CAVA Group Reports Third Quarter 2024 Results

Year Over Year CAVA Revenue Growth of 39.0% Including CAVA Same Restaurant Sales Growth of 18.1%

11 Net New CAVA Restaurant Openings During Quarter

Third Quarter 2024 CAVA Restaurant-Level Profit Margin of 25.6%

WASHINGTON--()--CAVA Group, Inc. (NYSE: CAVA) (“CAVA Group” or the “Company”), the category-defining Mediterranean fast-casual restaurant brand that brings heart, health, and humanity to food, today announced financial results for its fiscal third quarter ended October 6, 2024.

Our third quarter results demonstrate the strength of our Mediterranean category-defining brand and the broad appeal of our unique value proposition, creating what is quickly becoming the next major cultural cuisine category,” said Brett Schulman, Co-Founder and CEO. “Third quarter traffic grew 12.9%, we opened 11 net new restaurants and, driven by the power of our unit economic engine, we generated average unit volume of $2.8 million. In addition, we continued to execute across our strategic initiatives, completing the national launch of our reimagined loyalty program and rolling out our new labor model ahead of schedule.”

Fiscal Third Quarter 2024 Highlights:

  • CAVA Revenue grew 39.0% to $241.5 million as compared to $173.8 million in the prior year quarter.
  • Net New CAVA Restaurant Openings of 11, bringing total CAVA Restaurants to 352, a 21.4% increase in total CAVA Restaurants year over year.
  • CAVA Same Restaurant Sales Growth of 18.1%, including guest traffic growth of 12.9%.
  • CAVA AUV of $2.8 million as compared to $2.6 million in the prior year quarter.
  • CAVA Restaurant-Level Profit of $61.8 million or growth of 41.9% over the prior year quarter, with CAVA Restaurant-Level Profit Margin of 25.6%.
  • CAVA Digital Revenue Mix was 35.8%.
  • CAVA Group Net Income of $18.0 million compared to net income of $6.8 million in the prior year quarter.
  • CAVA Group Adjusted EBITDA(1) of $33.5 million compared to $19.8 million in the prior year quarter.
  • Net cash provided by operating activities of $43.9 million with Free Cash Flow(1) of $23.4 million.

CAVA Fiscal Third Quarter 2024 Review:

CAVA Revenue was $241.5 million, an increase of 39.0% compared with the third quarter of fiscal 2023. The increase was primarily driven by 73 Net New CAVA Restaurant Openings during or subsequent to the third quarter of fiscal 2023, which are exceeding our performance expectations, and CAVA Same Restaurant Sales Growth of 18.1%. CAVA Same Restaurant Sales Growth consists of a 12.9% increase from guest traffic and a 5.2% increase from menu price and product mix.

CAVA Restaurant-Level Profit Margin was 25.6% compared with 25.1% in the third quarter of fiscal 2023. The increase was due to leverage from higher sales, partially offset by incremental wage investments and input costs associated with the launch of grilled steak.

CAVA Group Fiscal Third Quarter 2024 Review:

General and administrative expenses were $29.8 million, or 12.2% of revenue, as compared to $24.5 million, or 13.9% of revenue, in the third quarter of fiscal 2023. General and administrative expenses, excluding equity-based compensation(1), were $26.3 million, or 10.8% of revenue, as compared to $21.3 million, or 12.1% of revenue, in the third quarter of fiscal 2023. The decrease of 130 basis points was primarily due to leverage from higher sales, partially offset by the timing of performance-based incentive compensation and investments to support future growth.

Net income was $18.0 million, or 7.4% of revenue, an increase of $11.2 million as compared to $6.8 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2023.

Adjusted EBITDA(1) was $33.5 million, or 13.7% of revenue, an increase of $13.7 million, or 69.2%, compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2023. The increase was primarily driven by the number and strength of performance of Net New CAVA Restaurant Openings during or subsequent to the third quarter of fiscal 2023, 18.1% CAVA Same Restaurant Sales Growth, and leverage in general and administrative expenses.

__________________

(1)

General and administrative expenses, excluding equity-based compensation, Adjusted EBITDA, and Free Cash Flow are non-GAAP financial measures. Reconciliations to the most directly comparable financial measures presented in accordance with GAAP are set forth in the tables at the end of this press release.

