CAVA GROUP, INC., DEF 14A filed on 4/24/2026
Proxy Statement (definitive)
v3.26.1
Cover
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 28, 2025
Document Information [Line Items]  
Document Type DEF 14A
Amendment Flag false
Entity Information [Line Items]  
Entity Registrant Name CAVA GROUP, INC.
Entity Central Index Key 0001639438
v3.26.1
Pay vs Performance Disclosure - USD ($)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 28, 2025
Dec. 29, 2024
Dec. 31, 2023
Pay vs Performance Disclosure      
Pay vs Performance Disclosure, Table
Value of Initial Fixed $100 Investment Based on:
Year
(1)
Summary Compensation Table Total for PEO
($)
(2)
Compensation Actually Paid to PEO
($)
(3)
Average Summary Compensation Table Total for Non-PEO NEOs
($)
(4)
Average Compensation Actually Paid to Non-PEO NEOs
($)
(5)
CAVA Total Shareholder Return
($)
(6)
Peer Group Total Shareholder Return
($)
(7)
Net income
($)
(8)
Company Selected Measure: Adjusted EBITDA
($)
20253,859,478 (40,880,084)1,770,740 (5,483,158)134 110 63,743,000 152,760,000 
20241,924,218 80,148,421 908,319 27,481,496 255 111 130,319,000 126,248,000 
202317,060,929 46,526,664 2,781,834 9,929,713 96 105 13,280,000 73,825,000 
    
Company Selected Measure Name Adjusted EBITDA    
Named Executive Officers, Footnote Reflects compensation amounts reported in the Summary Compensation Table for our principal executive officer (“PEO”), Brett Schulman, our CEO and President, for the respective years shown.For 2025, the following non-PEO NEOs are included in the average amounts: Tricia Tolivar, Jennifer Somers, Theodoros Xenohristos, Kelly Costanza, and Robert Bertram. The following non-PEO NEOs are included in the average amounts for 2024 and 2023: Tricia Tolivar, Jennifer Somers, Theodoros Xenohristos, and Kelly Costanza.    
Peer Group Issuers, Footnote For the relevant fiscal year, represents the cumulative TSR of the S&P 500 Restaurants Index (Peer Group TSR) through the last day of the applicable fiscal year, assuming $100 was invested on May 31, 2023 and dividends were reinvested.    
PEO Total Compensation Amount $ 3,859,478 $ 1,924,218 $ 17,060,929
PEO Actually Paid Compensation Amount $ (40,880,084) 80,148,421 46,526,664
Adjustment To PEO Compensation, Footnote Reflects the respective amounts set forth in column (1) of the table above, adjusted as set forth in the table below, as determined in accordance with SEC rules and computed in accordance with the methodology used for financial reporting purposes. The dollar amounts reflected in column (2) of the table above do not reflect the actual amount of compensation earned, realized, or received by the CEO during the applicable year. Decreases in stock price may result in negative dollar amounts. For information regarding the decisions made by our People, Culture, and Compensation Committee regarding the CEO’s compensation for each fiscal year, see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” and the tables and narrative explanations reporting pay for the fiscal years covered in the table above.
Year
Summary Compensation Table Total for PEO
($)
Less: Summary Compensation Table Total Equity (Stock Awards + Option Awards) for PEO
($)
Plus: Fair Value as of Fiscal Year-End of Stock and Option Awards Granted in Covered Year for PEO
($)
Plus: Change in Fair Value of Outstanding Unvested Stock and Option Awards from Prior Years for PEO
($)
Plus: Change in Fair Value of Stock and Option Awards that Vested in the Covered Year for PEO
($)
Less: Fair Value at Prior Fiscal Year-End of Stock and Option and Option Awards Forfeited during the Covered Year for PEO
($)
Compensation Actually Paid to PEO
($)
20253,859,478 1,999,946 1,187,042 (36,817,175)(7,109,483)— (40,880,084)
20241,924,218 — — 69,029,501 9,194,702 — 80,148,421 
202317,060,929 15,088,300 34,898,602 9,657,763 (2,330)— 46,526,664 
    
