CAVA Group Reports Strong Q4 and Full-Year 2025 Results

Highlights include first $1 billion revenue year, restaurant expansion, and plans to accelerate growth.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

CAVA Group (NYSE:CAVA) outlined what management called a 'milestone year' on its fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 earnings call, highlighting its first full fiscal year above $1 billion in revenue, continued restaurant expansion, and plans to accelerate growth while investing in operations, technology, and leadership development.

Why it matters

CAVA's strong financial performance and aggressive expansion plans demonstrate the company's ability to capitalize on growing consumer demand for Mediterranean-inspired cuisine and its successful integration of the Zoe's Kitchen brand it acquired in 2018. The company's focus on menu innovation, loyalty programs, and digital execution also position it well for continued growth in a competitive fast-casual market.

The details

For the fourth quarter, CAVA reported revenue growth of 21.2% and said revenue was up 55.5% over the past two years. Fourth-quarter same-restaurant sales increased 0.5% and restaurant-level profit margin was 21.4%. For the full year, management reported revenue growth of 22.5% and said revenue increased 63.1% over the last two years. Full-year same-restaurant sales were up 4.0%, adjusted EBITDA totaled $152.8 million (up 21% versus 2024), GAAP net income was $63.7 million, and free cash flow was $26.1 million.

  • CAVA opened 24 net new restaurants in the fourth quarter and 72 net new restaurants in 2025, ending the year with 439 locations across 28 states and Washington, D.C.
  • For 2026, the company guided to 74 to 76 net new restaurant openings.

The players

CAVA Group

A leading fast-casual restaurant company specializing in Mediterranean-inspired cuisine, operating under the CAVA brand.

Brett Schulman

Co-Founder and CEO of CAVA Group.

Tricia Tolivar

President and CFO of CAVA Group.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“2025 marked a transition from being a newly public company to operating as a 'large-scale, sustainable growth enterprise,'”

— Brett Schulman, Co-Founder and CEO (CAVA Group earnings call)

“Salmon will be a premium item and is expected to create an approximately 100 basis point headwind to restaurant-level margin rate beginning in the second quarter, while also being 'penny profit neutral' overall.”

— Tricia Tolivar, President and CFO (CAVA Group earnings call)

What’s next

CAVA plans to launch pomegranate-glazed salmon toward the end of the first quarter of 2026, marking the company's first-ever seafood offering.

The takeaway

CAVA's strong financial performance, aggressive expansion plans, and focus on menu innovation, loyalty programs, and digital execution position the company well to continue capitalizing on growing consumer demand for Mediterranean-inspired cuisine in a competitive fast-casual market.