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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
x
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended March 26, 2023
OR
o
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from______to______
Commission file number 001-41069
SWEETGREEN, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
27-1159215
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
3102 36th Street Los Angeles, CA

90018
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(Zip Code)
(323) 990-7040
Registrant's telephone number, including area code
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each classTrading Symbol(s)Name of each exchange on which registered
Class A Common StockSGNew York Stock Exchange
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports); and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).     Yes  x   No  o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer
x
Accelerated filer
o
Non-accelerated filer
o
Smaller reporting company
o
Emerging growth company
o


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If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).     Yes   o     No  x

The registrant had 98,171,581 shares of Class A common stock and 13,280,558 shares of Class B common stock as of May 2, 2023.
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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (“Quarterly Report”) contains forward-looking statements about us and our industry that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this Quarterly Report, including statements regarding our future results of operations or financial condition, business strategy, and plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements because they contain words or phrases such as “anticipate,” “are confident that,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will,” or “would” or the negative of these words or other similar terms or expressions. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning the following:

our expectations regarding our revenue, restaurant operating costs, operating expenses, and other results of operations, as well as our key performance metrics;
our expectations regarding our sales channel mix and impact on our margins and business;
our expectations regarding the effects of inflation, increased interest rates, and an economic downturn, on our business, including on labor rates and supply chain costs, as well as any future pricing actions taken in an effort to mitigate the effects of inflation;
our expectations regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact on our business and results of operations;
our expectations about customer behavior trends, including during and following the COVID-19 pandemic and as a result of inflation;
our expectations regarding our customers’ willingness to pay our prices for higher quality food;
our growth strategy and business aspirations;
our focus on opening additional restaurants, diversifying and expanding our menu, making investments in our Owned Digital Channels to attract new customers and increasing order frequency from our existing customers;
our expectations regarding the impact of automation on our operating model;
our bold vision to be as ubiquitous as traditional fast food, but with the transparency and quality that consumers increasingly expect;
our commitment to becoming carbon neutral by the end of 2027;
industry and market trends and our anticipated market opportunity;
the costs and success of our sales and marketing efforts and our ability to promote our brand;
potential future investments in our business, our anticipated capital expenditures, and our estimates regarding our capital requirements;
our ability to achieve or maintain profitability;
the impact of pending or future litigation; and
our ability to effectively manage and scale our supply chain.

You should not rely on forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. We have based the forward-looking statements contained in this Quarterly Report primarily on our current expectations and projections about future events and trends that we believe may affect our business, financial condition and operating results. The outcome of the events described in these forward-looking statements is subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors described in the section titled “Risk Factors” included under Part I, Item 1A in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 25, 2022, and elsewhere in this Quarterly Report. Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment.

New risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all risks and uncertainties that could have an impact on the forward-looking statements contained in this Quarterly Report. The results, events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements may not be achieved or occur, and actual results, events or circumstances could differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements.

In addition, statements that contain “we believe” and similar statements reflect our beliefs and opinions on the relevant subject. These statements are based on information available to us as of the date of this Quarterly Report. While we believe that information provides a reasonable basis for these statements, that information may be limited or incomplete. Our statements should not be read to indicate that we have conducted an exhaustive inquiry into, or review of, all relevant information. These statements are inherently uncertain, and investors are cautioned not to unduly rely on these statements.

The forward-looking statements made in this Quarterly Report relate only to events as of the date on which the statements are made. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements made in this
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Quarterly Report to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this Quarterly Report or to reflect new information or the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law. We may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Our forward-looking statements do not reflect the potential impact of any future acquisitions, mergers, dispositions, joint ventures, or investments.


GLOSSARY

General

Comparable Restaurant Base. Comparable Restaurant Base for any measurement period is defined as all restaurants that have operated for at least twelve full months as of the end of such measurement period, other than any restaurants that had a material, temporary closure during the relevant measurement period. A restaurant is considered to have had a material, temporary closure if it had no operations for a consecutive period of at least 30 days. For the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2023, two restaurants were excluded from the Comparable Restaurant Base. For the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2022 no restaurants were excluded from the Comparable Restaurant Base.

Channels

We have five main sales channels: In-Store, Marketplace, Native Delivery, Outpost and Catering, and Pick-Up. We own and operate all of these channels other than our Marketplace Channel, which is operated by various third-party delivery marketplaces.

