Latest news with #RippleFries
Business Wire
19-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Sweetgreen to Make Its Arkansas Debut, Expanding Presence in the Southern U.S.
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sweetgreen, the mission-driven restaurant brand known for connecting people to real food, today announced its planned market entry in Arkansas—a significant step in its expansion across the southern United States. The brand will open in Fayetteville later this year, with a second location to follow at Walmart's New Home Office in Bentonville. Sweetgreen will make its Arkansas debut with Fayetteville, followed by a location at Walmart's New Home Office in Bentonville. Share 'Northwest Arkansas is quickly becoming a hub for innovation and growth, and we're excited to be part of it,' said Christopher Tarrant, Chief Development Officer at Sweetgreen. 'Opening on Walmart's forward-thinking New Home Office campus and in Fayetteville, home of the University of Arkansas, is a meaningful milestone for our brand, and we're looking forward to serving these communities with fresh, real food.' Since 2007, Sweetgreen has been on a mission to make real food easier to access, without compromising on quality or flavor. With more than 250 restaurants across the country, the brand focuses on sustainability by sourcing local, regenerative and organic ingredients whenever possible. Guests can enjoy a variety of options on its flavorful menu, from signature bowls like the Harvest Bowl and Crispy Rice Bowl to protein-packed dishes like Miso Glazed Salmon and Caramelized Garlic Steak, and sides like Ripple Fries, Sweetgreen's twist on the fast-food favorite. Sweetgreen's upcoming Arkansas locations are part of a broader national expansion, with new markets including Sacramento, Phoenix, and Cincinnati also on the horizon for 2025. As the brand looks to the future, it remains on track to grow its footprint by 15% to 20% annually, with plans to open at least 40 new restaurants this year, including 20 featuring its proprietary Infinite Kitchen technology. Sweetgreen is set to open in Fayetteville, at the South Yard adaptive reuse development, and will span 2,422 square feet at 417 M.L.K. Jr Blvd. The Bentonville location will anchor 3,275 square feet within Walmart's visionary New Home Office at 1701 SE 8th St. The 350-acre development is expected to support over 14,000 employees as well as the general public, and integrate workspace, retail, nature trails, and community-focused design features that embody Walmart's associate-first approach. To learn more about Sweetgreen and its upcoming locations, visit About Sweetgreen: Sweetgreen (NYSE: SG) is on a mission to build healthier communities by connecting people to real food. Sweetgreen sources the best quality ingredients from farmers and suppliers they trust to cook food from scratch that is both delicious and nourishing. Sweetgreen plants roots in each community by building a transparent supply chain, investing in local farmers and growers, and enhancing the total experience with innovative technology. Since opening its first 560-square-foot location in 2007, Sweetgreen has scaled to over 250 locations across the United States, and its vision is to lead the next generation of restaurants and lifestyle brands built on quality, community and innovation. To learn more about Sweetgreen, its menu, and its loyalty program, visit Follow @Sweetgreen on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and X. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including statements regarding our plan to open restaurants in Fayetteville and Bentonville, our plan to open restaurants in Sacramento, Phoenix, and Cincinnati in 2025, our plan to grow our restaurant footprint by 15% to 20% annually, and our plan to open at least 40 new restaurants in 2025, with 20 of those new restaurants featuring our Infinite Kitchen technology . In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements because they contain words or phrases such as 'anticipate,' 'are confident that,' 'believe,' 'contemplate,' 'continue,' 'could,' 'estimate,' 'expect,' 'intend,' 'may,' 'opportunity,' 'plan,' 'potential,' 'predict,' 'project,' 'should,' 'target,' 'toward,' 'will,' or 'would,' or the negative of these words or other similar terms or expressions. You should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at, or by, which such performance or results will be achieved, if at all. Forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time those statements are made and are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections as well as the beliefs and assumptions of management as of that time with respect to future events. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which involve factors or circumstances that are beyond our control, that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward-looking statements, including risks and uncertainties included in the reports we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2024 and subsequently filed quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. Except as required by law, we do not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments, or otherwise.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
