Cava CEO Brett Schulman said recent food-safety outbreaks have raised consumer concerns and modestly affected the company's sales.
These outbreaks represent a broader public health challenge that threatens consumer trust in fast-casual dining. As companies rely on complex supply chains, a single contaminated ingredient can impact thousands of customers and disrupt revenue streams.
Speaking on CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” Schulman said the impact of salmonella and cyclospora outbreaks that have sickened thousands of Americans [1]. He said that restaurants must adhere to rigorous food-safety standards to maintain consumer confidence. The CEO said there is a need for stricter supplier standards to prevent future contamination.
Despite these challenges, Cava reported strong financial performance in its second quarter. The company saw a 31% increase in revenue [2] and a nine% increase in comparable restaurant sales growth [2]. Schulman said that the company continues to see strength across all income strata.
Looking forward, Cava has maintained its financial projections for the current year. The company reiterated its FY2026 same-restaurant sales outlook of 4.5% to 6.5% growth [2]. This outlook suggests that while the cyclospora outbreak caused near-term disruptions, the company expects a recovery in consumer behavior.
Schulman said the priority remains ensuring the safety of the food supply. He said that the impact of the outbreaks was visible in the short term, but the long-term focus remains on rigorous oversight of the supply chain to protect the brand and its customers.
“Restaurants must adhere to rigorous food-safety standards”
The tension between Cava's strong financial growth and the volatility of food safety highlights a systemic risk in the fast-casual industry. While the company's 2026 outlook remains positive, the reliance on fresh produce makes it vulnerable to large-scale outbreaks. Schulman's public call for stricter supplier standards indicates that corporate oversight of the agricultural supply chain is becoming a primary driver of brand stability.
