Cava Quietly Launched a Secret Rewards Tier—and It’s Becoming a Major Growth Engine

How the Mediterranean restaurant chain has been winning the slop bowl wars.

BY ALI DONALDSON, STAFF REPORTER @ALICDONALDSON

Illustration: Inc; Photo: Cava, Getty Images

When Cava rolled out its new rewards program four months ago, the $9.7 billion Mediterranean fast-casual chain kept repeating a word in the announcement: surprise. That’s become a growth strategy for the Washington, D.C.-based restaurant—one that has helped the company boost sales of its salads and grain meals, while many of its so-called “slop bowl” competitors, such........

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