Operations

Cava highlights 'values-driven growth' in Impact Report

Photo: Cava

July 30, 2025

Cava, a Mediterranean fast casual restaurant brand, has released its first Impact Report, detailing how its mission-driven approach has fostered advancements in team member well-being, community engagement and culinary excellence.

"At Cava, impact isn't something we add on later — it's built into everything we do," Brett Schulman, co-founder and CEO of Cava, said in a company press release. "Our mission to bring heart, health and humanity to food is at the center of that, shaping how we support our team, serve our guests and engage with our communities. This report reflects the intentional work happening across Cava every day and the responsibility we feel to keep pushing ourselves to do better, together."

Key achievements

1. Fostering human connection and team well-being
Cava strengthened leadership capabilities among its team members through the Cava Competency Champion Training program, reachig over 3,200 team members across 150 workshops nationwide. The company also expanded benefits and rewards, including tuition discounts, adoption and family planning support and mental health resources.

To cultivate an inclusive workplace, Cava's Allies in Motion group hosted 38 events in 2024 focused on allyship, empathetic listening and inclusivity. The Partners in Service program further connected Support Center and restaurant teams, with the Shoulder-to-Shoulder program immersing Support Center staff in restaurant operations quarterly, and Centering at the Source bringing top-performing restaurant team members to the Support Center.

2. Serving wholesome meals and promoting sustainability
Cava has implemented innovative supply chain practices, such as aquafaba, the liquid from drained chickpeas used to make falafel, as an emulsifying ingredient in its popular garlic dressing. The brand also emphasized sourcing from trusted partners like Manoli Canoli for olives and olive oil, and Damascus Bakeries for sprouted grain pita.

In its commitment to sustainable practices, Cava continued a multi-year project to restore five acres of native Piedmont Savannah habitat around its Verona, Virginia, manufacturing facility. The company is also piloting guest-facing waste stations in restaurants and exploring eco-friendly packaging solutions, including transitioning cutlery to compostable or marine-degradable materials.

3. Building communities and reducing waste
Cava worked to combat hunger, providing over 42,000 meals to people in need through food bank partners in 2024. Operational practices, including piloting generative AI tools for demand forecasting, helped reduce food waste. Cava also partnered with Too Good To Go at 49 restaurants to minimize surplus food and raise money for local nonprofits.

Community engagement was a priority during new market entries, with Cava hosting 59 Community Days in 2024. Since 2022, Cava has contributed $1.2 million in food donations and financial contributions to local organizations.

"Serving bold, Mediterranean flavors and warm hospitality is at the heart of what we do," Jenny Roberts, Cava's senior director of sustainability and sourcing, said in the release. "But true stewardship means going further by honoring the people who make it possible and making choices that sustain our communities and our planet for the long term. We are proud of the foundation we've laid and are committed to ensuring our impact scales as we do."