Fiscal Full-Year 2024 Outlook:

CAVA Group announced today that it has raised fiscal full-year 2024 guidance, as follows:

 

 

August 22, 2024

 

November 12, 2024

Net New CAVA Restaurant Openings

 

54 to 57

 

56 to 58

CAVA Same Restaurant Sales Growth

 

8.5% to 9.5%

 

12.0% to 13.0%

CAVA Restaurant-Level Profit Margin

 

24.2% to 24.7%

 

24.5% to 25.0%

Pre-opening costs

 

$12.0 to $13.0 million

 

$12.0 to $13.0 million

Adjusted EBITDA

 

$109.0 to $114.0 million

 

$121.0 to $126.0 million

Actual results may differ materially from CAVA Group's fiscal full-year 2024 guidance as a result of, among other things, the factors described under “Forward-Looking Statements” below.

A reconciliation of the forward-looking fiscal 2024 Adjusted EBITDA to net income cannot be provided without unreasonable effort because of the inherent difficulty of accurately forecasting the occurrence and financial impact of the various adjusting items necessary for such reconciliation that have not yet occurred, are out of our control, or cannot be reasonably predicted.

About CAVA Group:

CAVA is the category-defining Mediterranean fast-casual restaurant brand, bringing together healthful food and bold, satisfying flavors at scale. Our brand and our opportunity transcend the Mediterranean category to compete in the large and growing limited-service restaurant sector as well as the health and wellness food category. CAVA serves guests across gender lines, age groups, and income levels and benefits from generational tailwinds created by consumer demand for healthy living and a demographic shift towards greater ethnic diversity. We meet consumers’ desires to engage with convenient, authentic, purpose-driven brands that view food as a source of self-expression. The broad appeal of our food combined with these favorable industry trends drive our vast opportunity for continued growth.

Earnings Conference Call:

The Company will host a conference call on November 12, 2024, at 5:00 PM Eastern Time to discuss third quarter 2024 financial results as well as provide a business update. Investors will have the opportunity to listen to the conference call live through the webcast from the Company's website on the investor relations page at investor.cava.com. A recorded webcast will be available on CAVA's investor relations website shortly after the call and available for up to one year.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release 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 may include 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 to identify forward-looking statements in this press release.

The forward-looking statements contained in this press release 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

The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date hereof. Any forward-looking statement made by us in this press release speaks only as of the date of this press release and are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements included in this press release. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures:

In addition to our consolidated financial statements, which are prepared in accordance with GAAP, we present Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, general and administrative expenses, excluding equity-based compensation and certain non-recurring public company costs, and Free Cash Flow in this press release as supplemental measures of financial performance that are not required by, or presented in accordance with, GAAP. We believe they 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, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, general and administrative expenses, excluding equity-based compensation and certain non-recurring public company costs, and Free Cash Flow 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, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, general and administrative expenses, excluding equity-based compensation and certain non-recurring public company costs, and Free Cash Flow 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, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, general and administrative expenses, excluding equity-based compensation and certain non-recurring public company costs, and Free Cash Flow are not recognized terms under GAAP and should not be considered as alternatives to net income, net income margin, or general and administrative expenses, as applicable, 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, Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow are not intended to be measures of free cash flow available for management’s discretionary use, as Adjusted EBITDA does not consider certain cash requirements such as tax payments and financing cash flows, and Free Cash Flow does not consider certain cash requirements such as financing cash flows. Our non-GAAP 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 and Free Cash Flow do not reflect cash flows from 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, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, general and administrative expenses, excluding equity-based compensation and certain non-recurring public company costs, and Free Cash Flow differently than we do, limiting their usefulness as comparative measures.

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

 

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.

CAVA is our single operating brand for our operations as we have converted and wound down our Zoes Kitchen operations, with the last conversion restaurant opening on October 20, 2023. As a result, we have highlighted the CAVA segment distinctly from CAVA Group results throughout this press release.

The following tables summarize 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

%

 

Forty Weeks Ended

 

 

 

October 6,
2024

 

October 1,
2023

 

Change

(in thousands)

$

 

% of
Revenue

 

$

 

% of
Revenue

 

$

 

%

Restaurant 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

%

The following table presents selected quarterly financial and other data:

 

 

Twelve Weeks
Ended

 

Twelve Weeks
Ended

 

Sixteen Weeks
Ended

 

Thirteen Weeks
Ended

 

Twelve Weeks
Ended

 

October 6,
2024

 

July 14,
2024

 

April 21,
2024

 

December 31,
2023

 

October 1,
2023

($ in thousands)

(Q3 2024)

 

(Q2 2024)

 

(Q1 2024)

 

(Q4 2023)

 

(Q3 2023)

Net New CAVA Restaurant Openings

 

11

 

 

 

18

 

 

 

14

 

 

 

19

 

 

 

11

 

CAVA Restaurants, end of period

 

352

 

 

 

341

 

 

 

323

 

 

 

309

 

 

 

290

 

CAVA Same Restaurant Sales Growth(1)

 

18.1

%

 

 

14.4

%

 

 

