Cava co-founder and CEO Brett Schulman said the company has not been impacted by the Cyclospora outbreak during a Bloomberg Television interview.
The statement comes as investors monitor the impact of food safety concerns on fast-casual dining and the overall growth trajectory of the Mediterranean chain.
Speaking on the program "Bloomberg The Close," Schulman said public and investor concerns regarding the outbreak while outlining the company's strategy for expansion. Despite the food safety issue, Cava reported strong financial results for the second quarter of 2026, including revenue growth of 31.3% [1].
Other key performance indicators for the period include a nine% increase in same-restaurant sales [2] and a 5.3% growth in restaurant traffic [3]. These figures suggest a period of significant scaling for the company.
However, data regarding the Cyclospora outbreak remains contradictory. While Schulman said the business was not affected, other reports suggest a different trend. One report indicated a 4.2% decline in customer visits following the outbreak [6].
Wall Street analysts have noted a recovery process. RBC Capital reported that same-store sales grew in the mid-single digits [5] and observed that sales improved each week following an initial impact from the outbreak. Following this trend, RBC Capital raised its price target for Cava to $95, up from $90 [4].
Schulman said broader dining trends and the company's outlook during the interview. He focused on the chain's ability to maintain growth despite the volatility associated with food safety headlines in the industry.
“Cava reported strong financial results for the second quarter of 2026, including revenue growth of 31.3%.”
The discrepancy between executive statements and analyst data highlights the tension between corporate messaging and market volatility during public health scares. While Cava's quarterly revenue and traffic growth remain strong, the reported dip in visits suggests that food safety concerns can create short-term friction even for high-growth brands. The price target increase from RBC Capital indicates that institutional investors view these disruptions as temporary rather than systemic.
