CAVA 10Q 2024 Q3 Quarterly report

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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)


x			QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended October 6, 2024


o			TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from ______ to ______

Commission File Number 001-41721

CAVA Group, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Delaware			47-3426661
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)			(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

14 Ridge Square NW, Suite 500 Washington, DC			20016
(Address of principal executive offices)			(Zip Code)

202-400-2920

Registrant's telephone number, including area code

Not applicable

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:


Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share	CAVA	New York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports); and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes x No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer

Accelerated filer

Non-accelerated filer

Smaller reporting company

Emerging growth company

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes o No x

The registrant had outstanding 114,579,714 shares of common stock as of November 5, 2024.

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Glossary

The following definitions apply to these terms as used in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q:

“Adjusted EBITDA” is defined as net income adjusted to exclude interest income, net, provision for income taxes, and depreciation and amortization, further adjusted to exclude equity-based compensation, other income, net, impairment and asset disposal costs, restructuring and other costs, and certain non-recurring public company costs, in each case, to the extent applicable in a given fiscal period. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for a reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA for the twelve and forty weeks ended October 6, 2024 and October 1, 2023;

“Adjusted EBITDA Margin” is defined as Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenue;

“CAVA Average Unit Volume” or “CAVA AUV” represents total revenue of operating CAVA Restaurants that were open for the entire trailing thirteen periods, and digital kitchens sales for such period, divided by the number of operating CAVA Restaurants that were open for the entire trailing thirteen periods;

“CAVA digital kitchen” is defined to include kitchens used for third-party marketplace and native delivery, digital order pickup and/or centralized catering production, and that has neither in-restaurant dining nor customer-facing make lines;

“CAVA Digital Revenue Mix” represents the portion of CAVA Revenue related to digital orders as a percentage of total CAVA Revenue;

“CAVA hybrid kitchen” is defined to include kitchens that have enhanced kitchen capabilities to support centralized catering production and that also have in-restaurant dining and customer-facing make lines;

“CAVA Restaurant-Level Profit,” a segment measure of profit and loss, represents CAVA Revenue less food, beverage, and packaging, labor, occupancy, and other operating expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization. CAVA Restaurant-Level Profit excludes pre-opening costs;

“CAVA Restaurant-Level Profit Margin” represents CAVA Restaurant-Level Profit as a percentage of CAVA Revenue;

“CAVA Restaurants” is defined to include all CAVA restaurants, including converted Zoes Kitchen locations and CAVA hybrid kitchens, that are open or temporarily closed as of the end of the specific period. CAVA Restaurants exclude restaurants operating under license agreements and CAVA digital kitchens;

“CAVA Revenue” is defined to include all revenue attributable to CAVA restaurants in the specified period, excluding restaurants operating under license agreements;

“CAVA Same Restaurant Sales Growth” is defined as the period-over-period sales comparison for CAVA restaurants that have been open for 365 days or longer (including converted Zoes Kitchen locations that have been open for 365 days or longer after the completion of the conversion to a CAVA restaurant);

“CPG” refers to consumer packaged goods;

“digital orders” means orders made through catering and digital channels, such as the CAVA app and the CAVA website. Digital orders include orders fulfilled through third-party marketplace and native delivery and digital order pick-up;

“guest traffic” means the number of entrees ordered in-restaurant and through digital orders; and

“Net New CAVA Restaurant Openings” is defined as new CAVA restaurant openings (including CAVA restaurants converted from a Zoes Kitchen location) during a specified reporting period, net of any permanent CAVA restaurant closures during the same period.

We operate on a 52-week or 53-week fiscal year that ends on the last Sunday of the calendar year. In a 52-week fiscal year, the first fiscal quarter contains sixteen weeks and the second, third, and fourth fiscal quarters each contain twelve weeks. In a 53-week fiscal year, the first fiscal quarter contains sixteen weeks, the second and third fiscal quarters each contain twelve weeks, and the fourth fiscal quarter contains thirteen weeks. References to “thirteen periods” are to the 13 accounting periods we have in each fiscal year, with each accounting period being four weeks, except in a 53-week fiscal year which will contain one accounting period of five weeks.

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Certain numerical figures have been subject to rounding adjustments. Accordingly, numerical figures shown as totals in various tables may not be arithmetic aggregations of the figures that precede them.

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Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements, within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that reflect our current views with respect to, among other things, our operations and financial performance. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical facts. These forward-looking statements relate to matters such as our industry, business strategy, goals, and expectations concerning our market position, future operations, margins, profitability, capital expenditures, liquidity and capital resources, and other financial and operating information. These statements generally can be identified by the use of words such as “anticipate,” “assume,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “future,” “will,” “seek,” “foreseeable,” “outlook,” the negative version of these words, or similar terms and phrases.

The forward-looking statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are based on management’s current expectations and are not guarantees of future performance. The forward-looking statements are subject to various risks, uncertainties, assumptions, or changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict or quantify. Our expectations, beliefs, and projections are expressed in good faith, and we believe there is a reasonable basis for them. However, there can be no assurance that management’s expectations, beliefs, and projections will result or be achieved. Actual results may differ materially from these expectations due to changes in global, regional, or local economic, business, competitive, market, regulatory, and other factors, many of which are beyond our control. We believe that these factors include but are not limited to the following: our operation in a highly competitive industry; our ability to open new restaurants while managing our growth effectively and maintaining our culture; our ability to successfully identify appropriate locations and develop and expand our operations in existing and new markets; the profitability of new restaurants, and any impact to sales at our existing locations; the impact of changes in guest perception of our brand; our ability to successfully market our restaurants and brand; the impact of food safety, health department regulations, and food-borne illness concerns together with our ability to adequately address such concerns and meet regulatory obligations, including at our manufacturing facilities; our ability to maintain or increase prices; our ability to accurately predict guest trends and demand and successfully introduce new menu offerings and improve our existing menu offerings; the risks associated with leasing property; our ability to successfully expand our digital and delivery business; our ability to utilize, recognize, respond to, and effectively manage the immediacy of social media; our ability to achieve or maintain profitability in the future, especially if we continue to grow at an accelerated rate; our ability to realize the anticipated benefits from past and potential future acquisitions, investments or other strategic initiatives; our ability to manage our manufacturing and supply chain effectively; the impact of shortages, delays, or interruptions in the delivery of food items and other products; our ability to successfully optimize, operate, and manage our production facilities; the risks associated with our reliance on third parties; the impact of increases in food, commodity, energy, and other costs; the impact of increases in labor costs, labor shortages, and our ability to identify, hire, train, motivate and retain the right team members; our ability to attract, develop, and retain our management team and key team members; the impact of any cybersecurity breaches and our ability to respond effectively to technology threats or events; the impact of failures, or interruptions in, or our inability to effectively scale and adapt, our information technology systems; our ability to comply with, or changes in, the extensive laws or regulations requirements to which we are subject, including those related to privacy; the impact of economic factors and guest behavior trends; the impact of evolving rules and regulations with respect to environmental, social and governance matters; risks associated with our ability to secure, and protect our intellectual property; risks associated with civil unrest, acts of terrorism, threats to national security, the conflicts in Eastern Europe and the Middle East and other geopolitical events, including potential discriminatory perspectives towards certain cuisines; the impact of climate change and volatile adverse weather conditions; and each of the other factors set forth in “Part I—Item 1A. Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, and in other reports filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, all of which are available on the investor relations page of our website at investor.cava.com

You should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. You should understand that many important factors, including those discussed herein, could cause our results to differ materially from those expressed or suggested in any forward-looking statement. Except as required by law, we do not undertake any obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements to reflect new information or events or circumstances that occur after the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events or otherwise.

