Dive Brief:
- Cava has appointed Doug Thompson as chief operations officer, effective March 2, the company said in a Monday press release. He succeeds Jennifer Somers, who became chief shops officer at Dutch Bros.
- Thompson has about 30 years of restaurant leadership experience and spent over two decades of his career at Texas Roadhouse, where he served as COO and vice president of operations, according to the press release.
- Thompson has experience scaling brands as well as building talent, which will be pivotal as Cava continues to expand throughout the country.
Dive Insight:
Cava, which ended the third quarter with 415 units, is targeting 1,000 restaurants by 2032. The chain projects 16% unit growth this year after opening 68 to 70 units last year. It is also in the process of rolling out its Project Soul store upgrade across its new units, which includes more warm and inviting interiors.
In his new role, Thompson will make sure that every restaurant delivers on the company’s mission to make “teams flourish and guests feel valued,” the press release said. As COO, he will oversee restaurant operations and field teams as the chain expands.
Thompson’s career has largely focused on operations. At Texas Roadhouse, he oversaw development of new restaurants, helped create two new concepts and led operations during 40 quarters of positive comparable sales, per the press release. He also has experience developing high-performing teams and creating strong pipelines of restaurant leaders through coaching and training, allowing employees to grow into management positions.
Prior to joining Cava, Thompson led expansion and growth at Tumble 22 Texas Chicken Joint, including doubling the number of locations at the chain and building the infrastructure to support the chain’s plans. He has also held positions at Carrabba’s Italian Grill and Outback Steakhouse.
“We’re at a meaningful inflection point in our journey, and as we continue to scale, our commitment remains clear: to run great restaurants, care deeply for our teams, delight our guests with Mediterranean warmth and hospitality, and ensure CAVA is a place where people build lasting careers, not just find a job,” Brett Schulman, co-founder and CEO at Cava, said in a statement. “Doug’s career began on the line as a grill cook and restaurant operator, and that experience has shaped how he leads with empathy, humility, and a deep respect for the people who power our restaurants every day.”
