Cava Group
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Fast casual dining, Mediterranean cuisine |
| Founded | 2006 in Rockville, Maryland, United States |
| Founder | Ted Xenohristos, Ike Grigoropoulos, Dimitri Moshovitis |
Area served | United States |
Key people | Brett Schulman (CEO) |
| Products | Mediterranean cuisine, dips, spreads, dressings |
| Parent | Cava Group |
| Website | www |
Cava (presented as CAVA), which is also referred to as Cava Grill, is a fast casual dining chain specializing in Mediterranean cuisine and operating throughout the United States. The brand is owned by the publicly listed Cava Group and experienced rapid growth following its acquisition of Zoës Kitchen in August 2018, positioning it as the leading Mediterranean restaurant operator in the U.S. Additionally, Cava offers a range of Mediterranean-inspired dips, spreads, and dressings sold in grocery outlets nationwide. By May 2023, all former Zoës Kitchen establishments had either been shuttered or transformed into Cava locations.
History
The inception of Cava dates back to 2006 when first-generation Greek American founders Ted Xenohristos, Ike Grigoropoulos, and Dimitri Moshovitis opened the full-service Cava Mezze in Rockville, Maryland, with Moshovitis serving as executive chef. Two years later, in 2008, they collaborated with Geoff and Kenny Maites to launch a line of dips and spreads that expanded distribution to more than 200 retail stores, including Whole Foods Market. Brett Schulman joined the team in 2009 as CEO and co-founder of the emerging fast-casual concept initially called Cava Mezze Grill, which was subsequently rebranded to Cava Grill and then simply Cava. The chain’s first fast-casual outlet debuted in Bethesda, Maryland, in January 2011.
In a significant move during August 2018, Cava Group purchased Zoës Kitchen for $300 million, a strategic acquisition that broadened its footprint within the fast-casual Mediterranean segment. By December 2022, most Zoës Kitchen locations had been phased out or converted into Cava restaurants, with full closure completed by May 2023.
In April 2021, the company raised $190 million through a Series F funding round led by T. Rowe Price, elevating its valuation close to $1.3 billion. Since 2015, Cava has accumulated over $640 million in funding to support its expansion initiatives.
On June 15, 2023, Cava debuted on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol CAVA after a $318 million initial public offering, signaling robust investor endorsement of its growth strategy and market standing.
Restaurants and expansion
In November 2018, Cava Group finalized the acquisition of Zoës Kitchen, a chain operating more than 250 restaurants, for $300 million. This transaction took Zoës private and enhanced Cava’s presence in suburban markets.
By August 2021, the company managed 133 company-operated locations without franchising. In 2020, seven former Zoës Kitchen outlets were converted into Cava restaurants, with plans to transform an additional 50 sites during 2021. The business also developed off-premises and digital kitchens dedicated to fulfilling online orders. As of April 2025, Cava had expanded its network to encompass 382 locations.