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Brett Schulman

Operator

Brett Schulman is best known as the Co-Founder and CEO of Cava Group, the Mediterranean fast-casual restaurant brand he has helped grow from a single Washington, D.C. location into a national chain with hundreds of locations across the United States. Under his leadership, Cava Group completed a high-profile IPO on the New York Stock Exchange in June 2023, one of the most closely watched restaurant industry public offerings in years, and the company has continued to expand aggressively in the fast-casual segment. Schulman co-founded Cava alongside Ted Xenohristos, Ike Grigoropoulos, and Dimitri Moshovitis, with the brand rooted in the culinary traditions of a family-owned Greek restaurant. He has been instrumental in scaling the brand's operations, digital ordering capabilities, and loyalty program, positioning Cava as a growth-oriented competitor in the better-for-you fast-casual category. His leadership has also encompassed the acquisition and eventual wind-down of the Zoës Kitchen brand, which Cava acquired in 2018 and converted into Cava locations. Schulman is a frequent voice on topics of restaurant industry growth, consumer trends in health-conscious dining, and entrepreneurship. He has spoken at industry conferences and appeared in business media discussing Cava's expansion strategy and the broader fast-casual market.

Last updated Oct 11, 2026 by ATDb automated enrichment

Role
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Company
Cava Group
Based
Washington, DC, USA
Boards
1

AI-drafted from public sources1 source cited

Years in industry
15 years

Bio

Brett Schulman is best known as the Co-Founder and CEO of Cava Group, the Mediterranean fast-casual restaurant brand he has helped grow from a single Washington, D.C. location into a national chain with hundreds of locations across the United States. Under his leadership, Cava Group completed a high-profile IPO on the New York Stock Exchange in June 2023, one of the most closely watched restaurant industry public offerings in years, and the company has continued to expand aggressively in the fast-casual segment. Schulman co-founded Cava alongside Ted Xenohristos, Ike Grigoropoulos, and Dimitri Moshovitis, with the brand rooted in the culinary traditions of a family-owned Greek restaurant. He has been instrumental in scaling the brand's operations, digital ordering capabilities, and loyalty program, positioning Cava as a growth-oriented competitor in the better-for-you fast-casual category. His leadership has also encompassed the acquisition and eventual wind-down of the Zoës Kitchen brand, which Cava acquired in 2018 and converted into Cava locations. Schulman is a frequent voice on topics of restaurant industry growth, consumer trends in health-conscious dining, and entrepreneurship. He has spoken at industry conferences and appeared in business media discussing Cava's expansion strategy and the broader fast-casual market.

Expertise & education

Expertise

Restaurant OperationsFast-Casual DiningBrand ScalingDigital Ordering and Loyalty ProgramsIPO and Public MarketsConsumer Health and Wellness TrendsEntrepreneurshipMergers and Acquisitions

Education

  • BA, Cornell University

Speaking topics

Fast-casual restaurant growth and scalingMediterranean cuisine and health-conscious dining trendsEntrepreneurship and brand buildingGoing public: the restaurant industry IPO experience

Recognition

Notable achievements

  • Led Cava Group's IPO on the NYSE in June 2023, one of the most notable restaurant industry public offerings in recent years
  • Scaled Cava from a single Washington D.C. restaurant concept to a national fast-casual chain with hundreds of locations
  • Oversaw the acquisition of Zoës Kitchen in 2018 and its subsequent conversion into Cava locations