Non-PEO NEO Average Total Compensation Amount $ 1,770,740 908,319 2,781,834
Non-PEO NEO Average Compensation Actually Paid Amount $ (5,483,158) 27,481,496 9,929,713
Adjustment to Non-PEO NEO Compensation Footnote Reflects the respective amounts set forth in column (3) of the table above, adjusted as set forth in the table below, as determined in accordance with SEC rules and computed in accordance with the methodology used for financial reporting purposes. The dollar amounts reflected in column (4) of the table above do not reflect the actual amount of compensation earned, realized, or received by the non-PEO NEOs during the applicable year. Decreases in stock price may result in negative dollar amounts. For information about the decisions made by our People, Culture and Compensation Committee regarding the non-PEO NEOs’ compensation for each fiscal year, see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” and the related tables and narrative explanations reporting pay for the fiscal years covered in the table above.
Year
Average Summary Compensation Table Total for Non-PEO NEOs
($)
Less: Average Summary Compensation Table Total Equity (Stock Awards + Option Awards) for Non-PEO NEOs
($)
Plus: Average Fair Value as of Fiscal Year-End of Stock and Option Awards Granted in Covered Year for Non-PEO NEOs
($)
Plus: Average Change in Fair Value of Outstanding Unvested Stock and Option Awards from Prior Years for Non-PEO NEOs
($)
Plus: Average Change in Fair Value of Stock and Option Awards that Vested in the Covered Year for Non-PEO NEOs
($)
Less: Average Fair Value at Prior Fiscal Year-End of Stock and Option and Option Awards Forfeited during the Covered Year for Non-PEO NEOs
($)
Average Compensation Actually Paid to Non-PEO NEOs
($)
20251,770,740 959,952 427,328 (3,647,051)(860,596)2,213,627 (5,483,158)
2024908,319 — — 20,921,990 5,651,187 — 27,481,496 
20232,781,834 1,854,424 5,065,659 3,245,653 690,991 — 9,929,713 
    
Compensation Actually Paid vs. Total Shareholder Return
549755818895
    
Compensation Actually Paid vs. Net Income
549755818898
Excluding the $80.1 million net benefit from the release of the valuation allowance against deferred tax assets, net income for 2024 would have been $50.2 million. The relationship between CEO CAP, and non-CEO CAP, to net income would still have been positive between 2023 and 2024. 		   
Compensation Actually Paid vs. Company Selected Measure
549755819471
    
Total Shareholder Return Vs Peer Group
549755818895
    
Tabular List, Table
Most Important Performance Measures for 2025 Compensation
Adjusted EBITDA
Revenue
    