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			Page
Part I - Financial Information
Item 1. Financial Statements (Unaudited)			1
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets			1
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations			2
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Preferred Stock and Stockholders’ Equity			3
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows			5
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements			6
Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations			13
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk			25
Item 4. Controls and Procedures			25

Part II - Other Information
Item 1. Legal Proceedings			26
Item 1A. Risk Factors			26
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds			26
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities			27
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures			27
Item 5. Other Information			27
Item 6. Exhibits			27
Signatures			28

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Part I - Financial Information

Item 1. Financial Statements


CAVA GROUP, INC.
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except per share amount)	October 6, 2024		December 31, 2023
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	367,160	$	332,428
Trade accounts receivable, net	6,483		3,662
Other accounts receivable	6,717		8,223
Inventories	7,335		5,637
Prepaid expenses and other	5,565		4,962
Total current assets	393,260		354,912
Property and equipment, net	363,216		330,730
Operating lease assets	314,073		289,451
Goodwill	1,944		1,944
Intangible assets	1,355		1,355
Other long-term assets	5,691		5,365
Total assets	$	1,079,539	$	983,757

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	25,336	$	17,234

Accrued expenses and other	67,894		59,219
Operating lease liabilities, current	41,211		32,583
Total current liabilities	134,441		109,036

Deferred income taxes	79		79
Operating lease liabilities	328,582		303,615
Other long-term liabilities	—		225
Total liabilities	463,102		412,955
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 9)


Stockholders' equity:
Common stock, par value $0.0001 per share; 2,500,000 shares authorized; 114,563 and 113,708 issued and outstanding, respectively	11		11
Treasury stock, at cost; 1,382 shares and 1,086 shares, respectively	(27,563)		(9,727)
Additional paid-in capital	1,039,952		1,028,181
Accumulated deficit	(395,963)		(447,663)
Total stockholders’ equity	616,437		570,802
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$	1,079,539	$	983,757

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

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CAVA GROUP, INC.
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

	Twelve Weeks Ended				Forty Weeks Ended
(in thousands, except per share amounts)	October 6, 2024		October 1, 2023		October 6, 2024		October 1, 2023
Revenue	$	243,817	$	175,553	$	736,318	$	551,530
Operating expenses:
Restaurant operating expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization)
Food, beverage, and packaging	73,540		51,818		216,326		161,936
Labor	61,233		43,913		186,134		138,484
Occupancy	16,412		13,782		52,751		43,781
Other operating expenses	29,985		21,553		90,734		66,847
Total restaurant operating expenses	181,170		131,066		545,945		411,048
General and administrative expenses	29,830		24,472		91,951		76,817
Depreciation and amortization	14,325		11,528		45,380		35,096
Restructuring and other costs	230		1,092		582		5,160
Pre-opening costs	2,819		3,410		9,500		12,809
Impairment and asset disposal costs	1,675		1,190		3,795		4,295
Total operating expenses	230,049		172,758		697,153		545,225
Income from operations	13,768		2,795		39,165		6,305
Interest income, net	(4,091)		(3,956)		(12,829)		(4,630)
Other income, net	(50)		(120)		(188)		(412)
Income before taxes	17,909		6,871		52,182		11,347
(Benefit from) provision for income taxes	(57)		38		482		116
Net income	$	17,966	$	6,833	$	51,700	$	11,231

Earnings per share:
Basic	$	0.16	$	0.06	$	0.45	$	0.26
Diluted	$	0.15	$	0.06	$	0.44	$	0.24
Weighted-average common shares outstanding:
Basic	114,434		113,584		114,158		43,244
Diluted	118,430		117,713		118,191		45,966

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

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CAVA GROUP, INC.
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF PREFERRED STOCK AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Twelve Weeks Ended October 6, 2024 and October 1, 2023

	Common Stock		Treasury Stock			Additional Paid in Capital			Accumulated Deficit		Total Stockholders' Equity
(in thousands)		Shares	Amount		Shares			Amount
Balance—July 09, 2023		113,581	$	11	1,037	$	(8,085)		$	1,020,428	$	(456,545)	$	555,809
Equity-based compensation		—	—		—	—			3,183		—		3,183
Shares purchased under equity plans		1	—		—	—			3		—		3
RSU vesting		11	—		—	—			—		—		—
Tax withholding on equity-based compensation awards		(3)	—		3	(105)			—		—		(105)


Net income		—	—		—	—			—		6,833		6,833
Balance—October 1, 2023		113,590	$	11	1,040	$	(8,190)		$	1,023,614	$	(449,712)	$	565,723

Balance—July 14, 2024		114,306	$	11	1,378	$	(27,066)		$	1,036,421	$	(413,929)	$	595,437
Equity-based compensation		—	—		—	—			2,994		—		2,994
Shares purchased under equity plans		250	—		—	—			537		—		537
RSU vesting		11	—		—	—			—		—		—
Tax withholding on equity-based compensation awards		(4)	—		4	(497)			—		—		(497)
Net income		—	—		—	—			—		17,966		17,966
Balance—October 6, 2024		114,563	$	11	1,382	$	(27,563)		$	1,039,952	$	(395,963)	$	616,437

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

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CAVA GROUP, INC.
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF PREFERRED STOCK AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Forty Weeks Ended October 6, 2024 and October 1, 2023

	Redeemable Preferred Stock			Common Stock			Treasury Stock			Additional Paid in Capital		Accumulated Deficit		Total Stockholders' Equity
(in thousands)	Shares	Amount		Shares	Amount		Shares	Amount
Balance—December 25, 2022	95,204	$	662,308	1,409	$	—	886	$	(6,619)	$	19,059	$	(460,943)	$	(448,503)
Equity-based compensation	—	—		—	—		—	—		5,854		—		5,854
Shares purchased under equity plans	—	—		62	—		—	—		292		—		292
RSU vesting	—	—		458	—		—	—		—		—		—
Tax withholding on equity-based compensation awards	—	—		(154)	—		154	(1,571)		—		—		(1,571)

Proceeds from initial public offering, net of underwriting fees and offering costs of $29.3 million	—	—		16,611	1		—	—		336,110		—		336,111
Conversion of preferred stock	(95,204)	(662,308)		95,204	10		—	—		662,299		—		662,309
Net income	—	—		—	—		—	—		—		11,231		11,231
Balance—October 1, 2023	—	$	—	113,590	$	11	1,040	$	(8,190)	$	1,023,614	$	(449,712)	$	565,723

Balance—December 31, 2023	—	$	—	113,708	$	11	1,086	$	(9,727)	$	1,028,181	$	(447,663)	$	570,802
Equity-based compensation	—	—		—	—		—	—		9,943		—		9,943
Shares purchased under equity plans	—	—		361	—		—	—		1,828		—		1,828
RSU vesting	—	—		790	—		—	—		—		—		—
Tax withholding on equity-based compensation awards	—	—		(296)	—		296	(17,836)		—		—		(17,836)


Net income	—	—		—	—		—	—		—		51,700		51,700
Balance—October 6, 2024	—	$	—	114,563	$	11	1,382	$	(27,563)	$	1,039,952	$	(395,963)	$	616,437

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

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CAVA GROUP, INC.
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

	Forty Weeks Ended
(in thousands)	October 6, 2024		October 1, 2023
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$	51,700	$	11,231
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation	45,380		35,069
Amortization of intangible assets	—		27

Equity-based compensation	9,943		5,854


Impairment and asset disposal costs	3,795		4,295
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Trade accounts receivable	(2,821)		(2,365)
Other accounts receivable	1,506		(2,591)
Inventories	(1,698)		(586)
Prepaid expenses and other	(929)		643
Operating lease assets	(24,735)		(26,177)
Accounts payable	5,037		1,601
Accrued expenses and other	10,395		16,437
Operating lease liabilities	33,601		29,650
Net cash provided by operating activities	131,174		73,088
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment	(80,389)		(107,564)

Net cash used in investing activities	(80,389)		(107,564)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt	—		6,000
Payments on long-term debt	—		(6,000)
Tax withholding on equity-based compensation awards	(17,836)		(1,571)
Shares purchased under equity plans	1,828		292
Proceeds from initial public offering, net of underwriting fees of $22.8 million	—		342,604
Offering costs paid	—		(5,141)
Payment of loan acquisition fees	—		(368)
Payments on finance lease obligations	(45)		(66)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(16,053)		335,750
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	34,732		301,274
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of year	332,428		39,125
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period	$	367,160	$	340,399

Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information:
Offering costs not yet paid	$	—	$	243

Cash paid for income taxes	1,046		260
Change in accrued purchases of property and equipment	1,272		4,087
Conversion of redeemable preferred stock into common stock in connection with initial public offering	—		662,309

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

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CAVA GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

CAVA Group, Inc. (together with its wholly owned subsidiaries, referred to as the “Company”, “CAVA”, “we”, “us”, and “our” unless specified otherwise) was formed as a Delaware corporation in 2015, and prior to that, the first CAVA restaurant opened in 2011 in Bethesda, Maryland. The Company is headquartered in Washington, D.C. and, as of October 6, 2024, the Company operated 352 fast-casual CAVA Restaurants in 25 states and Washington, D.C. The Company’s authentic Mediterranean cuisine unites taste and health, with a menu that features chef-curated and customizable bowls and pitas. The Company’s dips, spreads, and dressings are centrally produced for use in its restaurants and to be sold in grocery stores.

The Company’s operations are conducted as two reportable segments: CAVA and Zoes Kitchen. These segments were determined on the same basis that the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, who is the chief operating decision maker (“CODM”), manages, evaluates, and makes key decisions regarding the business. As of March 2, 2023, the Company no longer operates any Zoes Kitchen locations.

