Sweetgreen Inc. has announced the departure of its Chief Development Officer, marking a leadership shift as the company reevaluates its growth strategy ahead of its upcoming earnings report. The move comes as the fast-casual salad chain faces evolving market dynamics and internal restructuring.
- Chief Development Officer departs February 15, 2026
- 58 new locations opened since 2022 under the executive’s leadership
- New store openings declined to 12 in FY2025 from 33 in FY2023
- Same-store sales dropped 3.2% YoY in Q3 2025
- Company to report Q4 2025 earnings on May 9, 2026
- Stock underperformed S&P 500 Food & Staples Retailing Index by 14% over 12 months
Sweetgreen Inc. has confirmed the departure of its Chief Development Officer, effective February 15, 2026, as part of a broader leadership realignment within the company. The executive, whose name has not been publicly disclosed, oversaw the expansion of Sweetgreen’s footprint across North America, contributing to the addition of 58 new locations since 2022. Their exit follows a period of slowed growth, with the company opening only 12 new stores in fiscal year 2025—down from 24 in 2024 and 33 in 2023. This deceleration has coincided with higher operating costs and declining same-store sales, which fell 3.2% year-over-year in the third quarter of 2025, according to internal reports. The company is now prioritizing operational efficiency and profitability over rapid expansion, signaling a strategic pivot. Sweetgreen is scheduled to release its Q4 2025 earnings on May 9, 2026, where these changes are expected to be discussed in detail. Investors are closely watching for updates on capital allocation, store performance, and future growth targets, as the stock has underperformed the S&P 500 Food & Staples Retailing Index by 14% over the past 12 months.