The Mediterranean fast-casual restaurant market has been hot in recent years, especially following the success of Southwestern chains like Chipotle and Moe’s Southwest Grill. As health and weight loss increasingly occupy the cultural conversation, consumers and investors alike love the idea of building their own health-conscious bowls featuring tasty, fresh ingredients. Enter CAVA: America’s most popular Mediterranean chain with over 350 locations.
Franchising a fast-casual restaurant can be a lucrative entrepreneurial venture. Unfortunately, CAVA’s corporate ownership business model does not currently allow for individual franchising. However, there are other opportunities available for those who want a piece of the health-forward fast-casual market. Discover how to open a CAVA franchise, what their business model means, and additional franchising ideas in our guide.
Is CAVA a Franchise?
CAVA does not operate under a traditional franchise model. Instead of allowing individual franchisees to open their own locations, CAVA directly manages all locations. This corporate ownership model allows the company to control its employee and customer experiences more closely.
While there aren’t currently any CAVA franchising opportunities, you can still have a stake in the chain’s success through the stock market. CAVA Group, Inc. trades publicly on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the ticker CAVA.
Who Can Open a CAVA Location?
CAVA grows primarily through corporate mergers and acquisitions. For example, CAVA purchased the Mediterranean fast-casual chain Zoë’s Kitchen in 2018, allowing the company to expand its footprint and acquire markets that Zoë’s Kitchen had previously served. This model allows the company to expand without relinquishing control over its cohesive branding and customer experience.
External entrepreneurs cannot operate their own CAVA franchise. In theory, you could work your way up from within the company and (eventually) manage your own CAVA location.
In some cases, CAVA enters special licensing agreements with strategic partners to operate in non-traditional locations, such as airports, hospitals, and university cafeterias. These locations are technically owned by institutional foodservice operators (like airport concessionaires or cafeteria managers), who grant CAVA a license to use a portion of their space.
A franchise business model allows a person or group to operate a brand’s location using its name, trademarks, and systems — typically in return for fees and/or royalties.
A corporate-owned model allows direct management only from within the company.
CAVA Franchise Cost and Investment Expectations
Since operating your own CAVA Grill franchise is not an option, there is no official franchise fee. You may, however, be able to franchise other health-forward fast-casual restaurant chains.
While various factors impact the total cost of a CAVA-style franchise, you can generally expect to invest the following, according to fintech company Sharpsheets:
- A total of $243,000–$1,144,000 to operate a Jamba
- A total of $577,000–$728,000 to operate a SaladWorks
- A total of $222,000–$409,000 to operate a Nautical Bowls
More from L’Express Franchise
Alternatives to a CAVA Franchise
The most direct way to “own” a portion of the CAVA brand is to purchase shares in the company through the NYSE. You can also directly request a CAVA location open in your area through the brand’s contact form.
If your goal is to operate your own fast-casual franchise, you may instead consider becoming a franchisee for:
- Taziki’s Mediterranean Grill, a medium chain with a similar Mediterranean-inspired menu
- Taim Mediterranean Kitchen, a small chain with similar food items and branding
- Jamba, a large chain with healthy options in several regional markets
- SaladWorks, a medium chain with healthy, fresh, and made-to-order offerings
- Nautical Bowls, a small chain with fresh, fruit-forward options