Initial Public Offering—On June 20, 2023, the Company completed an initial public offering (the “IPO”) of 16.6 million shares of common stock at a price of $22.00 per share, which included 2.2 million shares sold to the underwriters pursuant to their option to purchase additional shares. After underwriting discounts and commissions of $22.8 million and offering expenses of $6.5 million, the Company received net proceeds from the offering of $336.1 million. In connection with the IPO, 95.2 million outstanding shares of preferred stock were converted into an equivalent number of shares of common stock.

Interim Financial Statements—The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and practices of the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in annual financial statements presented in accordance with GAAP have been omitted pursuant to rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair statement of the results for interim periods have been included.

The unaudited interim financial information should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023. Interim results of operations are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be achieved for the full year.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards—In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”), issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures, which improves reportable segment disclosure through enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses. The Company will apply the guidance beginning with its consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ending December 29, 2024, which will, among other items, include additional segment expense disclosures.

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures, which improves income tax disclosures through enhanced disaggregation within the rate reconciliation table and disaggregation of income taxes paid by jurisdiction. The amendment is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024 (our fiscal 2025) and early adoption is permitted. The amendments should be applied on a prospective basis, however, retrospective application is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this ASU on its disclosures.

The Company reviewed all other recently issued accounting standards and determined they were either not applicable or not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results from operations.

JOBS Act Election—In April 2012, the JOBS Act was enacted. Section 107(b) of the JOBS Act provides that an emerging growth company can take advantage of an extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards. Thus, an emerging growth company can delay adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would apply to private companies. The Company is currently an emerging growth company and has elected to take advantage of the extended transition period to comply with new or revised accounting standards and to adopt certain of the reduced disclosure requirements available to emerging growth companies. As a result of the accounting standards election, the Company will not be subject to the same implementation timing for new or revised accounting standards as other public companies that are not emerging growth companies and, as a result, the Company’s financial statements may

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not be comparable to companies that comply with new or revised accounting pronouncements as of public company effective dates.

As of July 14, 2024, the market value of the Company’s common stock held by non-affiliates exceeded $700.0 million. As a result, the Company will become a large accelerated filer beginning December 30, 2024, the first day of our next fiscal year, and will no longer be an emerging growth company for future filings. As a large accelerated filer, the Company will be subject to certain disclosure and compliance requirements that apply to other public companies that did not previously apply to the Company due to its status as an emerging growth company. These requirements include, but are not limited to: the requirement that the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm attest to the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002; compliance with any requirements that may be adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding mandatory audit firm rotation or a supplement to the auditors’ report providing additional information about the audit and the financial statements; the requirement that the Company provide more detailed disclosures regarding executive compensation; and, the requirement that the Company hold a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation and obtain shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.

2. REVENUE

The Company’s revenue was as follows:


	Twelve Weeks Ended				Forty Weeks Ended
(in thousands)	October 6, 2024		October 1, 2023		October 6, 2024		October 1, 2023
Restaurant revenue	$	241,499	$	173,759	$	729,173	$	545,476
CPG revenue and other	2,318		1,794		7,145		6,054
Revenue	$	243,817	$	175,553	$	736,318	$	551,530

Revenue from the redemption of the Company’s gift cards and loyalty program is included in restaurant revenue. Refer to Note 5 (Accrued Expenses and Other) for the Company’s gift card and loyalty liability balances. Revenue recognized from the redemption of gift cards, included in the gift card liability at the beginning of the year was $0.3 million during each of the twelve weeks ended October 6, 2024 and October 1, 2023. Revenue recognized from the redemption of gift cards, included in the gift card liability at the beginning of the year was $1.5 million and $0.7 million during the forty weeks ended October 6, 2024 and October 1, 2023, respectively.

On October 7, 2024, the Company launched its reimagined loyalty program nationwide with the goal of developing personal relationships with guests as the Company scales its business. Under the reimagined loyalty program, points can be redeemed for various rewards, which consist of free food and beverage items. Points expire if an account is inactive for a period of six months, and earned rewards converted from points expire 60 days after they are issued. The Company expects that the change in the loyalty program will increase the loyalty liability balance in the future.

3. FAIR VALUE

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis—The carrying amounts of the Company’s financial instruments, which include cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and other accrued expenses, approximate their fair values due to their short maturities.

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Non-recurring Basis—Assets recognized or disclosed at fair value in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements on a nonrecurring basis may include items such as property and equipment, net, operating lease assets, goodwill, and intangible assets. These assets are measured at fair value whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable.

Certain operating lease assets and leasehold improvements were measured at fair value, on a non-recurring basis, as of October 1, 2023 and April 16, 2023, in connection with impairment charges of $0.6 million and $1.3 million included within impairment and asset disposal costs in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations for the twelve and forty weeks ended October 1, 2023, respectively. The fair value of these assets was concluded to be $0.7 million using an income approach (discounted cash flow method), which was measured using Level 3 inputs (unobservable inputs), including the discount rate and projected restaurant revenues and expenses.

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4. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET

The following table presents the Company’s property and equipment, net:


(in thousands)	October 6, 2024		December 31, 2023
Land	$	600	$	600
Building	24,284		—
Leasehold improvements	315,602		268,245
Equipment and other	103,622		79,268
Furniture and fixtures	20,526		19,694
Computer hardware and software	50,668		46,437

Construction in progress	28,770		58,501
Total property and equipment, gross	544,072		472,745
Less accumulated depreciation	(180,856)		(142,015)
Total property and equipment, net	$	363,216	$	330,730

Construction in progress includes CAVA new restaurant openings and technology improvements as of both periods presented above. Building, as of October 6, 2024 and construction in progress as of December 31, 2023, includes the new production facility in Verona, Virginia, which commenced operations in the first quarter of fiscal 2024.

5. ACCRUED EXPENSES AND OTHER

The following table presents the Company’s accrued expenses and other:


(in thousands)	October 6, 2024		December 31, 2023
Accrued payroll and payroll taxes	$	29,244	$	23,370
Accrued capital purchases	6,142		7,935
Sales and use tax payable	6,096		3,807
Gift card and loyalty liabilities	4,479		4,096
Other accrued expenses	21,933		20,011
Total accrued expenses and other	$	67,894	$	59,219

6. DEBT

As of October 6, 2024, the Company had a revolving loan commitment with available borrowing capacity of $74.3 million, net of $0.7 million of outstanding letters of credit (the “2022 Credit Facility”), with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as administrative agent. The 2022 Credit Facility has a five-year term and matures on March 11, 2027. The 2022 Credit Facility included a delayed draw term loan facility (“DDTL”) of $24.0 million, which facility commitment terminated on August 15, 2024. Interest on loans under the 2022 Credit Facility are based on the one, three or six months Adjusted Term Secured Overnight Financing Rate (as described in the 2022 Credit Facility), as applicable, plus an applicable margin of 1.50% to 2.50% based on the Company’s Total Rent Adjusted Net Leverage Ratio (as defined in the 2022 Credit Facility). The Company is also required to pay a commitment fee for unused amounts under the 2022 Credit Facility (and a similar ticking fee with respect to undrawn loans under the DDTL through its termination), which ranges from 0.20% to 0.35% based on the Total Rent Adjusted Net Leverage Ratio. The 2022 Credit Facility is unconditionally guaranteed by certain of the Company’s domestic restricted subsidiaries and is secured, subject to permitted liens and other exceptions, by a first-priority security interest in and pledge of certain assets of the borrower and the guarantors. The 2022 Credit Facility includes customary restrictive covenants and covenants that require compliance with certain leverage ratios. As of October 6, 2024, the Company was in compliance with these financial and other covenants, and the Company had no borrowings under the 2022 Credit Facility.

7. INCOME TAXES

The Company’s full pretax income for the twelve and forty weeks ended October 6, 2024 and October 1, 2023 was from U.S. domestic operations. The Company’s effective tax rate differs from the statutory rate primarily due to the valuation allowance recorded against deferred tax assets (“DTAs”).

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A valuation allowance is provided when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the DTAs will not be realized. The factors used to assess the likelihood of realization include the Company’s historical and forecasted future taxable income and available tax planning strategies that could be implemented to realize the net DTAs. The Company assesses the available positive and negative evidence to estimate whether sufficient future taxable income will be generated. A significant piece of objective negative evidence evaluated was the cumulative losses incurred over the most recent three-year period ended October 6, 2024. Such objective evidence limits the ability to consider other subjective evidence, such as projections for future growth. On the basis of this evaluation, as of October 6, 2024 and December 31, 2023, a full valuation allowance has been recorded on the Company’s DTAs.

