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Sweetgreen(SG) - 2025 Q2 - Earnings Call Transcript
2025-08-07 22:00
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For Q2 2025, the company reported total sales of $185.6 million, a slight increase from $184.6 million in Q2 2024, with a same-store sales decline of 7.6% [5][17] - Restaurant level margin for the quarter was 18.9%, down from 22.5% year-over-year, primarily due to sales deleverage and tariff impacts [22] - The net loss for the quarter was $23.2 million, compared to a loss of $14.5 million in the prior year [24][25] - Adjusted EBITDA was $6.4 million, down from $12.4 million in the prior year [25] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The average unit volume in Q2 was $2.8 million, with nine new restaurant openings, four of which were Infinite Kitchens [18] - The company closed two older restaurants in New York City, redirecting volume to newer locations, which saw same-store sales increase by 15% to 20% shortly after [20] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company experienced a 2.5% benefit from menu price increases, but a negative 10.1% impact from traffic and mix [18] - The Northeast market continued to show pronounced pressure, aligning with broader industry trends [62][94] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company plans to open at least 40 new restaurants in 2025 and enter four new markets: Arkansas, Sacramento, Phoenix, and Cincinnati [21] - The focus remains on enhancing the value proposition through menu innovation and a revamped loyalty program [8][26] - The company is implementing Project One Best Way to improve operational excellence and consistency across restaurants [12][38] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged a challenging quarter due to external headwinds and internal transitions, but expressed confidence in the recovery plan [6][26] - There are early signs of improvement in same-store sales and guest frequency due to the rollout of seasonal menus and the loyalty program [30][57] - Management emphasized the importance of delivering excellent guest experiences as a key driver for future growth [31][79] Other Important Information - The company is seeing improvements in labor costs and team member retention, with head coach stability at an all-time high [43][44] - The transition to the new loyalty program created a temporary headwind, but management expects it to become a tailwind as customer engagement improves [72][74] Q&A Session Summary Question: Are there signs of same-store sales improvement in Q3? - Management confirmed modest improvement in same-store sales due to the seasonal menu rollout and loyalty program [30] Question: What are the biggest operational issues currently? - Management identified throughput and food quality as key focus areas, with ongoing efforts to improve these metrics [31][36] Question: Can you elaborate on labor cost improvements? - Management noted that labor costs per store week have improved due to better workforce management and lower turnover rates [41][43] Question: Are there plans to slow down development to focus on same-store sales? - Management expressed strong conviction in long-term growth and plans to maintain the development pipeline while ensuring operational readiness [51] Question: What is driving the restaurant level margin guidance down? - Management indicated that the primary driver is sales deleverage, with some impact from increased portion sizes [53] Question: How is the loyalty program performing? - Management reported that the loyalty program is seeing steady growth in membership and frequency, with expectations for it to become a positive contributor [72][74] Question: Is there a degradation in price value perception? - Management believes the issue is more about execution rather than price value perception, emphasizing the need for consistent delivery of quality experiences [78][79]