Cava in a 'nexus' between fast food, full-service dining: CEO

Fast casual dining is becoming a sweet spot for the restaurant industry as shares of Cava (CAVA) are up nearly 110% year-to-date, the chain making its market debut last June. Cava CEO Brett Schulman joins the Morning Brief to discuss Cava's growth and the overall state of the restaurant sector.

Schulman explains that Cava's latest earnings revealed "consistent strength across all income segments," which he attributes to the company's value proposition: "We're able to deliver that unique Mediterranean cuisine where tastes and health unite and do it at a reasonable price." He explains that Cava brings value to customers not just through price, but through quality as well.

Cava is seeking to relaunch its loyalty program by the end of the year as consumers are increasingly seeking deals. Schulman notes that the program will serve as "a way to really create our first-party audience and to be able to engage in a one-to-one way with our guests, the way they operate through our brand, the way that they behave, and be able to surface relevant content to them." The program will use a points-based system that consumers can redeem for a variety of rewards.

As for the industry as a whole, Schulman explains, "we sit at an interesting kind of nexus between a traditional fast food below us and legacy full-service chain dining above us." He notes that full-service dining has increased in price and time commitment, whereas customers could go to Cava for reasonable time commitment and value. Similarly, fast food prices have increased, which has amplified Cava's value proposition.

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This post was written by Melanie Riehl