However, management has evaluated the Company’s recent profitability trends and believes that, if current trends persist, it is reasonably possible that in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024, sufficient positive evidence will become available to allow the Company to reach the conclusion that a significant portion of the valuation allowance will no longer be needed. Release of the valuation allowance would result in the recognition of certain DTAs and a decrease to income tax expense for the period the release is recorded. However, the exact timing and amount of the valuation allowance to be released are subject to change based on the positive evidence, including, but not limited to, the level of expected profitability, that the Company is able to actually achieve in future periods.

8. LEASES

The Company leases all of its CAVA Restaurants, its digital kitchens, its production facility in Laurel, Maryland, its collaboration center in Washington, D.C., and its support centers in Brooklyn, New York and Plano, Texas. The Company determines if a contract contains a lease at inception, and determines the classification of a lease, if necessary. Typically, restaurant leases have initial terms of 10 years and include five-year renewal options.

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information related to leases were as follows:


	Twelve Weeks Ended				Forty Weeks Ended
(in thousands)	October 6, 2024		October 1, 2023		October 6, 2024		October 1, 2023
Cash paid for operating lease liabilities	$	14,580	$	12,067	$	42,990	$	35,220
Operating lease assets obtained in exchange for operating lease liabilities	17,297		8,457		50,694		42,341
Derecognition of operating lease assets due to termination or impairment	—		236		109		3,022

9. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Purchase Obligations—The Company enters into various purchase obligations in the ordinary course of business, generally of a short-term nature. Those that are binding primarily relate to amounts owed for produce and other ingredients and supplies, including supplies and materials used for new restaurant openings.

Letters of Credit—As of October 6, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company had four irrevocable letters of credit in favor of various landlords in the aggregate amount of $0.7 million. The letters of credit do not require a compensating balance and automatically renew in accordance with the terms of the underlying lease agreement.

Litigation—The Company is currently involved in various claims and legal actions that arise in the ordinary course of its business, including claims resulting from employment related matters. While the ultimate outcome and the costs associated with litigation are inherently uncertain and difficult to predict, as of the date hereof, the Company does not believe that any of its pending legal proceedings, most of which are covered by insurance, will have a material effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows. However, a significant increase in the number of these claims or an increase in uninsured amounts owed under successful claims could materially and adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.

On April 27, 2022, the Company was named as a defendant in Hamman et al. v. Cava Group, Inc. in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, which alleged that certain of the Company’s products were unfit for human consumption due to the packaging containing allegedly heightened levels of organic fluorine and unsafe per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”), and that consumers were misled by certain marketing claims asserted by the Company regarding the health and sustainability of its products. Plaintiffs sought, among other relief, compensatory damages in an unspecified amount and medical monitoring. The Company settled the matter and the action was dismissed with prejudice on April 15, 2024.

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On October 12, 2023, the Company was named as a defendant in GMO Free USA d/b/a Toxin Free USA v. Cava Group, Inc. in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia Civil Division, which alleged that the Company used unhealthy and unsustainable PFAS in its packaging, that its products contained synthetic biocides, and that its “healthy” and “sustainable” marketing claims constituted false and deceptive advertising. Plaintiffs sought declaratory and injunctive relief, including that the Company refrain from using or sourcing packaging containing PFAS and that it add certain product warnings, as well as payment of the plaintiffs’ attorney’s fees. The Company settled the matter and the action was dismissed with prejudice on April 16, 2024.

In connection to the aforementioned Hamman matter, Travelers Property Casualty Company of America et al v. Cava Group, Inc. was filed on September 21, 2022 in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Orange and subsequently transferred to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on February 13, 2024. Plaintiff sought a declaratory judgment that it was not liable for insurance coverage in relation to the allegations asserted in the Hamman complaint related to PFAS, as well as recoupment of the Company’s legal costs in the Hamman action. The Company settled the matter and the action was dismissed with prejudice on April 17, 2024.

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include an immaterial expense for the matters described above.

10. EQUITY-BASED COMPENSATION

The Company recognized equity-based compensation expense (including applicable payroll taxes) of $3.5 million and $12.2 million during the twelve and forty weeks ended October 6, 2024, and $3.2 million and $6.2 million during the twelve and forty weeks ended October 1, 2023, respectively, related to its equity incentive plans and employee stock purchase plan, recorded within general and administrative expenses in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations.

A summary of the Company’s stock option activity is as follows:


		Weighted Average
(in thousands, except per share amounts)	Number Of Options	Exercise Price		Remaining Contractual Term (Years)	Aggregate Intrinsic Value









Outstanding - December 31, 2023	3,078	$	11.45	6.8	$	97,054
Granted	7	47.84
Exercised	(316)	2.42
Forfeited or expired	(53)	15.34
Outstanding - October 6, 2024	2,716	$	12.52	6.5	$	309,841

Exercisable - October 6, 2024	1,522	$	8.20	4.9
Vested and expected to vest - October 6, 2024	2,716	$	12.52	6.5	$	309,841

As of October 6, 2024, unrecognized compensation expense related to option awards was $9.6 million, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 3.2 years.

A summary of the Company’s restricted stock unit (“RSU”) activity is as follows:


(in thousands, except per share amounts)	Number of Units	Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value		Aggregate Intrinsic Value






Non-vested - December 31, 2023	2,653	$	12.69	$	113,985
Granted	34	63.24
Vested	(790)	11.31
Forfeited	(137)	14.77
Non-vested - October 6, 2024	1,760	$	14.12	$	222,816

As of October 6, 2024, unrecognized compensation expense related to RSU awards was $20.6 million, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.7 years.

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11. EARNINGS PER SHARE

Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing net income by the weighted average shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is calculated by adjusting the weighted average shares outstanding for the dilutive effect of outstanding equity awards for the period using the treasury-stock method.

The following table sets forth the computation of earnings per common share:


	Twelve Weeks Ended				Forty Weeks Ended
(in thousands, except per share amounts)	October 6, 2024		October 1, 2023		October 6, 2024		October 1, 2023
Net income	$	17,966	$	6,833	$	51,700	$	11,231
Weighted-average shares outstanding:
Basic	114,434		113,584		114,158		43,244
Dilutive awards	3,996		4,129		4,033		2,722
Diluted	118,430		117,713		118,191		45,966
Earnings per common share:
Basic	$	0.16	$	0.06	$	0.45	$	0.26
Diluted	$	0.15	$	0.06	$	0.44	$	0.24

The Company excluded the following potential common shares, presented based on amounts outstanding at each period end, from the computation of diluted earnings per share as their impact would have been anti-dilutive:


	Twelve Weeks Ended		Forty Weeks Ended
(in thousands)	October 6, 2024	October 1, 2023	October 6, 2024	October 1, 2023
Options to purchase common stock	—	—	2	—
Time-based vesting restricted stock units	—	—	1	—

Total common stock equivalents	—	—	3	—

12. SEGMENT REPORTING

The CODM reviews segment performance and allocates resources based upon restaurant level profit, which is defined as segment revenues less food, beverage, and packaging, labor, occupancy, and other operating expenses. All segment revenue is earned in the United States, and all intersegment revenues have been eliminated. Sales from external customers are derived principally from sales of food, beverage, and CPG. The Company does not rely on any major customers as sources of sales. As the CODM is not provided with asset information by segment, assets are reported only on a consolidated basis. As described in Note 1 (Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation), the Company no longer operates any Zoes Kitchen locations as of March 2, 2023. Other includes the Company’s CPG sales from CAVA Foods.

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Financial information for the Company’s reportable segments was as follows:


	Twelve Weeks Ended				Forty Weeks Ended
(in thousands)	October 6, 2024		October 1, 2023		October 6, 2024		October 1, 2023
Revenue
CAVA	$	241,499	$	173,759	$	729,173	$	541,609
Zoes Kitchen	—		—		—		3,867
Other	2,318		1,794		7,145		6,054
Total revenue	243,817		175,553		736,318		551,530
Restaurant operating expenses (1)
CAVA	179,680		130,179		541,473		403,430
Zoes Kitchen	—		—		—		4,044
Other	1,490		887		4,472		3,574
Total restaurant operating expenses	181,170		131,066		545,945		411,048
Restaurant-level profit (loss)
CAVA	61,819		43,580		187,700		138,179
Zoes Kitchen	—		—		—		(177)
Other	828		907		2,673		2,480
Total restaurant-level profit	62,647		44,487		190,373		140,482
Reconciliation of restaurant-level profit to income before income taxes:
General and administrative expenses	29,830		24,472		91,951		76,817
Depreciation and amortization	14,325		11,528		45,380		35,096
Restructuring and other costs	230		1,092		582		5,160
Pre-opening costs	2,819		3,410		9,500		12,809
Impairment and asset disposal costs	1,675		1,190		3,795		4,295
Interest income, net	(4,091)		(3,956)		(12,829)		(4,630)
Other income, net	(50)		(120)		(188)		(412)
Income before taxes	$	17,909	$	6,871	$	52,182	$	11,347

__________________

(1) Restaurant operating expenses consist of food, beverage, and packaging (excluding depreciation and amortization), labor, occupancy, and other operating expenses.

