"Recently, that has led to often softer business at the companies that form the vanguard of that food movement stemming from "bowl fatigue" and high menu prices. This week, Sweetgreen, where business has been slow, said it was introducing wraps in select U.S. markets, touting the food trend you might remember from the 1990s as a "handheld format designed to deliver the portability and satisfaction guests crave.""
"With its shrinking customer base, Sweetgreen has a lot riding on these wraps-a Chicken Caesar, Chicken Jalapeño Ranch, and Chicken Salad Bacon Club. On Thursday, Sweetgreen posted an 11.5% year-over-year decrease in same-store sales (business at its restaurants open at least a year) in its most recent quarter. Its shares have fallen 90% since its IPO in 2021."
"But Sweetgreen is not alone in needing to adjust its menu: Chipotle said this month that it was speeding up its pace of new menu item introductions, with a focus on protein-oriented options (another food trend, this one related to the rise of weight-loss medications)."
Build-your-own bowl restaurants that once dominated the fast-casual market are experiencing significant business decline as consumer preferences shift away from bowl formats. Sweetgreen, Chipotle, and Cava, which built their businesses on customizable grain and salad bowls, are struggling with softer sales and high menu prices. To combat this trend, these chains are introducing new menu items: Sweetgreen is launching wraps in select markets, positioning them as a portable alternative, while Chipotle is accelerating new menu introductions with protein-focused options tied to weight-loss medication trends. Competitors including Chopt, Just Salad, McDonald's, and Popeyes have similarly added or reintroduced wraps. Sweetgreen's recent financial results show an 11.5% year-over-year decrease in same-store sales, with shares down 90% since its 2021 IPO.
Read at Fortune
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