand was built around a simple but radical idea: fast food that actually makes you feel good. The entire menu is 100% gluten free, macro-focused, and built around customizable, protein-forward bowls. With zero fryers, grills, or flat tops in the kitchen. Meals are prepared in ovens, keeping the kitchen cool, efficient, and less stressful for employees. Drive-thru times run under three minutes.
It’s an operational model as intentional as the menu itself, and it’s a big part of why franchisees can move quickly. In addition to the drive-thru, Konala offers online ordering, third-party delivery, and indoor and outdoor seating, giving customers multiple convenient ways to access the brand wherever they are.
A Franchise System With Momentum
Since launching, Konala has surpassed 40 franchise units signed. In addition to the three locations opening this spring and summer, the brand has a lease signed in Sparks, Nevada, with franchisees continuing to pursue additional sites nationwide.
Konala’s Utah and Idaho franchisee group has committed to developing 25 units and expects to secure 3–4 locations within the next few months. In Orange County, California, the team is actively working toward signing their first site. On the corporate side, Konala’s Kiley Ranch location in Nevada — part of a major new shopping center development in the Sparks area — is currently in buildout and targeted to open in early 2027.
Overall, Konala expects to open 5–7 locations this year and secure at least 8–10 additional leases across its franchise system.
The brand is actively seeking franchisees — particularly experienced operators and health-conscious entrepreneurs who want to build something with real purpose behind it. Veterans receive a discount on franchise fees, a reflection of Trace’s own service and his belief that the discipline and leadership the military builds translate directly into running a great business.
“This isn’t just a business to me,” Trace said. “It’s a way of life. From fighting for my health as a kid, to serving my country, to building something with my wife that we genuinely believe in. We’re proving that healthy and fast don’t have to be at odds.”
Franchise inquiries can be submitted at konalafranchise.com.