Total Shareholder Return Amount $ 134 255 96
Peer Group Total Shareholder Return Amount 110 111 105
Net Income (Loss) $ 63,743,000 $ 130,319,000 $ 13,280,000
Company Selected Measure Amount 152,760,000 126,248,000 73,825,000
PEO Name Brett Schulman    
Additional 402(v) Disclosure For the relevant fiscal year, represents the cumulative total shareholder return ("TSR") of CAVA through the last day of the applicable fiscal year, assuming $100 was invested on the date of our IPO, June 15, 2023.Reflects CAVA’s net income for each of the fiscal years ended December 28, 2025, December 29, 2024, and December 31, 2023. Net income in fiscal 2024 included a one-time $80.1 million net benefit from the release of the valuation allowance against deferred tax assets.    
Measure:: 1      
Pay vs Performance Disclosure      
Name Adjusted EBITDA    
Non-GAAP Measure Description Company Selected Measure is Adjusted EBITDA, which is defined as net income adjusted to exclude interest income, net, (benefit from) provision for income taxes, and depreciation and amortization, further adjusted to exclude equity-based compensation, other income, net, impairment and asset disposal costs, restructuring and other costs, certain non-recurring public company costs, and executive transitions costs to the extent applicable in each fiscal year.    
Measure:: 2      
Pay vs Performance Disclosure      
Name Revenue    
PEO | Aggregate Grant Date Fair Value of Equity Award Amounts Reported in Summary Compensation Table      
Pay vs Performance Disclosure      
Adjustment to Compensation, Amount $ (1,999,946) $ 0 $ (15,088,300)
PEO | Year-end Fair Value of Equity Awards Granted in Covered Year that are Outstanding and Unvested      
Pay vs Performance Disclosure      
Adjustment to Compensation, Amount 1,187,042 0 34,898,602
PEO | Year-over-Year Change in Fair Value of Equity Awards Granted in Prior Years That are Outstanding and Unvested      
Pay vs Performance Disclosure      
Adjustment to Compensation, Amount (36,817,175) 69,029,501 9,657,763
PEO | Vesting Date Fair Value of Equity Awards Granted and Vested in Covered Year      
Pay vs Performance Disclosure      
Adjustment to Compensation, Amount (7,109,483) 9,194,702 (2,330)
PEO | Prior Year End Fair Value of Equity Awards Granted in Any Prior Year that Fail to Meet Applicable Vesting Conditions During Covered Year      
Pay vs Performance Disclosure      
Adjustment to Compensation, Amount 0 0 0
Non-PEO NEO | Aggregate Grant Date Fair Value of Equity Award Amounts Reported in Summary Compensation Table      
Pay vs Performance Disclosure      
Adjustment to Compensation, Amount (959,952) 0 (1,854,424)
Non-PEO NEO | Year-end Fair Value of Equity Awards Granted in Covered Year that are Outstanding and Unvested      
Pay vs Performance Disclosure      
Adjustment to Compensation, Amount 427,328 0 5,065,659
Non-PEO NEO | Year-over-Year Change in Fair Value of Equity Awards Granted in Prior Years That are Outstanding and Unvested      
Pay vs Performance Disclosure      
Adjustment to Compensation, Amount (3,647,051) 20,921,990 3,245,653
Non-PEO NEO | Vesting Date Fair Value of Equity Awards Granted and Vested in Covered Year      
Pay vs Performance Disclosure      
Adjustment to Compensation, Amount (860,596) 5,651,187 690,991
Non-PEO NEO | Prior Year End Fair Value of Equity Awards Granted in Any Prior Year that Fail to Meet Applicable Vesting Conditions During Covered Year      
Pay vs Performance Disclosure      
Adjustment to Compensation, Amount $ (2,213,627) $ 0 $ 0
v3.26.1
Award Timing Disclosure
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 28, 2025
Award Timing Disclosures [Line Items]  
Award Timing MNPI Disclosure The People, Culture and Compensation Committee does not schedule equity award grant dates in anticipation of the release of material non-public information, and the Company does not have any plans, programs, or practices of timing the release of material non-public information in order to affect the value of executive compensation. The exercise price of stock options is set at the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the NYSE on the date of the grant.
Award Timing Method The People, Culture and Compensation Committee does not schedule equity award grant dates in anticipation of the release of material non-public information, and the Company does not have any plans, programs, or practices of timing the release of material non-public information in order to affect the value of executive compensation.
Award Timing Predetermined false
Award Timing MNPI Considered false
Award Timing, How MNPI Considered The People, Culture and Compensation Committee does not schedule equity award grant dates in anticipation of the release of material non-public information, and the Company does not have any plans, programs, or practices of timing the release of material non-public information in order to affect the value of executive compensation. The exercise price of stock options is set at the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the NYSE on the date of the grant.
MNPI Disclosure Timed for Compensation Value false
v3.26.1
Insider Trading Policies and Procedures
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 28, 2025
Insider Trading Policies and Procedures [Line Items]  
Insider Trading Policies and Procedures Adopted true