Sweetgreen — page 4

Mature restaurant brands are diversifying menus beyond core offerings to capture market share amid flat industry traffic and intense value competition.

Quick-service and fast-casual chains are increasingly using protein callouts to appeal to consumer perceptions of health and value.

The fast-casual salad chain is prioritizing operational execution to reverse a period of steep same-store sales declines and traffic losses.

The seed-oil-free french fry brand secured investment from Sweetgreen's co-founder and other major operators to fuel its expansion in the better-for-you market.

“Give your fork a break … new wraps are here,” claims Sweetgreen.

The fast-casual chain on Thursday said same-store sales in the first quarter fell nearly 13%, which was the sharpest decline for the chain since it went public in 2021.

Restaurant sales varied last quarter with 5.8% increase at Burger King.

The brand launched wraps to supplement its core bowl and salad business, following its worst quarterly same-store sales performance.

The Los Angeles-based fast-casual chain reported a 12.8% slide in same-store sales driven by an 11.2% drop in guest traffic and unfavorable winter weather.

Burger King reports strong sales growth without relying on discounts

Sweetgreen has launched wrap sandwiches at all locations nationwide following successful tests in New York, Los Angeles, and the Midwest to attract a broader customer base.

The restaurant industry saw a wave of leadership changes in April, including new chief executives at Denny’s, Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, and Bagels & Co.

Industry analysts review recent earnings reports, noting slight positive gains for Chipotle, significant turnaround growth for Starbucks, and performance challenges for Wingstop.

The embattled fast casual chain’s newest C-suite appointment may signal a shift toward experiential store design.

Sweetgreen refines brand message to focus on real food and farmers

Competitive pressures over value, dwindling consumer confidence and bad weather resulted in a same-stores sales increase of just 0.9%, far below expectations and Q4’s 3.7% growth.

Technomic data shows fast-casual restaurant sales grew 6% to $77 billion in 2025, though growth rates for the segment are beginning to decelerate.

Fast-casual sales grew 6% in 2025, led by Cava's 22% increase

In a climate of declining traffic, fast-casual brands must prioritize supply chain resilience and operational discipline to protect their narrowing margins.

So argues John Montgomery, who was recently named CEO of the Golden, Colorado-based Salad Collective, parent of the Mad Greens, Snappy Salads and Tokyo Joe’s brands.

Chick-fil-A's U.S. system sales grew 5.2% to $23.9 billion last year

This week’s episode of the Restaurant Business podcast The Week in Restaurants looks at the ongoing challenges at the seafood chain even after emerging from bankruptcy.

Shake Shack launches new Good Fit Menu with high-protein options

Over 90% of Gen Z consumers say they would visit a restaurant just for a new sauce, Chipotle CEO Scott Boatwright told investors during the fast-casual chain’s third-quarter earnings call.