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this Form 10-Q, and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 (our “2023 Annual Report”). In addition to historical information, this discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements based on current expectations that involve risks, uncertainties, and other factors outside the Company’s control, as well as assumptions, such as our plans, objectives, expectations, and intentions. Our actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those described under the sections entitled “Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements” above and “Risk Factors” in our 2023 Annual Report.

Overview

Segments

We have two reportable segments: CAVA and Zoes Kitchen. CAVA reflects the financial results of all CAVA restaurants we operate. Zoes Kitchen reflects the financial results of all Zoes Kitchen locations we previously operated. As of March 2, 2023, we no longer operate any Zoes Kitchen locations. Our CPG operations are included in Other.

Key Performance Measures

In assessing the performance of our business, in addition to considering a variety of measures in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”), our management team also considers a variety of other key performance measures, including non-GAAP measures. The key performance measures used by our management for determining how our business is performing are: CAVA Revenue, CAVA Same Restaurant Sales Growth, CAVA AUV, CAVA Restaurant-Level Profit, CAVA Restaurant-Level Profit Margin, CAVA Restaurants, Net New CAVA Restaurant Openings, CAVA Digital Revenue Mix, Adjusted EBITDA, and Adjusted EBITDA Margin.

We believe that these key financial measures provide useful information to users of our financial statements in understanding and evaluating our results of operations in the same manner as our management team. The presentation of these key performance measures, including Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin, which are non-GAAP financial measures, is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for, or superior to, the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below.

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The following table sets forth our key performance measures:


	Twelve Weeks Ended									Forty Weeks Ended
($ in thousands)	October 6, 2024			October 1, 2023			Change			October 6, 2024			October 1, 2023			Change
CAVA Revenue	$	241,499		$	173,759		$	67,740		$	729,173		$	541,609		$	187,564
CAVA Same Restaurant Sales Growth (1)	18.1		%	14.1		%	4.0		%	11.1		%	20.1		%	(9.0)		%
CAVA AUV (2)	$	2,784		$	2,640		$	144		$	2,784		$	2,640		$	144
CAVA Restaurant-Level Profit	$	61,819		$	43,580		$	18,239		$	187,700		$	138,179		$	49,521
CAVA Restaurant-Level Profit Margin	25.6		%	25.1		%	0.5		%	25.7		%	25.5		%	0.2		%
CAVA Restaurants	352			290			62			352			290			62
Net New CAVA Restaurant Openings	11			11			—			43			53			(10)
CAVA Digital Revenue Mix	35.8		%	35.5		%	0.3		%	36.2		%	36.1		%	0.1		%
Net income	$	17,966		$	6,833		$	11,133		$	51,700		$	11,231		$	40,469
Adjusted EBITDA (3)	$	33,479		$	19,788		$	13,691		$	101,144		$	58,135		$	43,009
Net income margin	7.4		%	3.9		%	3.5		%	7.0		%	2.0		%	5.0		%
Adjusted EBITDA margin (3)	13.7		%	11.3		%	2.5		%	13.7		%	10.5		%	3.2		%

__________________

(1) To achieve an optimal comparison of fiscal weeks in the CAVA Same Restaurant Sales calculation in fiscal 2024, giving consideration to holiday periods, each week of fiscal 2023 was shifted by one week. As a result of this shift, approximately $2.3 million of revenue is not included in CAVA Same Restaurant Sales Growth for the forty weeks ended October 6, 2024. Had this shift not been made, CAVA Same Restaurant Sales Growth would have been 11.6% in the forty weeks ended October 6, 2024 and immaterially impacted in the twelve weeks ended October 6, 2024.

(2) Presented on a trailing thirteen period basis. For purposes of calculating CAVA AUV for the reporting period ended October 6, 2024, the applicable measurement period is the trailing thirteen periods ended October 6, 2024, excluding the 53rd week of fiscal 2023. For the reporting period ended October 1, 2023, the applicable measurement period is the trailing thirteen periods ended October 1, 2023.

(3) See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below for a discussion of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin, and a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net income, the most directly comparable GAAP measure to Adjusted EBITDA. Adjusted EBITDA Margin is Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenue.

CAVA Restaurants and Net New CAVA Restaurant Openings

The following table details CAVA restaurant unit data:


	Twelve Weeks Ended		Forty Weeks Ended
	October 6, 2024	October 1, 2023	October 6, 2024	October 1, 2023
CAVA Restaurants
Beginning of period	341	279	309	237
New CAVA restaurant openings(1)	11	11	44	54

Permanent closure	—	—	(1)	(1)
End of period	352	290	352	290

__________________

(1) New CAVA restaurant openings during the twelve and forty weeks ended October 1, 2023 includes converted Zoes Kitchen locations.

Results of Operations

Our results of operations, on a consolidated basis and by segment, for the twelve and forty weeks ended October 6, 2024 and October 1, 2023 are set forth below. We present our segment results before our consolidated results as we believe that our CAVA segment is more useful and meaningful in assessing the performance of our business, which is mainly driven by our CAVA segment. As of March 2, 2023, we no longer operate any Zoes Kitchen locations, and on October 20, 2023, our conversion strategy was completed with the last conversion restaurant opening. As a result, we have limited our discussion of the Zoes Kitchen segment. In addition, because our consolidated results of operations include the results of our Zoes Kitchen segment, we believe that our consolidated results of operations are less indicative of our performance as compared to our CAVA segment.

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Comparison of the twelve weeks ended October 6, 2024 and October 1, 2023

CAVA Segment Results

The following table summarizes the results of the CAVA segment:


	Twelve Weeks Ended
	October 6, 2024				October 1, 2023				Change
(in thousands)	$		% of Revenue		$		% of Revenue		$		%
Revenue	$	241,499	100.0	%	$	173,759	100.0	%	$	67,740	39.0	%
Restaurant operating expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization)
Food, beverage, and packaging	72,230		29.9		51,085		29.4		21,145		41.4
Labor	61,233		25.4		43,913		25.3		17,320		39.4
Occupancy	16,412		6.8		13,782		7.9		2,630		19.1
Other operating expenses	29,805		12.3		21,399		12.3		8,406		39.3
Total restaurant operating expenses	179,680		74.4		130,179		74.9		49,501		38.0
Restaurant-level profit	$	61,819	25.6	%	$	43,580	25.1	%	$	18,239	41.9	%

CAVA Revenue:

The increase in CAVA Revenue was primarily due to a $38.3 million increase from the 73 Net New CAVA Restaurant Openings during or subsequent to the twelve weeks ended October 1, 2023. In addition, the increase in CAVA Revenue was driven by CAVA Same Restaurant Sales Growth of 18.1%, which consisted of a 12.9% increase from guest traffic and a 5.2% increase from menu price and product mix.

CAVA food, beverage, and packaging:

The increase in CAVA food, beverage, and packaging was primarily due to an $11.9 million increase from the 73 Net New CAVA Restaurant Openings during or subsequent to the twelve weeks ended October 1, 2023. The remainder of the increase was primarily due to CAVA Same Restaurant Sales Growth of 18.1%.

As a percentage of CAVA Revenue, CAVA food, beverage, and packaging increased primarily due to input costs associated with the June 3rd launch of grilled steak.

CAVA labor:

The increase in CAVA labor was primarily due to the 73 Net New CAVA Restaurant Openings during or subsequent to the twelve weeks ended October 1, 2023. The remainder of the increase was primarily due to the impact of higher average hourly wages of 8%.

As a percentage of CAVA Revenue, CAVA labor increased due to the aforementioned incremental wage investments, which includes the impact of Assembly Bill 1228 in California (which we did not offset with an increase to menu price), partially offset by the impact of higher sales.

CAVA occupancy:

The increase in CAVA occupancy was primarily due to the 73 Net New CAVA Restaurant Openings during or subsequent to the twelve weeks ended October 1, 2023.

As a percentage of CAVA Revenue, CAVA occupancy decreased primarily due to operating leverage associated with higher sales.

CAVA other operating expenses:

The increase in CAVA other operating expenses was primarily due to the 73 Net New CAVA Restaurant Openings during or subsequent to the twelve weeks ended October 1, 2023, CAVA Same Restaurant Sales Growth of 18.1%, and increased investments in the integrity of our physical spaces to support our increased restaurant volumes.

