Sweetgreen Inc
NYSE:SG
Sweetgreen Inc
Sweetgreen Inc., founded in 2007 by three Georgetown University graduates, has reimagined the landscape of fast-casual dining with a focused mission: to connect people to real food. What began as a single location in Washington, D.C., has blossomed into a considerable network of restaurants across the United States, appealing to a growing consumer base interested in sustainability and healthy living. The company operates under a simple yet effective model, where seasonal, locally sourced ingredients form the backbone of its offerings. With a menu that evolves with the harvests, Sweetgreen provides customers with fresh salads, warm bowls, and other healthy options, setting itself apart in a crowded food service industry. The company's emphasis on transparency, both in sourcing and nutritional information, aligns emphatically with the values of its health-conscious clientele.
Sweetgreen's revenue model hinges on selling premium-priced meals directly to consumers through its stores and a robust digital platform that not only offers online ordering but also keeps users engaged with tailored marketing and rewards programs. The integration of technology is central to Sweetgreen’s business operations, as the company invests heavily in its app and other digital innovations to streamline the user experience, manage customer relationships, and optimize supply chain logistics efficiently. This tech-driven approach complements their grassroots ethos by reducing food waste through predictive inventory management and scaling personalized experiences for its digitally savvy customer base. By marrying health-focused culinary innovation with cutting-edge technology, Sweetgreen creates a compelling proposition in the fast-casual market, which drives its profitability and fuels its expansion strategy.
Sweetgreen Inc., founded in 2007 by three Georgetown University graduates, has reimagined the landscape of fast-casual dining with a focused mission: to connect people to real food. What began as a single location in Washington, D.C., has blossomed into a considerable network of restaurants across the United States, appealing to a growing consumer base interested in sustainability and healthy living. The company operates under a simple yet effective model, where seasonal, locally sourced ingredients form the backbone of its offerings. With a menu that evolves with the harvests, Sweetgreen provides customers with fresh salads, warm bowls, and other healthy options, setting itself apart in a crowded food service industry. The company's emphasis on transparency, both in sourcing and nutritional information, aligns emphatically with the values of its health-conscious clientele.
Sweetgreen's revenue model hinges on selling premium-priced meals directly to consumers through its stores and a robust digital platform that not only offers online ordering but also keeps users engaged with tailored marketing and rewards programs. The integration of technology is central to Sweetgreen’s business operations, as the company invests heavily in its app and other digital innovations to streamline the user experience, manage customer relationships, and optimize supply chain logistics efficiently. This tech-driven approach complements their grassroots ethos by reducing food waste through predictive inventory management and scaling personalized experiences for its digitally savvy customer base. By marrying health-focused culinary innovation with cutting-edge technology, Sweetgreen creates a compelling proposition in the fast-casual market, which drives its profitability and fuels its expansion strategy.
Sales Decline: Sweetgreen reported Q3 sales of $172.4 million, with same-store sales down 9.5%, mainly due to weaker trends in the Northeast and Los Angeles markets and softer spending by younger guests.
Profitability Pressures: Restaurant-level margin fell to 13.1% from 20.1% last year, and adjusted EBITDA swung to a loss of $4.4 million from a $6.8 million profit a year ago.
Cost Challenges: Higher protein and packaging costs, increased labor expenses, and negative sales leverage drove margin compression, but management is targeting supply chain savings in 2026.
Unit Growth Pullback: New restaurant openings will slow in 2026 to 15–20 net new units, about half featuring Infinite Kitchen technology, as the company focuses on financial discipline.
Spyce Sale: Sweetgreen will sell its Spyce automation business to Wonder, providing about $100 million in liquidity and $8 million in annual G&A savings, while keeping access to Infinite Kitchen tech at a cost-plus 5% model.
Loyalty Program: The SG Rewards program continues to grow, with 20,000 weekly activations and early signs of increased frequency among loyal customers.
Guidance Updated: 2025 guidance now includes 37 net new restaurant openings, $682–688 million in revenue, negative comp sales of 8.5% to 7.7%, restaurant margin of 14.5–15%, and negative adjusted EBITDA of $13 to $10 million.
