Company Overview

CAVA Group, Inc. is a U.S.-based restaurant company operating in the fast-casual dining industry, with a focus on Mediterranean-inspired cuisine. The company’s core concept, CAVA, offers customizable bowls, pitas, and salads emphasizing fresh ingredients and bold flavors. CAVA primarily serves health-conscious consumers seeking convenient, high-quality meals and competes within the fast-casual and limited-service restaurant segments.

The company generates the majority of its revenue through company-owned CAVA restaurants, supplemented by a growing consumer packaged goods (CPG) business that sells branded dips and spreads through grocery retailers. CAVA differentiates itself through a vertically integrated model, proprietary recipes, and a brand positioned around wellness, speed, and digital engagement. Founded in 2006, CAVA began as a single full-service restaurant in Washington, D.C., transitioned to a fast-casual format, and expanded significantly after acquiring Zoës Kitchen in 2018. The Zoës locations were subsequently converted to the CAVA brand, completing the brand consolidation process by 2023. CAVA became a publicly traded company following its initial public offering in June 2023.

Business Operations

CAVA operates a single reportable business segment focused on fast-casual restaurant operations, encompassing company-owned restaurants, limited licensing revenue, and consumer product sales. The company’s restaurants are predominantly company-operated rather than franchised, allowing CAVA to maintain control over menu innovation, pricing, sourcing, and customer experience. Revenue is primarily driven by in-restaurant and digital sales, with digital channels representing a significant and growing portion of total revenue.

In addition to restaurants, CAVA operates a CPG business that produces and distributes branded dips, spreads, and dressings sold through national grocery chains. The company controls proprietary culinary formulations and operates a dedicated manufacturing facility to support this business line. CAVA does not currently operate international restaurants, and there are no material joint ventures; however, the company maintains supplier partnerships and distribution relationships critical to its vertically integrated supply chain.

Strategic Position & Investments

CAVA’s strategic direction centers on unit growth, menu innovation, and digital engagement. The company continues to invest heavily in new restaurant openings across underpenetrated U.S. markets, supported by data-driven site selection and a standardized restaurant prototype. Digital ordering, loyalty programs, and operational technology are key growth enablers designed to improve throughput and customer retention.

Major investments include the acquisition and conversion of Zoës Kitchen, which expanded CAVA’s national footprint and operational scale, as well as capital expenditures related to new restaurant development and manufacturing infrastructure for its CPG business. The company’s branded consumer products represent an emerging growth vector, extending the brand beyond restaurants and increasing customer touchpoints. CAVA is not currently active in unrelated sectors, maintaining a focused strategy within foodservice and packaged foods.

Geographic Footprint

CAVA’s operations are concentrated in the United States, with its corporate headquarters located in Washington, D.C. The company operates restaurants across numerous states, with particularly strong market presence in California, Texas, New York, and the Mid-Atlantic region. Its national footprint has expanded steadily following the conversion of former Zoës Kitchen locations and continued organic growth.

While CAVA does not operate restaurants internationally, its supply chain includes international sourcing for certain ingredients, and its branded products are distributed through U.S.-based national grocery retailers. The company’s geographic strategy remains focused on deepening penetration in existing U.S. markets while expanding into new domestic regions.

Leadership & Governance

CAVA is led by a management team with deep experience in restaurant operations, brand development, and public company governance. The leadership emphasizes a culture centered on hospitality, food quality, and disciplined growth, with a strategic vision focused on long-term brand building and operational excellence.

Key executives include:

• Brett Schulman – Chief Executive Officer
• Ted Xenohristos – Executive Chairman and Co-Founder
• Tricia K. Toliver – Chief Financial Officer
• Ike Grigoropoulos – Chief Experience Officer and Co-Founder