SG Q1 Earnings Call: Menu Innovation and Loyalty Investments Amid Consumer Slowdown
Casual salad chain Sweetgreen (NYSE:SG) beat Wall Street's revenue expectations in Q1 CY2025, with sales up 5.4% year on year to $166.3 million. On the other hand, the company's full-year revenue guidance of $750 million at the midpoint came in 1.8% below analysts' estimates. Its non-GAAP loss of $0.13 per share was 27.2% above analysts' consensus estimates. Is now the time to buy SG? Find out in our full research report (it's free). Revenue: $166.3 million vs analyst estimates of $164.8 million (5.4% year-on-year growth, 0.9% beat) Adjusted EPS: -$0.13 vs analyst estimates of -$0.17 (27.2% beat) Adjusted EBITDA: $285,000 vs analyst estimates of -$1.52 million (0.2% margin, significant beat) The company dropped its revenue guidance for the full year to $750 million at the midpoint from $770 million, a 2.6% decrease EBITDA guidance for the full year is $30 million at the midpoint, below analyst estimates of $33.62 million Operating Margin: -17.2%, in line with the same quarter last year Free Cash Flow was -$29.86 million compared to -$9.98 million in the same quarter last year Locations: 251 at quarter end, up from 227 in the same quarter last year Same-Store Sales fell 3.1% year on year (5% in the same quarter last year) Market Capitalization: $2.14 billion Sweetgreen's Q1 results were shaped by ongoing investments in menu innovation, the rollout of new restaurant formats, and an intensified focus on operational execution. CEO Jonathan Neman highlighted external headwinds, including adverse weather events and shifting holiday patterns, but emphasized that the company's Infinite Kitchen and sweetlane formats contributed to operational efficiencies, while menu launches such as Ripple Fries boosted customer engagement. Management acknowledged that the same-store sales decline reflected both traffic softness and mixed results in core urban markets, especially as consumers became more selective with discretionary spending. Looking ahead, management's full-year guidance factors in a more challenging macro environment and the impact of tariffs on build-out costs and packaging. CFO Mitch Reback cited 'a dynamic environment' and noted that April sales trends were softer than typical seasonal patterns, citing shifting consumer sentiment and tariff announcements. The company plans to lean on its newly launched SG Rewards loyalty program, expanded menu offerings, and a continued rollout of Infinite Kitchen restaurants to counteract these headwinds. Leadership expressed confidence in the long-term strategy but acknowledged that near-term volatility could persist. Sweetgreen's management addressed both positive strides and ongoing challenges in the first quarter, focusing on operational adjustments and strategic initiatives to support future growth. Menu innovation impact: New offerings like Ripple Fries and collaborations such as the upcoming KBBQ menu with COTE Korean Steakhouse were cited as direct drivers of increased ticket averages and customer frequency, supporting a refreshed brand perception. Restaurant format advances: The Infinite Kitchen and sweetlane formats drove operational efficiency, higher digital sales, and improved restaurant-level margins, particularly in new and emerging markets. Management noted that these formats continue to outperform traditional units in cash-on-cash returns. Geographic and market variation: While markets like Texas and Colorado saw double-digit same-store sales growth, core urban regions—Los Angeles, New York, Boston, and Washington, D.C.—experienced persistent softness, with management attributing some of this to lingering effects from regional events and changing consumer behaviors. Loyalty program relaunch: The nationwide rollout of SG Rewards resulted in 20,000 new digital customers per week, broadening Sweetgreen's access to customer data and enabling more targeted marketing campaigns. Early adoption rates were described as 'very encouraging.' Tariff and cost management: Management outlined efforts to mitigate tariff-related cost pressures, particularly for packaging and Infinite Kitchen components sourced from China. Initiatives include supply chain diversification and pre-purchasing materials to limit near-term exposure, with longer-term cost reductions anticipated as sourcing shifts progress. Management's outlook for the remainder of the year is anchored in driving traffic through menu and technology innovation, while navigating macroeconomic uncertainty and external cost pressures. Menu and loyalty initiatives: Sweetgreen aims to increase visit frequency and attract new customers with limited-time menu offerings, seasonal rotations, and expanded use of the SG Rewards program, which management believes will become a key lever for traffic and retention. Expansion of innovative formats: Continued investment in Infinite Kitchen and sweetlane locations is expected to drive improved operational efficiency