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Sweetgreen, Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 7 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 lowered, 3 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue fell 2.9% year over year: Revenue was $161.5 million, down 2.9%. A $20.7 million fall in comparable restaurant base revenue was partly offset by $19.2 million from restaurants opened since the first quarter of fiscal 2025. Source
  • Comparable sales down 12.8%: Same-Store Sales Change was (12.8)%, against (3.1)% a year earlier. Traffic fell 11.2% and product mix 2.3%, while menu price added 0.7%. Source
  • Net income lifted by Spyce gain: Net income was $125.8 million, with diluted EPS of $1.05, after a $160.6 million gain on disposal from the Spyce sale. Loss from operations widened to $(34.3) million. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA turned negative: Adjusted EBITDA was $(8.1) million, a (5.0)% margin, against $0.3 million a year earlier. The company attributed the change mainly to a $13.5 million decrease in Restaurant-Level Profit. Source
  • Restaurant-level margin down about 800 bps: Restaurant-Level Profit was $16.2 million, a 10.0% margin against 17.9%. Management tied the decline to higher ingredient usage, chicken and tofu portions, and loyalty promotions, partly offset by supply chain savings. Source
  • Wraps launched nationwide: Wraps launched nationwide the day before the release. Management said the market test drove guest acquisition and retention, and contributed to momentum in April. Source

“While first quarter results were softer than anticipated, we remain in the early innings of a transformation that is reshaping the foundation of our business.”

Jonathan Neman, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net New Restaurant Openings Sourcefiscal 2026Approximately 13Lowered from Approximately 15
Same-Store Sales Change Sourcefiscal 2026(4.0)% to (2.0)%Kept
Restaurant-Level Profit Margin Sourcefiscal 202614.2% to 14.7%Kept
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefiscal 2026$1.0 million to $6.0 millionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Wraps moved from testing in select markets to a nationwide launch the day before the release. Source
  • Ended: The release says the Spyce disposal gain comes from a transaction completed in the quarter. The prior release had dated the Spyce sale to December 29, 2025. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue fell 2.9% year over year: Revenue was $161.5 million, down 2.9%. A $20.7 million fall in comparable restaurant base revenue was partly offset by $19.2 million from restaurants opened since the first quarter of fiscal 2025. Source
  • Comparable sales down 12.8%: Same-Store Sales Change was (12.8)%, against (3.1)% a year earlier. Traffic fell 11.2% and product mix 2.3%, while menu price added 0.7%. Source
  • Net income lifted by Spyce gain: Net income was $125.8 million, with diluted EPS of $1.05, after a $160.6 million gain on disposal from the Spyce sale. Loss from operations widened to $(34.3) million. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA turned negative: Adjusted EBITDA was $(8.1) million, a (5.0)% margin, against $0.3 million a year earlier. The company attributed the change mainly to a $13.5 million decrease in Restaurant-Level Profit. Source

Restaurant margins and costs

  • Restaurant-level margin down about 800 bps: Restaurant-Level Profit was $16.2 million, a 10.0% margin against 17.9%. Management tied the decline to higher ingredient usage, chicken and tofu portions, and loyalty promotions, partly offset by supply chain savings. Source
  • Food and labor rose as share of sales: Food, beverage and packaging was 29.0% of revenue against 26.5%, labor 31.4% against 28.9%, and occupancy 11.0% against 9.4%. Other restaurant operating costs were 18.5% against 17.4%. Source
  • G&A fell on lower stock compensation: General and administrative expense was $29.3 million, or 18.1% of revenue, against $38.3 million, or 23.1%. The drop reflected $4.4 million less stock-based compensation and $1.9 million less management salary and bonus. Source
  • Restructuring tied to vacated support center: Restructuring charges were $0.5 million. They cover costs at the vacated former Sweetgreen Support Center, severance from a reduction in force there, and costs for the vacated former New York office. Source

“Yesterday's nationwide launch of Wraps is our most significant menu expansion in years.”

