Sweetgreen (SG) J.P. Morgan Gaming, Lodging, Restaurant, and Leisure Management Access Forum summary

Strategic transformation priorities

• Focus on menu innovation, especially wraps, to expand occasions and demographics, with strong early results from a 68-store test.

• Pricing architecture is being simplified and tested, including a barbell strategy to improve entry points and retention.

• Operational excellence initiatives include throughput improvements, food quality enhancements, and hospitality training.

• Increased investment in brand positioning, shifting marketing towards upper funnel and lifestyle branding.

• Leadership changes and new hires are supporting the transformation plan.

Talent and leadership development

• Competitive wages, bonuses, and equity for head coaches help attract and retain talent.

• Internal promotion is emphasized, with pathways from team member to head coach in under three years.

• Leadership development is a key investment area, aiming to align people growth with store growth.

Supply chain and operational efficiency

• Distribution consolidation to a single distributor has simplified workflows and reduced logistics costs.

• Regional supply networks are leveraged for economies of scale as markets expand.

• Prep simplification, such as prepped ingredients, is being tested to reduce labor without sacrificing quality.

• Intensive labor studies are underway to optimize labor allocation and improve unit economics.