CAVA turned Zoes Kitchen into a national Mediterranean growth engine

CAVA bought Zoes Kitchen for footprint, not for the old banner. Instead of running two brands, management spent 2019–2023 converting Zoes locations into CAVA restaurants, with the last conversion opening on October 20, 2023.

That choice was operationally harder than simple expansion: menus, kitchens, staffing, and local demand all had to be rebuilt inside inherited real estate. But it gave CAVA a national base faster than opening every site from scratch.

By the end of 2024 CAVA operated 367 restaurants in 25 states and Washington, D.C. Revenue grew 35.1% to $954.3 million, same-restaurant sales rose 13.4%, and restaurant-level profit margin reached 25.0%.

2024 revenue reached $954.3M, same-restaurant sales rose 13.4%, and adjusted EBITDA rose 71% to $126.2M.

The acquired Zoes estate gave CAVA locations it could convert into its own higher-growth format.

Management treated the acquisition as a format migration rather than a two-brand portfolio.

Finishing the conversions in 2023 let 2024 results show the CAVA model without Zoes drag.

A roll-up works best when the buyer has a stronger operating model ready before it buys the footprint.

CAVA ended 2024 with 367 restaurants and said it saw opportunity for more than 1,000 U.S. restaurants by 2032. The conversion strategy turned a regional Mediterranean chain into a public-market growth story instead of a rescued restaurant brand.