and higher digital sales, supporting restaurant-level margin expansion despite cost headwinds. Tariff and macro uncertainty: Management highlighted risks associated with consumer sentiment, ongoing tariff impacts on build-out and packaging costs, and operational challenges in legacy urban markets. The company cautioned that a sustained slowdown in discretionary spending and further cost inflation could pressure results. Jon Tower (Citigroup): Asked whether tariffs would alter plans for Infinite Kitchen rollouts; management replied that returns remain attractive and deployment strategy is unchanged despite higher build-out costs. Sara Senatore (Bank of America): Inquired about regional performance differences; management noted ongoing softness in Los Angeles and a recent downturn in Washington, D.C., attributed to lingering wildfire impacts and changing consumer patterns. Zach Ogden (TD Cowen): Sought clarity on the cadence of same-store sales recovery; management indicated that Q2 would remain challenged but expects seasonal menus and loyalty initiatives to improve trends in the second half of the year. Sharon Zackfia (William Blair): Queried value perceptions and operational challenges in core markets; management pointed to the need for a return to more frequent seasonal menus and greater discipline in digital order execution. Christine Cho (Goldman Sachs): Asked about SG Rewards metrics and data usage; management reported strong weekly signups and highlighted plans to leverage customer data for targeted marketing and menu development. In the coming quarters, our team will closely monitor (1) the impact of new menu launches, including the KBBQ collaboration and seasonal offerings, on guest frequency and sales trends; (2) adoption and engagement levels of the SG Rewards loyalty program as a driver of digital and in-store traffic; and (3) the scale-out of Infinite Kitchen and sweetlane formats, especially their effect on margin and throughput. The company's ability to offset tariff and macroeconomic pressures through operational discipline and customer engagement tactics will also be an important area of focus. Sweetgreen currently trades at a forward EV-to-EBITDA ratio of 51.7×. Is the company at an inflection point that warrants a buy or sell? The answer lies in our free research report. Donald Trump's victory in the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election sent major indices to all-time highs, but stocks have retraced as investors debate the health of the economy and the potential impact of tariffs. While this leaves much uncertainty around 2025, a few companies are poised for long-term gains regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate, like our Top 5 Growth Stocks for this month. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 175% over the last five years. Stocks that made our list in 2019 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+2,183% between December 2019 and December 2024) as well as under-the-radar businesses like Comfort Systems (+751% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
1 Growth Stock Down 40% in 2025: Should You Buy It With $100 Right Now?
Sweetgreen (NYSE: SG) made a splash with its initial public offering (IPO) in November 2021, but not in a good way. Shares of the health-forward fast-casual chain tanked not long after their debut. Exactly two years following the company's IPO, they had lost a gut-wrenching 80% of their starting value. While Sweetgreen failed to satisfy investors' appetites early on, it has turned things around. Since the start of 2024, shares have surged 70% (as of April 25). However, volatility remains the key theme. Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Continue » In 2025, this restaurant stock has dropped by 40%. Meanwhile, the broader S&P 500 index has fallen 6%. Does this mean you should buy Sweetgreen with $100 right now? Founded 14 years after Chipotle Mexican Grill, Sweetgreen brings the same emphasis on a fast-casual concept, customizable menu, open kitchen, and sustainable ingredients, but to salads and grain bowls. Plus, it plays on the growing interest in eating healthy. According to McKinsey & Company, 82% of U.S. consumers consider wellness a "top or important priority in their everyday lives." That has given Sweetgreen a favorable growth tailwind. After opening 25 new stores in fiscal 2024, the company has a footprint of 245 locations. The target is to open at least 40 more this fiscal year. Sweetgreen has focused on positioning itself as a tech-forward restaurant concept, demonstrated by the fact that 56% of revenue in fiscal 2024 came from digital channels in total and 30% came from its own website and app. Digital sales will likely be boosted by Sweetgreen's new points-based loyalty program that was launched in April. What's more, the business is investing in automation. Infinite Kitchen is automated kitchen technology that uses robots to prepare food for customers. The goal is to add it to 20 of the new stores being built this year, which would bring the total to more than 30. Bringing these to more stores has a direct positive