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Cava prices IPO at $17-$19 a share, with top end value of $2.1BCava prices IPO at $17-$19 a share, with top end value of $2.1B

Fast-casual Mediterranean brand looks to raise as much as $274M in offering

Ron Ruggless, Senior Editor

June 5, 2023

1 Min Read
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Cava Group Inc., parent to the 263-unit Mediterranean fast-casual Cava brand, is seeking to raise as much as $274 million in an initial public offering, valuing the company at the top end at $2.1 billion.

In documents filed Monday, the Washington, D.C.-based company said it was offering 14.4 million shares at between $17 and $19 each. The company plans to list on the New York Stock exchange under the symbol “CAVA.”

In a Securities and Exchange Commission update in May, Cava said it had driven total revenue from $45.4 million in fiscal 2016 to $564.1 million in fiscal 2022.

For the 16 weeks ended April 16, Cava said it narrowed its net loss to $2.1 million from $20 million in the prior-year period and increased its revenues to $203.1 million from $159 million.

In 2018, Cava acquired the then-public Zoes Kitchen Inc. of Plano, Texas, in a $300 million deal that included Panera founder Ron Shaich’s Boston-based Act III Holdings.

Cava’s IPO performance will be watched as other restaurant companies, including GEN Restaurant Group Inc. and Panera Brands, either file for public offerings or consider them.

Cava Group has restaurants in 22 states and the District of Columbia.

Contact Ron Ruggless at [email protected]

Follow him on Twitter: @RonRuggless

Related:Panera Brands is going public (again) soon: Here’s what that could mean

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About the Author

Ron Ruggless

Senior Editor, Nation’s Restaurant News / Restaurant Hospitality

Ron Ruggless serves as a senior editor for Informa Connect’s Nation’s Restaurant News (NRN.com) and Restaurant Hospitality (Restaurant-Hospitality.com) online and print platforms. He joined NRN in 1992 after working 10 years in various roles at the Dallas Times Herald newspaper, including restaurant critic, assistant business editor, food editor and lifestyle editor. He also edited several printings of the Zagat Dining Guide for Dallas-Fort Worth, and his articles and photographs have appeared in Food & Wine, Food Network and Self magazines. 

Ron Ruggless’ areas of expertise include foodservice mergers, acquisitions, operations, supply chain, research and development and marketing. 

Ron Ruggless is a frequent moderator and panelist at industry events ranging from the Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators (MUFSO) conference to RestaurantSpaces, the Council of Hospitality and Restaurant Trainers, the National Restaurant Association’s Marketing Executives Group, local restaurant associations and the Horeca Professional Expo in Madrid, Spain.

Ron Ruggless’ experience:

Regional and Senior Editor, Informa Connect’s Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality (1992 to present)

Features Editor – Dallas Times Herald (1989-1991)

Restaurant Critic and Food Editor – Dallas Times Herald (1987-1988)

Editing Roles – Dallas Times Herald (1982-1987)

Editing Roles – Charlotte (N.C.) Observer (1980-1982)

Editing Roles – Omaha (Neb.) World-Herald (1978-1980)

Email: [email protected]

Social media:

Twitter@RonRuggless

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ronruggless

Instagram: @RonRuggless

TikTok: @RonRuggless

 

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