The story of Bear State Kitchen begins with the origination of Lemonade Restaurant Group 20 years ago…

Lemonade was founded as a “hub and spoke” model by chef Alan Jackson and Heidi Jackson, and partner Ian Olsen, enticing Californians with the simple allure of beautifully prepared salads, hearty braised meats, satisfying sandwiches, decadent desserts, and of course, thirst-quenching lemonades. An accomplished chef in Los Angeles, Alan decided to ditch the upscale dining scene to launch the first Lemonade in West Hollywood, inspiring a chef-driven, contemporary approach to fine food..done fast, where the dishes are as creative and diverse as its inhabitants.

Ian Olsen joined the Jacksons as Partner, forging a dynamic relationship that helped to redefine the fast casual dining experience. Together, the team developed 30 award-winning Lemonade restaurants throughout California over the last two decades, spanning San Francisco to Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego, as well as two licensed units in Dubai, UAE.

INNOVATION THAT INSPIRES — From humble beginnings to today, the same Bear State Kitchen facility - still singularly focused on taste, efficiency, and results - produces a myriad sauces, bases and dressings for many of the leading growth brands on the West Coast and nationally. 

Uniquely positioned with unrivaled culinary leadership, including operating partner Kirk Plummer and General Manager Susie Moon, Bear State Kitchen stands alone as the unquestioned culinary leader in the marketplace.