benefit to Sweetgreen. Infinite Kitchen helps to lower costs, while at the same time boosting throughput (a measure of how fast customers are served). That's a win-win situation. Besides these more noticeable moves, Sweetgreen also tries to keep things fresh on the menu. In March, the company added Ripple Fries, potatoes air-fried in avocado oil. Jonathan Neman said the business wants to "increase the pace of menu innovation." Due to fears about the direction of the economy, with many now thinking a recession will happen, it makes sense that Sweetgreen's stock has gotten hammered in 2025. If consumers tighten their belts and decide to cut back on eating out, this business could see demand come under pressure. This depressed view has hit the stock's valuation, which now trades at a more reasonable price-to-sales ratio of 3.3. I can understand why this might be enticing to some investors looking to buy a growth stock on the dip. However, I'm not entirely convinced that growth will be durable. Since the average meal at Sweetgreen costs substantially more than at a rival like Chipotle, I believe it somewhat caps the former's total addressable market. The leadership team expects same-store sales to rise by just 1% to 3% this year, demonstrating economic sensitivity. It doesn't help that Sweetgreen has yet to turn a GAAP profit. It registered a $90 million net loss in fiscal 2024. Maybe with greater scale that will change, but it could be a long road to get there. The industry is extremely competitive as well, which will make things difficult for Sweetgreen. I don't think investors should buy the stock. Maybe when I see consistently increasing earnings, that perspective will change. Before you buy stock in Sweetgreen, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Sweetgreen wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $594,046!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $680,390!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 872% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 160% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of April 28, 2025 Neil Patel has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Chipotle Mexican Grill. The Motley Fool recommends Sweetgreen and recommends the following options: short June 2025 $55 calls on Chipotle Mexican Grill. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 1 Growth Stock Down 40% in 2025: Should You Buy It With $100 Right Now? was originally published by The Motley Fool Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
1 Growth Stock Down 40% in 2025: Should You Buy It With $100 Right Now?
Sweetgreen (NYSE: SG) made a splash with its initial public offering (IPO) in November 2021, but not in a good way. Shares of the health-forward fast-casual chain tanked not long after their debut. Exactly two years following the company's IPO, they had lost a gut-wrenching 80% of their starting value. While Sweetgreen failed to satisfy investors' appetites early on, it has turned things around. Since the start of 2024, shares have surged 70% (as of April 25). However, volatility remains the key theme. Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Continue » In 2025, this restaurant stock has dropped by 40%. Meanwhile, the broader S&P 500 index has fallen 6%. Does this mean you should buy Sweetgreen with $100 right now? Founded 14 years after Chipotle Mexican Grill, Sweetgreen brings the same emphasis on a fast-casual concept, customizable menu, open kitchen, and sustainable ingredients, but to salads and grain bowls. Plus, it plays on the growing interest in eating healthy. According to McKinsey & Company, 82% of U.S. consumers consider wellness a "top or important priority in their everyday lives." That has given Sweetgreen a favorable growth tailwind. After opening 25 new stores in fiscal 2024, the company has a footprint of 245 locations. The target is to open at least 40 more this fiscal year. Sweetgreen has focused on positioning itself as a tech-forward restaurant concept, demonstrated by the fact that 56% of revenue in fiscal 2024 came from digital channels in total and 30% came from its own website and app. Digital sales will likely be boosted by Sweetgreen's new points-based loyalty program that was launched in April. What's more, the business is investing in automation. Infinite Kitchen is automated kitchen technology that uses robots to prepare food for customers. The goal is to add it to 20 of the new stores being built this year, which would bring the total to more than 30. Bringing these to more stores has a direct positive benefit to Sweetgreen. Infinite Kitchen helps to lower costs, while at the same time boosting throughput (a measure of how fast customers are served). That's a win-win situation. Besides these more noticeable moves, Sweetgreen also tries to keep things fresh on the menu. In March, the company added Ripple Fries, potatoes air-fried in avocado oil. Jonathan Neman said the business wants to "increase the pace of menu innovation." Due to fears about the direction of the economy, with many now thinking a recession will happen, it makes sense that