One of Cava’s biggest competitors is restaurant chain Chipotle. Despite being two completely different styles of food, the two are often compared due to their similar build-a-bowl concepts. Chipotle reached its peak popularity in 2015, with over 1.5 million customers daily. Although its popularity has significantly decreased over the years, Chipotle is still widely popular today. Cava has been called “the next Chipotle” due to its similar business model instead of selling Mediterranean food. Cava can capitalize on the current trend of the “Mediterranean Diet,” a fad diet popular among the younger generations. Cava went public in 2023 with an annual growth revenue of 47.5%, while Chipotle’s annual growth revenue was 20-30% during its first two years being shared, which gives Cava an upper hand financially. Cava’s gross margins mirror Chipotle, which offers long-term profit potential for Cava. While it is not promised that Cava will be “the next Chipotle,” its profitability and growth has potential.