Jonathan Neman, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer

Demand, traffic and promotions

  • Promotions and loyalty switch cut mix: The mix decline was driven by increased promotional activity and the move from the former Sweetpass+ program to SG Rewards. Source
  • Prior-year Ripple Fries launch lifted traffic: Traffic also reflected the prior year benefit from the Ripple Fries launch in the first quarter of 2025, which the current period did not repeat. Source
  • Average unit volume fell to $2,572: Average Unit Volume was $2,572 against $2,907 a year earlier, as adjusted. The release says the restaurant exclusions did not materially change AUV. Source

Digital and loyalty

  • Total digital share rose to 67.2%: Total Digital Revenue Percentage was 67.2%, up from 59.9% a year earlier. It covers all channels except non-digital in-store transactions. Source
  • Owned digital share rose to 38.9%: Owned Digital Revenue Percentage was 38.9%, up from 31.9% a year earlier. Source
  • SG Rewards in-store scans count as owned: In-store purchases using scan-to-redeem or scan-to-earn under SG Rewards count in Owned Digital Channels sales. The prior release also listed scan-to-pay. Source

“We are building with intention and conviction for long-term growth.”

Jonathan Neman, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer

Restaurant base and openings

  • Four net new restaurants opened: The company reported 4 Net New Restaurant Openings, against 5 a year earlier. Net New Restaurant Openings are counted net of permanent closures. Source
  • Newer restaurants added $19.2 million: Restaurants opened during or after the first quarter of 2025 added $19.2 million of revenue, partly offsetting the decline in the comparable base. Source
  • Fourteen restaurants closed, excluded from comparable sales: Fourteen restaurants with temporary or permanent closures were excluded from Same-Store Sales Change: nine temporary and five permanent. The release says the adjustment was not material. Source

Cash, balance sheet and capital

  • Cash rose to $156.8 million: Cash and cash equivalents were $156.8 million at March 29, 2026, up from $89.2 million at December 28, 2025. Source
  • Operating cash outflow and lower capex: Net cash used in operating activities was $(17.2) million, against $(13.1) million. Purchases of property and equipment were $12.4 million, down from $16.7 million. Source
  • Wonder preferred stock received for Spyce: Spyce consideration was $100 million in cash plus Wonder Series C preferred stock. The balance sheet now carries equity investments of $86.4 million.

Strategy, menu and technology

  • Wraps launched nationwide: Wraps launched nationwide the day before the release. Management said the market test drove guest acquisition and retention, and contributed to momentum in April. Source
  • Transformation plan in early innings: Management said the Sweet Growth Transformation Plan is in its early stages. The plan has five priorities: operational excellence, food quality and menu innovation, personalized experience, brand relevance, and disciplined profitable investment. Source
  • Infinite Kitchen continues under Wonder agreements: Sweetgreen continues to use Infinite Kitchen technology across its restaurants under a supply and services agreement and a licensing agreement, both with Wonder.

Full-year 2026 guidance

  • Same-store sales range kept: Same-Store Sales Change for fiscal 2026 remains expected between (4.0)% and (2.0)%. Source
  • Margin and EBITDA ranges kept: Restaurant-Level Profit Margin is expected at 14.2% to 14.7% and Adjusted EBITDA at $1.0 million to $6.0 million, both unchanged from the prior release. Source

Coming up, as management said on 7 May 2026

  • Fiscal 2026 openings and Infinite Kitchen: The company expects about 13 Net New Restaurant Openings in fiscal 2026, with about half featuring the Infinite Kitchen. No other dated events are given. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Comparable sales Source(12.8)%
Traffic Source(11.2)%
Store openings (net new) Source4 (prior year 5)
Store closings Source14 restaurants (9 temporary, 5 permanent)
Inventory Source$2,586 thousand at March 29, 2026
E-commerce share (total digital) Source67.2%
E-commerce share (owned digital) Source38.9%

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Management cited higher ingredient usage, larger chicken and tofu portions, and loyalty promotions as pressures on restaurant margin this quarter. Source
  • External: Management cited adverse weather in the current period as a driver of lower traffic. Source
  • Financial: Management said reconciling items for the restaurant-level margin and Adjusted EBITDA ranges could be material to GAAP results. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Missed: Management said first quarter results were below what it had anticipated. Source
  • Not stated: The prior release tied platform expansion to stage-gate criteria with expansion expected mid-2026. The current release reports a nationwide launch the day before.
  • Not stated: Management said it is building a more consistent guest experience and seeing improved execution across restaurants. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.