Sweetgreen's stock has gotten hammered in 2025. If consumers tighten their belts and decide to cut back on eating out, this business could see demand come under pressure. This depressed view has hit the stock's valuation, which now trades at a more reasonable price-to-sales ratio of 3.3. I can understand why this might be enticing to some investors looking to buy a growth stock on the dip. However, I'm not entirely convinced that growth will be durable. Since the average meal at Sweetgreen costs substantially more than at a rival like Chipotle, I believe it somewhat caps the former's total addressable market. The leadership team expects same-store sales to rise by just 1% to 3% this year, demonstrating economic sensitivity. It doesn't help that Sweetgreen has yet to turn a GAAP profit. It registered a $90 million net loss in fiscal 2024. Maybe with greater scale that will change, but it could be a long road to get there. The industry is extremely competitive as well, which will make things difficult for Sweetgreen. I don't think investors should buy the stock. Maybe when I see consistently increasing earnings, that perspective will change. Before you buy stock in Sweetgreen, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Sweetgreen wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $594,046!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $680,390!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 872% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 160% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of April 28, 2025 Neil Patel has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Chipotle Mexican Grill. The Motley Fool recommends Sweetgreen and recommends the following options: short June 2025 $55 calls on Chipotle Mexican Grill. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 1 Growth Stock Down 40% in 2025: Should You Buy It With $100 Right Now? was originally published by The Motley Fool
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sweetgreen abandons tiered loyalty for points-based program
This story was originally published on Restaurant Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Restaurant Dive newsletter. Sweetgreen has launched a points-based loyalty program, SG Rewards, to replace Sweetpass, a tiered subscription program that consumers found too complicated, the company announced in a Thursday press release. SG members earn 10 points for every dollar spent, and get access to unspecified perks and members-only deals. The points can be redeemed for entrees or sides, according to the press release. CEO Jonathan Neman said during a February earnings call that the loyalty shift would help improve Sweetgreen's value proposition — a vital consideration as consumers remain price sensitive and economic confidence falters. Sweetgreen's new program has been in the works since last year. The program was created in response to consumer desire for a more flexible rewards program, Neman said in a statement. 'SG Rewards offers more value, more flexibility and more ways to enjoy Sweetgreen — from everyday surprise & delight moments to members-only deals and special perks,' Neman said. The Sweetpass program that preceded SG Rewards included consumer challenges and a subscription tier, which cost members $100 annually, that gave consumers $3 discounts on orders. To promote adoption of the new program, the salad brand is offering some time-limited perks. Consumers who sign up and complete a purchase in April will receive 1,000 bonus points, equivalent to the amount earned after $100 in spend. Existing members who make an eligible purchase before April 11 will also receive 1,000 bonus points. Those bonus points are enough to earn an order of the company's air-fried Ripple Fries, which were introduced in March, according to the press release. On the earnings call, Neman said he expected the new program — combined with investments in menu innovation and personalized offers — would result in transaction growth. Sweetgreen managed positive comps and traffic last year, Chief Financial Officer Mitch Reback said on the brand's earnings call. Full-year traffic rose 2%, while same-store sales increased a total of 6%. Those numbers were impressive, given the stagnation of same-store sales at many brands, but lagged behind some fast casual competitors, like Chipotle and Cava. Nonetheless, the brand still posted a $90 million net loss for fiscal 2024, according to its 10-K, though that was an improvement over its $113 million net loss in 2023. While Sweetgreen is still the segment leader for fast casual salads, there are other chains looking to unseat it. Just Salad, in particular, has made moves that resemble Sweetgreen's in recent months. Just Salad added heartier options focused on the dinner daypart, debuting drive-thrus and raising $200 million in capital. If 2025 brings Sweetgreen strong traffic, the salad chain could separate itself from competitors, especially if consumer confidence in the category continues to crumble as a result of macroeconomic uncertainty. Recommended Reading Sweetgreen to launch points-based loyalty program