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As a percentage of CAVA Revenue, CAVA other operating expenses were flat primarily due to operating leverage associated with higher sales offset by the aforementioned investments in the integrity of our physical spaces in support of our increased restaurant volumes.

Other Results

The following table summarizes remaining activity related to our CPG operations:


	Twelve Weeks Ended
	October 6, 2024				October 1, 2023				Change
(in thousands)	$		% of Revenue		$		% of Revenue		$		%
Revenue	$	2,318	100.0	%	$	1,794	100.0	%	$	524	29.2	%
Food, beverage, and packaging	1,310		56.5		733		40.9		577		78.7
Other operating expenses	180		7.8		154		8.6		26		16.9

The increases noted above were primarily a result of increased sales of dips, spreads, and dressings.

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Consolidated Results

The following table summarizes our consolidated results of operations:


	Twelve Weeks Ended
(in thousands)	October 6, 2024				October 1, 2023				Change
	$		% of Revenue		$		% of Revenue		$		%
Revenue	$	243,817	100.0	%	$	175,553	100.0	%	$	68,264	38.9	%
Operating expenses:
Restaurant operating expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization)
Food, beverage, and packaging	73,540		30.2		51,818		29.5		21,722		41.9
Labor	61,233		25.1		43,913		25.0		17,320		39.4
Occupancy	16,412		6.7		13,782		7.9		2,630		19.1
Other operating expenses	29,985		12.3		21,553		12.3		8,432		39.1
Total restaurant operating expenses	181,170		74.3		131,066		74.7		50,104		38.2
General and administrative expenses	29,830		12.2		24,472		13.9		5,358		21.9
Depreciation and amortization	14,325		5.9		11,528		6.6		2,797		24.3
Restructuring and other costs	230		0.1		1,092		0.6		(862)		(78.9)
Pre-opening costs	2,819		1.2		3,410		1.9		(591)		(17.3)
Impairment and asset disposal costs	1,675		0.7		1,190		0.7		485		40.8
Total operating expenses	230,049		94.4		172,758		98.4		57,291		33.2
Income from operations	13,768		5.6		2,795		1.6		10,973		N/M
Interest income, net	(4,091)		(1.7)		(3,956)		(2.3)		(135)		3.4
Other income, net	(50)		—		(120)		(0.1)		70		(58.3)
Income before taxes	17,909		7.3		6,871		3.9		11,038		160.6
(Benefit from) provision for income taxes	(57)		—		38		—		(95)		N/M
Net income	$	17,966	7.4	%	$	6,833	3.9	%	$	11,133	162.9%

__________________

N/M data not meaningful

Revenue:

The increase in consolidated revenue was primarily driven by a $67.7 million increase in our CAVA segment. Refer to CAVA Segment Results above for more information.

Food, beverage, and packaging:

The increase in consolidated food, beverage, and packaging was primarily driven by a $21.1 million increase in our CAVA segment. Refer to CAVA Segment Results above for more information.

Labor:

The increase in consolidated labor was driven by a $17.3 million increase in our CAVA segment. Refer to CAVA Segment Results above for more information.

Occupancy:

The increase in consolidated occupancy was driven by a $2.6 million increase in our CAVA segment. Refer to CAVA Segment Results above for more information.

Other operating expenses:

The increase in consolidated other operating expenses was driven by an $8.4 million increase in our CAVA segment. Refer to CAVA Segment Results above for more information.

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General and administrative expenses:

The increase in general and administrative expenses was primarily due to investments to support future growth and the timing of performance-based incentive compensation.

Depreciation and amortization:

The increase in depreciation and amortization was primarily driven by the addition of assets from the 73 Net New CAVA Restaurant Openings during or subsequent to the twelve weeks ended October 1, 2023 and the commencement of operations at our new manufacturing facility in Verona, Virginia in the first quarter of fiscal 2024.

Restructuring and other costs:

The decrease in restructuring and other costs was due in part to costs incurred in the prior year quarter in connection with our Zoes Kitchen conversion strategy.

Pre-opening costs:

The decrease in pre-opening costs was due to the volume and timing of new CAVA restaurant openings.

Impairment and asset disposal costs:

The increase in impairment and asset disposal costs was primarily due to the impact of Hurricane Helene on one of our restaurants in North Carolina and investments in the integrity of our physical spaces in support of our increased restaurant volumes, partially offset by a $0.6 million impairment charge recorded in the prior year quarter.

Interest income, net:

The increase in interest income, net, was due to interest income associated with higher short term investments as a result of proceeds from the IPO.

Income taxes:

The Company’s effective tax rates for the twelve and forty weeks ended October 6, 2024 and October 1, 2023 were not meaningful due to the valuation allowance recorded against deferred tax assets (“DTAs”). Management has evaluated our recent profitability trends and believes that, if current trends persist, it is reasonably possible that in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024, sufficient positive evidence will become available to allow us to reach the conclusion that a significant portion of the valuation allowance will no longer be needed. Release of the valuation allowance would result in the recognition of certain DTAs and a decrease to income tax expense for the period the release is recorded. However, the exact timing and amount of the valuation allowance to be released are subject to change based on the positive evidence, including, but not limited to, the level of expected profitability, that we are able to actually achieve in future periods.

Comparison of the forty weeks ended October 6, 2024 and October 1, 2023

CAVA Segment Results

The following table summarizes the results of the CAVA segment:


	Forty Weeks Ended
	October 6, 2024				October 1, 2023				Change
(in thousands)	$		% of Revenue		$		% of Revenue		$		%
Revenue	$	729,173	100.0	%	$	541,609	100.0	%	$	187,564	34.6	%
Restaurant operating expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization)
Food, beverage, and packaging	212,414		29.1		157,720		29.1		54,694		34.7
Labor	186,134		25.5		136,978		25.3		49,156		35.9
Occupancy	52,751		7.2		43,273		8.0		9,478		21.9
Other operating expenses	90,174		12.4		65,459		12.1		24,715		37.8
Total restaurant operating expenses	541,473		74.3		403,430		74.5		138,043		34.2
Restaurant-level profit	$	187,700	25.7	%	$	138,179	25.5	%	$	49,521	35.8	%

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CAVA Revenue:

The increase in CAVA Revenue was primarily due to a $125.0 million increase from the 115 Net New CAVA Restaurant Openings during or subsequent to the forty weeks ended October 1, 2023, of which a portion was attributable to the 28 CAVA restaurants that were converted from Zoes Kitchen locations. In addition, the increase in CAVA Revenue was driven by CAVA Same Restaurant Sales Growth of 11.1%, which consisted of a 6.6% increase from guest traffic and a 4.5% increase from menu price and product mix. To achieve an optimal comparison of fiscal weeks in the CAVA Same Restaurant Sales calculation giving consideration to holiday periods, each week of fiscal 2023 was shifted by one week. As a result of this shift, approximately $2.3 million of revenue is not included in CAVA Same Restaurant Sales Growth.

CAVA food, beverage, and packaging:

The increase in CAVA food, beverage, and packaging was primarily due to a $37.5 million increase from the 115 Net New CAVA Restaurant Openings during or subsequent to the forty weeks ended October 1, 2023, of which a portion was attributable to the 28 CAVA restaurants that were converted from Zoes Kitchen locations. The remainder of the increase was primarily due to CAVA Same Restaurant Sales Growth of 11.1%. As a percentage of CAVA Revenue, CAVA food, beverage, and packaging was flat primarily due to input costs associated with the June 3rd launch of grilled steak offset by lower other input costs.

CAVA labor:

The increase in CAVA labor was primarily due to the 115 Net New CAVA Restaurant Openings during or subsequent to the forty weeks ended October 1, 2023, of which a portion was attributable to the 28 CAVA restaurants that were converted from Zoes Kitchen locations. The remainder of the increase was primarily due to the impact of higher average hourly wages of 8%.

As a percentage of CAVA Revenue, CAVA labor increased due to the aforementioned incremental wage investments, which include the impact of Assembly Bill 1228 in California (which we did not offset with an increase to menu price), partially offset by the impact of higher sales.

CAVA occupancy:

The increase in CAVA occupancy was primarily due to the 115 Net New CAVA Restaurant Openings during or subsequent to the forty weeks ended October 1, 2023, of which a portion was attributable to the 28 CAVA restaurants that were converted from Zoes Kitchen locations.

As a percentage of CAVA Revenue, CAVA occupancy decreased primarily due to operating leverage associated with higher sales.