2.3

%

 

 

11.4

%

 

 

14.1

%

CAVA AUV(2)

$

2,784

 

 

$

2,689

 

 

$

2,608

 

 

$

2,639

 

 

$

2,640

 

CAVA Restaurant-Level Profit

$

61,819

 

 

$

61,265

 

 

$

64,616

 

 

$

39,309

 

 

$

43,580

 

CAVA Restaurant-Level Profit Margin

 

25.6

%

 

 

26.5

%

 

 

25.2

%

 

 

22.4

%

 

 

25.1

%

CAVA Restaurant Operating Weeks

 

4,159

 

 

 

3,963

 

 

 

5,086

 

 

 

3,929

 

 

 

3,432

 

__________________

(1)

CAVA Same Restaurant Sales Growth for Q4 2023 is presented excluding the impact of the 53rd week of fiscal year 2023. 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 $3.9 million of revenue is not included in CAVA Same Restaurant Sales Growth for Q1 2024. Had this shift not been made, CAVA Same Restaurant Sales Growth would have been 4.3% in Q1 2024 and immaterially impacted in Q2 2024 and Q3 2024.

(2)

For purposes of calculating CAVA AUV for Q3 2023 the applicable measurement period is the trailing thirteen periods ended October 1, 2023. For purposes of calculating CAVA AUV for Q4 2023, Q1 2024, Q2 2024, and Q3 2024 the applicable measurement period is the trailing thirteen periods ended December 31, 2023, April 21, 2024, July 14, 2024 and October 6, 2024, respectively, excluding the 53rd week of fiscal year 2023.

The following table presents the Company’s selected balance sheet data:

 

(in thousands)

October 6,
2024

 

December 31,
2023

Cash and cash equivalents

$

367,160

 

$

332,428

Total assets

 

1,079,539

 

 

983,757

Total liabilities

 

463,102

 

 

412,955

Total stockholders’ equity

 

616,437

 

 

570,802

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

 

1,079,539

 

 

983,757

The following table shows the growth in our company-owned CAVA restaurant base:

 

 

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 include converted Zoes Kitchen locations.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

 

The following table reconciles 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

%

The following table reconciles general and administrative expenses to general and administrative expenses, excluding equity-based compensation and certain non-recurring public company costs:

 

 

Twelve Weeks Ended

 

Forty Weeks Ended

(in thousands)

October 6,
2024

 

October 1,
2023

 

October 6,
2024

 

October 1,
2023

General and administrative expenses

$

29,830

 

 

$

24,472

 

 

$

91,951

 

 

$

76,817

 

Equity-based compensation

 

3,481

 

 

 

3,183

 

 

 

12,222

 

 

 

6,166

 

Certain non-recurring public company costs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,113

 

General and administrative expenses, excluding equity-based compensation and certain non-recurring public company costs

$

26,349

 

 

$

21,289

 

 

$

79,729

 

 

$

69,538

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

$

243,817

 

 

$

175,553

 

 

$

736,318

 

 

$

551,530

 

General and administrative expenses, as a percentage of revenue

 

12.2

%

 

 

13.9

%

 

 

12.5

%

 

 

13.9

%

General and administrative expenses, excluding equity-based compensation and certain non-recurring public company costs, as a percentage of revenue

 

10.8

%

 

 

12.1

%

 

 

10.8

%

 

 

12.6

%

The following table reconciles net cash provided by operating activities to Free Cash Flow:

 

 

Twelve Weeks Ended

 

Forty Weeks Ended

(in thousands)

October 6,
2024

 

October 1,
2023

 

October 6,
2024

 

October 1,
2023

Net cash provided by operating activities

$

43,879

 

 

$

25,978

 

 

$

131,174

 

 

$

73,088

 

Purchases of property and equipment

 

(20,507

)

 

 

(35,086

)

 

 

(80,389

)

 

 

(107,564

)

Free Cash Flow

$

23,372

 

 

$

(9,108

)

 

$

50,785

 

 

$

(34,476

)

Glossary:

The following definitions apply to these terms as used in this press release:

“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 Operating Weeks” represents the aggregate number of weeks each of our CAVA Restaurants has been open in a given period;

“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;

“Free Cash Flow” means net cash provided by operating activities less purchases of property and equipment;

“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.

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.

Contacts

Investor Relations:
Matt Milanovich, SVP, Finance
(202) 984-2558
matt.milanovich@cava.com

Media Relations:
Lynne Boschee, VP, Communications
media@cava.com

Contacts

Investor Relations:
Matt Milanovich, SVP, Finance
(202) 984-2558
matt.milanovich@cava.com

Media Relations:
Lynne Boschee, VP, Communications
media@cava.com