CAVA’s Q4 revenue sizzles 21% to US$272.8M as Mediterranean magic spreads to 439 locations

GLOBAL – CAVA Group has cooked up a feast of a fourth quarter, with revenue jumping 21.2% to a mouthwatering US$272.8 million as the Mediterranean fast-casual darling continues its irresistible march across America.

The chain added 72 new restaurants during fiscal 2025, bringing its total to 439 locations, a growth spurt of nearly 20% that proves diners simply can’t get enough of those grain bowls and spicy feta.

New Stores Fuel the Fire

What’s behind this sizzling performance? Blame it on 87 net new restaurant openings since late 2024, each one a beacon of hope for hungry office workers and health-conscious families alike.

Same-restaurant sales edged up 0.5% in the quarter, but for the full year they leaped a more satisfying 4%.

CEO Brett Schulman, sounding like a man who just discovered the perfect hummus recipe, declared: “Our momentum and market share gains underscore the strength of our value proposition and reflect how deeply our brand is resonating with today’s increasingly discerning consumer.”

The Price of Growth: A Little Short-Term Indigestion

Here’s where the plot thickens.

While revenue soared to US$1.16 billion for the full year (up 22.5%), adjusted net income for the quarter slipped to US$4.9 million from US$6.5 million.

Blame higher depreciation and amortization, the unavoidable cost of all those gleaming new restaurants.

But full-year adjusted EBITDA rose to US$152.8 million from US$126.2 million, suggesting that underneath the short-term noise, the engine is purring nicely.

Net income for the year landed at US$63.7 million, down from 2024’s US$130.3 million, a reflection of a company reinvesting in its future rather than pocketing the change.

What’s on the Menu for 2026?

CAVA isn’t tapping the brakes.

The company projects another 74 to 76 net new restaurants in fiscal 2026, with same-restaurant sales expected to rise between 3% and 5%.

That’s the kind of guidance that makes investors’ mouths water, controlled, confident growth from a brand that has found its rhythm.

The Secret Sauce

CAVA’s success isn’t complicated: it’s the same recipe that built every great restaurant chain.

A clear identity (Mediterranean as lifestyle, not just cuisine), a mission that resonates (“heart, health, and humanity”), and execution that doesn’t waver.

In a world of fast-food sameness, CAVA offers something different: bowls that feel virtuous but taste indulgent, spaces that feel modern but welcoming.

With 439 locations and counting, this is one Mediterranean wave that shows no signs of receding.

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