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Sweetgreen announces incentive strategies and leadership growth plans

Source: Sweetgreen

October 27, 2026

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Sweetgreen is introducing its Head Coach Incentive plan, an incentive strategy allowing top-performing restaurant managers to potentially earn more than $200,000 annually through salary, sales-based bonuses and company equity.

At the same time, the Los Angeles-based company is expanding leadership development efforts through its Head Coach Restauranter plan.

"At Sweetgreen, a Team Member can grow into a Head Coach running a multimillion-dollar business, earning a six-figure income and owning equity in a public company," Sweetgreen co-founder and CEO Jonathan Neman said in a press release.

The Head Coach Incentive Plan rewards managers based on restaurant sales volume, growth and tenure. Managers with at least three years at the company who lead its highest-volume restaurants will be eligible for the compensation package beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2027. Managers can also move into higher salary tiers as restaurant sales volume increases, earn bonuses when sales exceed targets and receive company equity based on performance.

Sweetgreen also is expanding its leadership development efforts through its Head Coach Restaurateur Program. Restauranters are nominated by regional general managers and interviewed by the company's CEO and COO. Those participants then receive customized training and year-round mentorship from senior leaders. They also earn a higher base salary and a $10,000 bonus for every team member they develop into a Head Coach, with no cap on the number of bonuses.

Sweetgreen, which was founded in 2007, operates 289 restaurants nationwide. The company said it is approaching the 300-restaurant mark.