Sweetgreen Inc Stock Price, News & Analysis

Sweetgreen (NYSE: SG) has announced its expansion into Arkansas, marking its debut in the state with two strategic locations. The first restaurant will open in Fayetteville at the South Yard development (2,422 sq ft), followed by a second location at Walmart's New Home Office in Bentonville (3,275 sq ft).

The fast-casual restaurant chain, known for its salads, bowls, and protein plates, is part of a broader national expansion plan that includes new markets such as Sacramento, Phoenix, and Cincinnati in 2025. Sweetgreen aims to grow its footprint by 15-20% annually, with plans to open at least 40 new restaurants this year, including 20 featuring its proprietary Infinite Kitchen technology.

The Bentonville location will be situated within Walmart's 350-acre development, which will support over 14,000 employees and the general public.

Sweetgreen (NYSE: SG) reported its Q1 2025 financial results with total revenue of $166.3 million, up 5.4% year-over-year. However, the company faced challenges with a Same-Store Sales decline of 3.1% and continued operational losses. The quarter showed a net loss of $25.0 million, slightly improved from $26.1 million in the prior year. Digital revenue remained strong at 59.9% of total sales. The company maintained its AUV at $2.9 million and opened 5 new restaurants. For fiscal year 2025, Sweetgreen projects revenue between $740-760 million, plans to open at least 40 new restaurants (20 with Infinite Kitchen technology), and expects Restaurant-Level Profit Margin of approximately 19.5% with Adjusted EBITDA of around $30 million.

Sweetgreen (NYSE: SG) is launching its first-ever Korean BBQ menu in collaboration with COTE Korean Steakhouse, the only Michelin-starred Korean steakhouse in America. The limited-time menu, available nationwide from May 13, 2025, features three new entrees: the KBBQ Steak Bowl, KBBQ Steak Plate, and Cucumber Kimchi Crunch Salad. The menu introduces new ingredients including KBBQ-glazed steak, apple kimchi sauce, cucumber kimchi, and pickled cabbage. SG Rewards members get exclusive early access on May 12. This partnership follows Sweetgreen's history of collaborating with Michelin-starred chefs and builds on the success of their grass-fed steak introduction last year.

Sweetgreen has appointed Jason Cochran as their new Chief Operating Officer, effective May 5th. Cochran, who will report to Co-Founder and CEO Jonathan Neman, brings over 25 years of operational leadership experience to the restaurant brand.

In his new role, Cochran will oversee Field Operations and Operations Services and Innovation. His extensive background includes serving as:

• CEO of American West Restaurant Group (Pizza Hut's third-largest franchisee)
• Vice President of Operations Services at Chipotle Mexican Grill, supporting 3,000+ restaurants and $8.6B in revenue
• Senior Vice President of U.S. Stores at GameStop, managing 4,400 locations and $7.5B in sales

This strategic appointment aligns with Sweetgreen's mission to connect more people to real food and marks a significant step in the company's growth strategy.

Sweetgreen (NYSE: SG) has scheduled its first quarter 2025 financial results announcement for Thursday, May 8, 2025, after market close. The company will host a webcast at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time (5:00 p.m. Eastern Time) to discuss business and financial results.

The earnings call webcast will be accessible through the investor relations section of Sweetgreen's website. An archived version will remain available for approximately one year after the call.

Sweetgreen has launched SG Rewards, a nationwide loyalty program offering members 10 points for every eligible dollar spent. The program provides access to exclusive perks and members-only deals, allowing customers to redeem points for free items including their new Ripple Fries.

The launch coincides with the introduction of Ripple Fries, the first air-fried, seed oil-free fries by a national restaurant brand, made with russet potatoes and air-fried in avocado oil. New members joining in April will receive 1,000 bonus points on their first eligible purchase, while existing members making purchases through April 11 will also earn 1,000 bonus points - equivalent to a free order of Ripple Fries.

Members can earn and redeem points through the Sweetgreen app or website, with features including line-skipping and quick checkout options. Existing Sweetgreen account holders will be automatically enrolled in the program.

Sweetgreen (SG) has announced the nominations of two prominent business leaders to its Board of Directors for the 2025 annual meeting: Monty Moran, former co-CEO of Chipotle Mexican Grill, and Dawn Ostroff, former Chief Content and Advertising Business Officer at Spotify.

Moran brings extensive experience in scaling restaurant operations, having transformed Chipotle from a regional brand into a national powerhouse. Ostroff contributes expertise in brand building and consumer engagement from her leadership roles at Spotify, Condé Nast, The CW, and other major media companies.

The nominations coincide with the departure of current board members Youngme Moon and Valerie Jarrett, who will not seek re-election. Jarrett served as Chair of the Nominating, Environmental, Social and Governance Committee, while Moon served on both the NESG and Compensation Committees.

Sweetgreen has announced the opening of its 250th location in Carytown, Richmond, Virginia, marking a significant milestone in the company's expansion. The new 2,162-square-foot restaurant represents the brand's first presence in Richmond.

The location will feature the company's signature menu items including salads, warm bowls, and protein plates, along with their newest offering, Ripple Fries. The restaurant continues its partnership with local suppliers, including FireFly Farms, one of their earliest partners providing goat cheese.

The Carytown location will accommodate 24 indoor and 6 outdoor diners. To celebrate the opening, Sweetgreen is partnering with Feed More, pledging to donate one meal to Central Virginia food insecurity programs for each meal purchased on opening day. The restaurant will also offer mini floral bouquets from Richmond Flower Truck on March 18, while supplies last.

Sweetgreen (NYSE: SG) has announced its participation in two major upcoming investor conferences in March 2025:

• The Bank of America Consumer and Retail Conference on March 11th, 2025, featuring a fireside chat at 9:40am ET
• The J.P. Morgan Gaming, Lodging, Restaurant & Leisure Management Access Forum on March 13th, 2025, with a fireside chat scheduled for 12:40pm PT

Both events will be accessible to investors through live webcasts and replays available on the Events + Presentations page at investor.sweetgreen.com.