CAVA other operating expenses:

The increase in CAVA other operating expenses was primarily due to the 115 Net New CAVA Restaurant Openings during or subsequent to the forty weeks ended October 1, 2023, of which a portion was attributable to the 28 CAVA restaurants that were converted from Zoes Kitchen locations, investments in the integrity of our physical spaces in support of our increased restaurant volumes, and CAVA Same Restaurant Sales Growth of 11.1%.

As a percentage of CAVA Revenue, CAVA other operating expenses increased due in part to the aforementioned investments in the integrity of our physical spaces in support of our increased restaurant volumes, partially offset by operating leverage associated with higher sales.

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Zoes Kitchen Segment Results

The following table summarizes the results of the Zoes Kitchen segment:


	Forty Weeks Ended
	October 6, 2024				October 1, 2023				Change
(in thousands)	$		% of Revenue		$		% of Revenue		$		%
Revenue	$	—	—	%	$	3,867	100.0	%	$	(3,867)	N/M
Restaurant operating expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization:
Food, beverage, and packaging	—		—		1,141		29.5		(1,141)		N/M
Labor	—		—		1,506		38.9		(1,506)		N/M
Occupancy	—		—		508		13.1		(508)		N/M
Other operating expenses	—		—		889		23.0		(889)		N/M
Total restaurant operating expenses	—		—		4,044		104.6		(4,044)		N/M
Restaurant-level loss	$	—	—	%	$	(177)	(4.6)	%	$	177	N/M

__________________

N/M data not meaningful

As of March 2, 2023, the Company no longer operates any Zoes Kitchen locations, which resulted in the decreases above.

Other Results

The following table summarizes remaining activity related to our CPG operations:


	Forty Weeks Ended
	October 6, 2024				October 1, 2023				Change
(in thousands)	$		% of Revenue		$		% of Revenue		$		%
Revenue	$	7,145	100.0	%	$	6,054	100.0	%	$	1,091	18.0	%
Food, beverage, and packaging	3,912		54.8		3,075		50.8		837		27.2
Other operating expenses	560		7.8		499		8.2		61		12.2

The increases noted above were primarily a result of increased sales of dips, spreads, and dressings.

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Consolidated Results

The following table summarizes our consolidated results of operations:


	Forty Weeks Ended
(in thousands)	October 6, 2024				October 1, 2023				Change
	$		% of Revenue		$		% of Revenue		$		%
Revenue	$	736,318	100.0	%	$	551,530	100.0	%	$	184,788	33.5	%
Operating expenses:
Restaurant operating expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization)
Food, beverage, and packaging	216,326		29.4		161,936		29.4		54,390		33.6
Labor	186,134		25.3		138,484		25.1		47,650		34.4
Occupancy	52,751		7.2		43,781		7.9		8,970		20.5
Other operating expenses	90,734		12.3		66,847		12.1		23,887		35.7
Total restaurant operating expenses	545,945		74.1		411,048		74.5		134,897		32.8
General and administrative expenses	91,951		12.5		76,817		13.9		15,134		19.7
Depreciation and amortization	45,380		6.2		35,096		6.4		10,284		29.3
Restructuring and other costs	582		0.1		5,160		0.9		(4,578)		(88.7)
Pre-opening costs	9,500		1.3		12,809		2.3		(3,309)		(25.8)
Impairment and asset disposal costs	3,795		0.5		4,295		0.8		(500)		(11.6)
Total operating expenses	697,153		94.7		545,225		98.9		151,928		27.9
Income from operations	39,165		5.3		6,305		1.1		32,860		N/M
Interest income, net	(12,829)		(1.7)		(4,630)		(0.8)		(8,199)		177.1
Other income, net	(188)		—		(412)		(0.1)		224		(54.4)
Income before taxes	52,182		7.1		11,347		2.1		40,835		N/M
Provision for income taxes	482		0.1		116		—		366		N/M
Net income	$	51,700	7.0	%	$	11,231	2.0	%	$	40,469	N/M

__________________

N/M data not meaningful

Revenue:

The increase in consolidated revenue was primarily driven by a $187.6 million increase in our CAVA segment, partially offset by a $3.9 million decrease in our Zoes Kitchen segment, which was no longer operating as of March 2, 2023. Refer to CAVA Segment Results above for more information.

Food, beverage, and packaging:

The increase in consolidated food, beverage, and packaging was primarily driven by a $54.7 million increase in our CAVA segment, partially offset by a $1.1 million decrease in our Zoes Kitchen segment. Refer to CAVA Segment Results above for more information.

Labor:

The increase in consolidated labor was primarily driven by a $49.2 million increase in our CAVA segment, partially offset by a $1.5 million decrease in our Zoes Kitchen segment. Refer to CAVA Segment Results above for more information.

Occupancy:

The increase in consolidated occupancy was primarily driven by a $9.5 million increase in our CAVA segment, partially offset by a $0.5 million decrease in our Zoes Kitchen segment. Refer to CAVA Segment Results above for more information.

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Other operating expenses:

The increase in consolidated other operating expenses was primarily driven by a $24.7 million increase in our CAVA segment, partially offset by a $0.9 million decrease in our Zoes Kitchen segment. Refer to CAVA Segment Results above for more information.

General and administrative expenses:

The increase in general and administrative expenses was primarily due to investments to support future growth, higher equity-based compensation associated with awards made in connection with the IPO, and recurring public company costs, partially offset by $1.1 million in certain non-recurring public company costs in the prior year period.

Depreciation and amortization:

The increase in depreciation and amortization was primarily driven by the addition of assets from the 115 Net New CAVA Restaurant Openings during or subsequent to the forty weeks ended October 1, 2023, the commencement of operations at our new manufacturing facility in Verona, Virginia in the first quarter of fiscal 2024, and technology improvements.

Restructuring and other costs:

The decrease in restructuring and other costs was primarily due to costs incurred in the prior year period in connection with our Zoes Kitchen conversion strategy, public company readiness, and the relocation of our collaboration center.

Pre-opening costs:

The decrease in pre-opening costs was due to the volume and timing of new CAVA restaurant openings.

Impairment and asset disposal costs:

The decrease in impairment and asset disposal costs was primarily due to $1.3 million of impairment charges and higher costs in connection with Zoes Kitchen actual and anticipated closures in the prior year period, partially offset by investments in the integrity of our physical spaces in support of our increased restaurant volumes and the impact of Hurricane Helene on one of our restaurants in North Carolina.

Interest income, net:

The increase in interest income, net, was due to interest income associated with higher short term investments as a result of proceeds from the IPO.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to our consolidated financial statements, which are prepared in accordance with GAAP, we present Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin as supplemental measures of financial performance that are not required by, or presented in accordance with, GAAP. We believe these non-GAAP financial measures assist investors and analysts in comparing our operating performance across reporting periods on a consistent basis by excluding items that we do not believe are indicative of our operating performance. Management believes Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin are useful to investors in highlighting trends in our operating performance, while other measures can differ significantly depending on long-term strategic decisions regarding capital structure, the tax jurisdictions in which we operate, and capital investments. Management uses Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin to supplement GAAP measures of performance in the evaluation of the effectiveness of our business strategies, to make budgeting decisions, and to compare our performance against that of other peer companies using similar measures. Management supplements GAAP results with non-GAAP financial measures to provide a more complete understanding of the factors and trends affecting the business than GAAP results alone provide.

Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin are not recognized terms under GAAP and should not be considered as alternatives to net income or net income margin as measures of financial performance, or cash provided by operating activities as measures of liquidity, or any other performance measure derived in accordance with GAAP. Additionally, these measures are not intended to be measures of free cash flow available for management’s discretionary use, as they do not consider certain cash requirements such as tax payments and financing cash flows. Because not all companies use identical calculations, the presentation of these measures may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies and can differ significantly from company to company.

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Our Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin measures have limitations as analytical tools, and you should not consider them in isolation, or as substitutes for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Some of these limitations are:

•Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect our cash expenditures or future requirements for capital expenditures or contractual commitments;

•Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital needs;

•Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect financing activities of our business;

•Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect period to period changes in taxes, income tax expense or the cash necessary to pay income taxes;

•Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect the impact of earnings or cash charges resulting from matters we consider not to be indicative of our ongoing operations;

•although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized will often have to be replaced in the future, and Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect any cash requirements for such replacements; and

•other companies in our industry may calculate Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin differently than we do, limiting their usefulness as comparative measures.

