Healthy Drive-Thru Opens in Perham, MN
A new drive-thru restaurant named Alkemi has opened in downtown Perham, Minnesota. The establishment offers healthier fast-food alternatives and has plans to open an accompanying dine-in location later this summer.
- The restaurant is tapping into a significant consumer trend, as 79% of consumers have shown increased interest in clean, minimally processed ingredients. The healthy fast-casual market is experiencing an annual growth rate of 8-10%, which outpaces the growth of conventional fast-food. - Alkemi is part of a broader economic expansion in Perham, which has a strong entrepreneurial spirit and provides multiple incentive programs for new businesses, including tax incentives and business loans. The city's economic development authority actively works to help new businesses succeed. - The planned construction of a dine-in location later this summer aligns with strong growth in the regional construction sector. Northwest Minnesota's construction industry grew by 17.6% between 2019 and 2024, significantly outpacing the statewide average of 8.1%. - Perham is focused on growth to support its workforce, having recently added over 300 apartment units and issuing the highest number of new home permits in six years in 2023. This growing residential base provides a built-in customer demographic for new businesses like Alkemi. - The business is owned by local entrepreneurs Dilan and Alexa Tostenson, reflecting a community-focused business environment where local businesses support one another. - Alkemi's menu of smoothie bowls, smoothies, and protein shakes fits directly into the trend of "functional foods" that consumers seek for tangible health outcomes like energy and focus. Current trends also show a rising demand for customizable options like bowls and plant-based ingredients.
