Cava (restaurant)

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Cava
TypePrivate
IndustryRestaurants
Founded2011
FoundersTed Xenohristos, Ike Grigoropoulos, Dimitri Moshovitis, Brett Schulman
Headquarters
Washington, D.C.
,
U.S.
Number of locations
133 (2021)[1]
Key people
Brett Schulman (CEO)
Websitecava.com
Cava restaurant in Silver Spring, Maryland

Cava (stylized in all caps, also referred to as Cava Grill) is a privately held Mediterranean fast casual restaurant chain with locations across the United States. Cava is owned by Cava Group, which also owns Zoës Kitchen.[2][3] The combined company is the largest restaurant operator in the Mediterranean category in the U.S. restaurant industry.[4] Cava also produces a line of Mediterranean dips, spreads and dressings that are sold in grocery stores across the US.[2][5]

History[]

In 2006, first-generation Greek Americans Ted Xenohristos, Ike Grigoropoulos, and Dimitri Moshovitis launched the full-service Cava Mezze restaurant in Rockville, Maryland, with Moshovitis as executive chef.[2][5][6] Following the launch of four additional restaurants, in 2008, Xenohristos, Grigoropoulos, and Moshovitis launched a line of dips and spreads to over 200 stores, including Whole Foods Market.[7][8] In 2009, Brett Schulman joined them as CEO and co-founder of the fast-casual chain Cava (originally called Cava Mezze Grill, later rebranded as Cava Grill and then simply as Cava).[6][7][9] They opened the first Cava restaurant in Bethesda, Maryland, in January 2011.[7][10]

In April 2021, Cava Group completed a $190 million series F funding round led by T. Rowe Price, bringing its value to nearly $1.3 billion.[11] Since 2015, the company has raised more than $640 million.[12]

Cava was named one of the world's 50 most innovative companies by Fast Company in 2018.[13] Fishbowl Analytics named Cava Grill its top emerging restaurant brand in 2019.[14] Since 2018, Cava has been offering its employees paid time off to vote.[15] In the 2020 presidential election, Cava offered free meals to poll workers in all of its locations.[16] During the Covid-19 pandemic, Cava launched a program called Feeding Families where, for every family meal sold, they donate another to the family of a first responder.[17]

Restaurants and expansion[]

In November 2018, Cava Group bought Zoës Kitchen, a restaurant chain with more than 250 locations, in a deal worth $300 million, taking the company private and helping Cava expand further into the suburbs.[5][18][19]

As of August 2021, there are 133 Cava locations. Each one of Cava's restaurants is company owned, and none are franchised.[5] In 2020, Cava Group converted seven of its Zoës Kitchen locations to Cava-branded restaurants, and plan to convert 50 more in 2021.[11][12][19] Cava has also invested in new technologies to expand its tech platform.[12] It has additional off-premises and digital kitchens dedicated to preparing food for online orders.[19] Cava added curbside pickup to its locations, added delivery through its mobile app and website, and delivery through DoorDash and Uber Eats.[11][20]

In November 2021, Cava closed its outpost in Barracks Row in Washington, DC., which was the second location it had opened in 2009, in order to "concentrate on our new concepts and other locations.” [21]

References[]

  1. ^ "Locations". cava.com. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "Bethesda Interview: The Cava Guys". bethesdamagazine.com. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  3. ^ "The 13 Most Anticipated Restaurant Openings Around D.C., Summer 2021". dc.eater.com. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  4. ^ "CAVA to acquire Zoe's Kitchen for $300 million". Reuters. August 17, 2018. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
  5. ^ a b c d "Cava: Healthy Mediterranean Chain Expanding And Acquiring". forbes.com. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  6. ^ a b "People are obsessed with this Mediterranean chain that's taking over America — here are its secrets". Business Insider. March 30, 2017. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
  7. ^ a b c "Cava to nearly double by next summer". washingtonpost.com. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  8. ^ "CAVA Expands Dips and Spreads Line to Whole Foods Nationwide". QSR Magazine. March 26, 2019. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
  9. ^ "3 tips for switching careers from guy who left finance for food". cnbc.com. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  10. ^ "What Inspires Cava CEO Brett Schulman". qsrmagazine.com. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  11. ^ a b c "Cava Restaurant Chain Nears $1.3 Billion Value With New Funding". bloomberg.com. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  12. ^ a b c "Cava nabs a $190 million investment". restaurantbusinessonline.com. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  13. ^ "Cava". fastcompany.com. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  14. ^ "These 10 restaurants could be the next Sweetgreen". CNBC. March 26, 2019. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
  15. ^ "Cava giving employees PTO to vote". fastcasual.com. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  16. ^ "Vote, then treat yourself to these Election Day freebies". today.com. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  17. ^ "How Austin Restaurants Are Helping Hospital Workers and First Responders". austin.eater.com. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  18. ^ "Cava Group acquires a massive competitor". Washington Business Journal. August 17, 2018. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
  19. ^ a b c "Cava sets its sights on bigger national presence after Zoes Kitchen acquisition". CNBC. April 18, 2019. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
  20. ^ "What's cooking: An inside look at Cava's new innovation kitchen". QSR Magazine. September 17, 2019. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  21. ^ "Cava Mezze on Barracks Row Closes After 12 Years". Barred In DC. December 1, 2021. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
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