Cava set to open 75 fast-casual eateries across the nation as it goes on a hiring blitz

Fast-casual Mediterranean restaurant chain Cava has announced plans to hire 2,500 workers and open more than 75 new locations this year.

The hiring push will increase the company’s total restaurant workforce to 15,400 employees, representing a 19 percent expansion from the 12,900 workers reported in its annual filing last year, according to a company news release.

The expansion is being supported by the introduction of an assistant general manager role, which was created in December to establish a larger management pool for upcoming restaurant openings.

Cava initially aimed to hire 150 AGMs this year but has already exceeded that target. Sixty percent of the AGMs appointed so far were promoted internally.

“Restaurants with AGM coverage are outperforming those without,” Brett Schulman, Cava’s co-founder and chief executive, said during a May earnings call, as reported by Restaurant Dive. “AGMs provide additional leadership support during peak dinner and weekend shifts, strengthening operations, deepening the development of future team members and building more sustainable restaurant teams over time.”

The hiring initiative falls under the chain’s “Flavor Your Future” career development platform, which launched late last year. The company reported that it promoted or advanced more than 3,500 employees last year.

“Our Flavor Your Future initiative continues to show promise, focusing on attracting, developing and retaining talent across the organization,” Schulman said.

The company is also restructuring its benefits for general managers, making all GMs eligible for long-term incentive equity grants to give them a financial stake in the business. GMs can also earn incentives based on their hiring and promotion performance.

Additionally, Cava intends to launch a training program this fall to prepare high-potential employees for leadership roles before new restaurants open, Schulman said during the Bernstein Strategic Decisions Conference in late May. The initiative is designed to ensure teams have operational experience ahead of new location launches.