# CAVA: Ted Xenohristos and Brett Schulman

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2023-11-27
- Length: 1h 16m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-11-27-cava-ted-xenohristos-and-brett-schulman

## Summary

Ted Xenohristos and Brett Schulman, co-founders of CAVA, recount the journey from a struggling sit-down Greek restaurant to a national fast-casual chain. They detail early operational failures, such as mispricing ingredients and using inadequate packaging, and the pivotal decision to pivot to a scalable model with Brett's leadership. The episode covers their expansion into new markets, the acquisition of Zoe's Kitchen to accelerate growth, and their eventual IPO.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-11-27-cava-ted-xenohristos-and-brett-schulman#t=0) Introduction: Ted Xenohristos and Brett Schulman
- [1:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-11-27-cava-ted-xenohristos-and-brett-schulman#t=63) Founding Cava Meze and Early Operational Struggles
- [30:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-11-27-cava-ted-xenohristos-and-brett-schulman#t=1835) Pivoting to Fast-Casual and Initial Expansion
- [34:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-11-27-cava-ted-xenohristos-and-brett-schulman#t=2055) Brett Schulman Joins and Strategic Shift
- [57:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-11-27-cava-ted-xenohristos-and-brett-schulman#t=3436) Scaling to Los Angeles and National Growth
- [1:01:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-11-27-cava-ted-xenohristos-and-brett-schulman#t=3713) Acquiring Zoe's Kitchen and Stabilization
- [1:09:55](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-11-27-cava-ted-xenohristos-and-brett-schulman#t=4195) Culture, Leadership, and Future Ambitions

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Growth, exits & acquisitions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/growth-exits-and-acquisitions)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Fundraising & investors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fundraising)

## Most relevant to

founders before launch, early-stage companies, companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- CAVA (company)
- Zoe's Kitchen (company)
- Chipotle (company)
- Panera (company)
- Whole Foods (company)
- Sabra (company)
- QuickBooks (tool)
- Cava Meze (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Founder Fundraising Journey: Victor Guardiola, Bawi](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-08-01-founder-fundraising-journey-victor-guardiola-bawi) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Founder Feature: Cason Crane of Explorer Cold Brew](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2024-11-22-founder-feature-cason-crane-of-explorer-cold-brew) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Jeri Ellsworth and the demise of CastAR](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-05-29-jeri-ellsworth-and-the-demise-of-castar) (The Amp Hour)
- [Founder Feature: Sean Knecht of Tantos!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-05-08-founder-feature-sean-knecht-of-tantos) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Founder Feature:  Elan Halpern & Kiki Couchman of Sourmilk](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-11-07-founder-feature-elan-halpern-kiki-couchman-of-sourmilk) (The Startup CPG Podcast)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-11-27-cava-ted-xenohristos-and-brett-schulman. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to How I Built This.