The following tables provides a reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA and net income margin to Adjusted EBITDA Margin:


	Twelve Weeks Ended						Forty Weeks Ended
(in thousands)	October 6, 2024			October 1, 2023			October 6, 2024			October 1, 2023
Net income	$	17,966		$	6,833		$	51,700		$	11,231
Non-GAAP Adjustments
Interest income, net	(4,091)			(3,956)			(12,829)			(4,630)
(Benefit from) provision for income taxes	(57)			38			482			116
Depreciation and amortization	14,325			11,528			45,380			35,096
Equity-based compensation	3,481			3,183			12,222			6,166
Other income, net	(50)			(120)			(188)			(412)
Impairment and asset disposal costs	1,675			1,190			3,795			4,295
Restructuring and other costs	230			1,092			582			5,160
Certain non-recurring public company costs	—			—			—			1,113
Adjusted EBITDA	$	33,479		$	19,788		$	101,144		$	58,135

Revenue	$	243,817		$	175,553		$	736,318		$	551,530
Net income margin	7.4		%	3.9		%	7.0		%	2.0		%
Adjusted EBITDA Margin	13.7		%	11.3		%	13.7		%	10.5		%

Liquidity and Capital Resources

We assess our liquidity in terms of our ability to generate adequate amounts of cash to meet our current and expected future operating needs. Our expected primary uses of cash on a short- and long-term basis are for the expansion of our restaurant base, working capital, and other capital expenditures.

We believe that cash provided by operating activities and existing cash on hand, together with amounts available under our 2022 Credit Facility, will be sufficient to satisfy our anticipated cash requirements for the next twelve months and foreseeable future, including our expected capital expenditures for expansion of our CAVA restaurant base, operating lease obligations, and working capital obligations. Our sources of liquidity could be affected by factors described under the section entitled “Risk Factors” in our 2023 Annual Report. Depending on the severity and direct impact of these factors on us, we may not be able to secure additional financing on acceptable terms, or at all.

Cash Overview

We had cash and cash equivalents of $367.2 million and $332.4 million as of October 6, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. For the forty weeks ended October 6, 2024, our operations were funded from cash flows from operations.

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Our principal uses of liquidity for the forty weeks ended October 6, 2024 were to fund new restaurant openings, working capital needs and the finalization of construction of our new production facility in Verona, Virginia.

Cash Flows

The following table summarizes our cash flows:


	Forty Weeks Ended				Change
(in thousands)	October 6, 2024		October 1, 2023		$		%
Net cash provided by operating activities	$	131,174	$	73,088	$	58,086	79.5	%
Net cash used in investing activities	(80,389)		(107,564)		27,175		(25.3)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(16,053)		335,750		(351,803)		(104.8)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	$	34,732	$	301,274	$	(266,542)	(88.5)	%

Operating Activities:

The increase in net cash provided by operating activities was primarily due to improved operating performance and interest income associated with an increase in short-term investments as a result of proceeds from the IPO.

Investing Activities:

The decrease in net cash used in investing activities was primarily due to higher capital expenditures in the prior year period related to the construction of our new manufacturing facility and the volume and timing of new CAVA restaurant openings.

Financing Activities:

The change in net cash (used in) provided by financing activities was primarily due to proceeds from the IPO in the prior year period and higher tax withholding obligations arising from the vesting of restricted stock units in the forty weeks ended October 6, 2024 compared with the prior year period.

Material Cash Commitments

There has been no significant changes to the material cash commitments as disclosed in our 2023 Annual Report, other than those payments made in the ordinary course of business.

Credit Facility

Refer to Item 1, Financial Statements, Note 6 (Debt), for a description of our 2022 Credit Facility.

Critical Accounting Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. These estimates are based on information available as of the date of the consolidated financial statements; therefore, actual results could differ from those estimates. We had no significant changes to our critical accounting estimates as described in our 2023 Annual Report.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Refer to Item 1, Financial Statements, Note 1 (Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation).

JOBS Act Election

We are currently an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the JOBS Act. Under the JOBS Act, emerging growth companies can delay adopting new or revised accounting standards until such time as those standards apply to private companies. We have elected to use this extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards that have different effective dates for public and private companies until the earlier of the date we (i) are no longer an emerging growth company or (ii) affirmatively and irrevocably opt out of the extended transition period provided in the JOBS Act. As a result, our financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with new or revised

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accounting pronouncements as of public company effective dates. As of July 14, 2024, the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates exceeded $700.0 million. As a result, the Company will become a large accelerated filer beginning December 30, 2024, the first day of our next fiscal year, and will no longer be an emerging growth company for future filings. Therefore, as of that date, we will be required to comply with new or revised accounting standards as of the effective dates applicable to public companies that are not emerging growth companies.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

We are exposed to market risks in the ordinary course of business. The primary risks we face are commodity and food price risks, interest rate risk, and the effects of inflation. There have been no material changes to our exposure to market risks as described in our 2023 Annual Report.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of such date. Our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There were no changes to our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that occurred during the quarter ended October 6, 2024 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

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Part II - Other Information

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

The information required with respect to this Part II, Item 1 can be found under Financial Statements, Note 9 (Commitments and Contingencies), to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

There have been no material changes to the risk factors disclosed in our 2023 Annual Report, except as follows:

We will no longer qualify as an “emerging growth company” after December 29, 2024, and, as a result, we will have to comply with increased disclosure and compliance requirements.

We are currently an “emerging growth company” as defined in the JOBS Act. However, because the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates exceeded $700.0 million as of July 14, 2024, we will no longer qualify as an emerging growth company as of December 29, 2024, the last day of our current fiscal year, and will be a large accelerated filer beginning December 30, 2024 for future filings.

As a large accelerated filer, we will be subject to certain disclosure and compliance requirements that apply to other public companies that did not previously apply to us due to our status as an emerging growth company. These requirements include, but are not limited to:

•the requirement that our independent registered public accounting firm attest to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002;

•compliance with any requirement that may be adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding mandatory audit firm rotation or a supplement to the auditor's report providing additional information about the audit and the financial statements;

•the requirement that we provide more detailed disclosures regarding executive compensation; and

•the requirement that we hold a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation and obtain stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.

The loss of emerging growth company status and compliance with the additional requirements of being a large accelerated filer together with being a public company has resulted and will continue to result in increased legal, accounting and financial compliance costs, and costs associated with investor relations activities, and cause management and other personnel to divert attention from operational and other business matters to devote substantial time to public company reporting requirements. In addition, if we are not able to comply with changing requirements in a timely manner, the market price of our stock could decline and we could be subject to sanctions or investigations by the stock exchange on which our common stock is listed, the SEC or other regulatory authorities, which would require additional financial and management resources.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

During the twelve weeks ended October 6, 2024, we made the following purchases of our equity securities that are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act.


Period	Total Number of Shares Purchased (1)	Average Price Paid Per Share		Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs	Maximum Number of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs
July 15, 2024 to August 11, 2024	619	$	79.99	—	—
August 12, 2024 to September 8, 2024	98	116.13		—	—
September 9, 2024 to October 6, 2024	3,525	123.63		—	—
Total	4,242	$	117.09	—	—

__________________

(1) Purchases made to satisfy the income tax withholding obligations of certain employees upon the vesting and delivery of restricted stock units issued under the Company's 2015 Equity Incentive Plan and 2023 Equity Incentive Plan.

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Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

None.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable.

Item 5. Other Information

During the twelve weeks ended October 6, 2024, no directors or officers (as defined in Rule 16a-1(f) of the Exchange Act) of the Company adopted or terminated a “Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement” as defined in Item 408(a) of Regulation S-K.

Item 6. Exhibits


Exhibit Number	Exhibit Description	Filed Herewith
3.1	Seventh Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of CAVA Group, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 20, 2023).
3.2	Amended and Restated Bylaws of CAVA Group, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 20, 2023).
31.1	Certification of Chief Executive Officer, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002	X
31.2	Certification of Chief Financial Officer, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002	X
32.1 *	Certification of Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002	X
32.2 *	Certification of Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002	X
101.INS	XBRL Instance Document – the instance document does not appear in the interactive data file because its XBRL tags are embedded within the inline XBRL document	X
101.SCH	Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document	X
101.CAL	Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document	X
101.LAB	Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document	X
101.PRE	Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document	X
101.DEF	Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document	X
104	Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)	X

X Filed Herewith
† Indicates a management contract or compensatory plan, contract or arrangement
* This exhibit shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act or otherwise subject to the liability of that Section. Such exhibit shall not be deemed incorporated into any filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.

The agreements and other documents filed as exhibits to this report are not intended to provide factual information or other disclosure other than the terms of the agreements or other documents themselves, and you should not rely on them for that purpose. In particular, any representations and warranties made by the Company in these agreements or other documents were made solely within the specific context of the relevant agreement or document and may not describe the actual state of affairs as of the date they were made or at any other time.

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Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized on November 12, 2024.


CAVA GROUP, INC.


By:			/s/ Tricia Tolivar
			Name: Tricia Tolivar
			Title: Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer)

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CAVA (CAVA) 10-Q2024 Q3 Quarterly report

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