Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total revenue for Q2 was $356.5 million, exceeding guidance, with system-wide sales growing 13.7% year-over-year to $549.9 million [30] - Adjusted EBITDA grew by 24.8% year-over-year to $58.9 million, representing 16.5% of total revenue, marking the highest adjusted EBITDA level on record [36] - Net income attributable to Shake Shack Inc. was $17.1 million or $0.41 per diluted share, with adjusted pro forma net income at $19.5 million or $0.44 per fully exchanged and diluted share [37] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Company-operated Shack sales grew 12.4% year-over-year to $343.2 million, with 13 new Shack openings [30] - The license business saw revenue growth of 20.2% year-over-year to $13.3 million, with sales up approximately 16% to $206.7 million [30] - Restaurant level profit reached $82.2 million, or 23.9% of Shack sales, a 190 basis point improvement year-over-year [33] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Average weekly sales were $78,000, with 1.8% same Shack sales growth, improving to 3.2% in July [31][16] - Traffic was down 70 basis points, but trends improved each month of the quarter, with positive traffic exiting the quarter [31] - Culinary innovation contributed approximately one percentage point of growth to same Shack sales, driven by summer barbecue and merchandising improvements [32] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on three strategic priorities: driving same Shack sales, expanding globally, and improving profitability [8] - Plans to open 45 to 50 company-operated Shacks in 2025, marking the largest class in company history [22] - The introduction of a culinary calendar with four main platforms per year aims to enhance marketing and product offerings [61] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in raising adjusted EBITDA guidance for the full year, despite ongoing industry headwinds [7] - The company is optimistic about its ability to navigate inflationary pressures and maintain strong cash flow [38] - Future growth is expected to be supported by a robust pipeline of culinary innovations and increased marketing investments [42] Other Important Information - The company raised over $100,000 to support communities affected by floods in Texas and North Carolina [6] - Shake Shack is now served on Delta flights across 13 domestic airports, receiving positive guest feedback [25] - The company is on track to reduce build costs by at least 10% this year despite global supply chain uncertainties [24] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you elaborate on the incremental efficiencies seen in labor productivity? - Management highlighted improvements in recruiting, retention, and speed of service, attributing success to a new labor model and strong leadership [49][51] Question: What are the implications of the new culinary calendar on advertising and marketing? - The company plans to create awareness at the top of the funnel for limited-time offers and has built an 18-month culinary innovation calendar [61][65] Question: How will the marketing and culinary innovations be margin accretive? - Management indicated that new premium-priced items and operational efficiencies will help mitigate commodity inflation and drive margin growth [77][79] Question: How is the company managing the balance between product innovation and operational efficiency? - The company conducts operational tests on new menu items to ensure they do not disrupt productivity and service quality [104]