Cava (stylized as CAVA) and also referred to as Cava Grill, is Mediterranean fast casual restaurant chain with locations across the United States. Cava is owned by the publicly traded Cava Group, which purchased Zoës Kitchen in August 2018. The combined company is the largest restaurant operator in the Mediterranean category in the U.S. restaurant industry. Cava also produces a line of Mediterranean dips, spreads, and dressings that are sold in grocery stores across the US. As of May 2023, all Zoe's Kitchen restaurants have been closed, many have been replaced by Cava restaurants.

History

In 2006, first-generation Greek Americans Ted Xenohristos, Ike Grigoropoulos, and Dimitri Moshovitis launched the full-service Cava Mezze restaurant in Rockville, Maryland, with Moshovitis as executive chef. In 2008, Xenohristos, Grigoropoulos, and Moshovitis partnered with Geoff Maites and Kenny Maites to launch a line of dips and spreads, and grew the product line into over 200 stores, including Whole Foods Market. In 2009, Brett Schulman joined them as CEO and co-founder of the fast-casual chain Cava (originally called Cava Mezze Grill, later rebranded as Cava Grill and then simply as Cava). They opened the first Cava restaurant in Bethesda, Maryland, in January 2011. In August 2018, Zoës was acquired by Cava Group, Inc. for $300 Million in cash for each Zoës common share. In April 2021, Cava Group completed a $190 million series F funding round led by

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, bringing its value to nearly $1.3 billion. Since 2015, the company has raised more than $640 million. By December of 2022, the Cava Group had significantly reducing the number of Zoe's Kitchen locations. As of May 2023, all Zoe's Kitchen restaurants have been closed, many have been replaced by Cava restaurants. On June 15, 2023, Cava made its public debut on the NYSE under the symbol CAVA.

Restaurants and expansion

In November 2018, Cava Group bought Zoës Kitchen, a restaurant chain with more than 250 locations, in a deal worth $300 million, taking the company private and helping Cava expand further into the suburbs. As of August 2021, there are 133 Cava locations. All Cava restaurants are company-owned, and none are franchised. In 2020, Cava Group converted seven of its Zoës Kitchen locations to Cava-branded restaurants and plans to convert 50 more in 2021. It has additional off-premises and digital kitchens dedicated to preparing food for online orders. In November 2021, Cava closed its outpost in Barracks Row in

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, which was the second location it had opened in 2009, to "concentrate on our new concepts and other locations."

References

External links

* {{official website 2011 establishments in Maryland 2023 initial public offerings American companies established in 2011 Companies based in Washington, D.C. Companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange Dips (food) Fast casual restaurants Greek restaurants in the United States Hummus Mediterranean restaurants in the United States Restaurant chains in the United States Restaurants established in 2011 Spreads (food)