In-Store Channel. In-Store Channel refers to sales to customers who make in-store purchases in our restaurants, whether they pay by cash, credit card, or digital scan-to-pay. Purchases made in our In-Store Channel via cash or credit card are referred to as “Non-Digital” transactions, and purchases made in our In-Store Channel via digital scan-to-pay are included as part of our Owned Digital Channels.

Marketplace Channel. Marketplace Channel refers to sales to customers for delivery or pick-up made through third-party delivery marketplaces, including DoorDash, Grubhub, Uber Eats, ezCater, Sharebite and others.

Native Delivery Channel. Native Delivery Channel refers to sales to customers for delivery made through the sweetgreen website or mobile app.

Outpost and Catering Channel. Outpost and Catering Channel refers to sales to customers for delivery made through the sweetgreen website or mobile app to our Outposts, which are our trademark offsite drop-off points at offices, residential buildings, and hospitals. In addition, our Outpost and Catering Channel includes our catering offerings, which refer to sales to customers made through our catering website for pickup at one of our restaurants or delivery to a customer specified address.

Pick-Up Channel. Pick-Up Channel refers to sales to customers made for pick up at one of our restaurants through the sweetgreen website or mobile app.

Owned Digital Channels. Owned Digital Channels encompasses our Pick-Up Channel, Native Delivery Channel, Outpost and Catering Channel, and purchases made in our In-Store Channel via digital scan-to-pay.

Total Digital Channels. Total Digital Channels consist of our Owned Digital Channels and our Marketplace Channel, and include our revenues from all of our channels except those from Non-Digital transactions made through our In-Store Channel.



Key Performance Metrics and Non-GAAP Financial Measures

For definitions of our key performance metrics, Net New Restaurant Openings, Average Unit Volume (“AUV”), Same-Store Sales Change, Total Digital Revenue Percentage, and Owned Digital Revenue Percentage, see the section titled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Key Performance Metrics.” For definitions of our Non-GAAP Financial Measures, Restaurant-Level Profit, Restaurant-Level Profit Margin, Adjusted EBITDA, and Adjusted EBITDA Margin, see the section titled
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“Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”

Restaurant-Level Profit, Restaurant-Level Profit Margin, Adjusted EBITDA, and Adjusted EBITDA Margin are financial measures that are not calculated in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). See the section titled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for more information, including the limitations of such measures, and a reconciliation of each of these measures to the most directly comparable financial measures stated in accordance with GAAP.




















































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PART I FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SWEETGREEN, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(UNAUDITED)
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
As of March 26,
2023
As of December 25,
2022
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents$296,828 $331,614 
Accounts receivable5,064 3,244 
Inventory 1,284 1,383 
Prepaid expenses 7,537 8,161 
Current portion of lease acquisition costs93 93 
Other current assets8,042 1,654 
Total current assets318,848 346,149 
Operating lease assets$257,130 $254,059 
Property and equipment, net246,929 235,257 
Goodwill35,970 35,970 
Intangible assets, net30,082 30,562 
Lease acquisition costs, net495 518 
Security deposits1,522 1,528 
Other assets4,705 4,767 
Restricted cash125 125 
Total assets$895,806 $908,935 
LIABILITIES, AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Current portion of operating lease liabilities$28,814 $29,642 
Accounts payable13,124 12,242 
Accrued expenses20,731 22,069 
Accrued payroll8,757 6,580 
Gift cards and loyalty liability1,836 2,016 
Total current liabilities 73,262 72,549 
Operating lease liabilities, net of current portion$274,607 $271,097 
Contingent consideration liability22,348 21,296 
Other non-current liabilities1,299 1,353 
Deferred income tax liabilities1,733 1,414 
Total liabilities$373,249 $367,709 
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Note 14)
Stockholders’ equity:
Common stock, $0.001 par value per share, 2,000,000,000 Class A shares authorized, 98,162,944 and 97,656,690 Class A shares issued and outstanding as of March 26, 2023 and December 25, 2022, respectively; 300,000,000 Class B shares authorized, 13,280,558 and 13,476,303 Class B shares issued and outstanding as of March 26, 2023 and December 25, 2022, respectively
111 111 
Additional paid-in capital 1,227,704 1,212,716 
Accumulated deficit (705,258)(671,601)
Total stockholders’ equity 522,557 541,226 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $895,806 $908,935 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
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SWEETGREEN, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(UNAUDITED)
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

Thirteen weeks ended
March 26,
2023
March 27,
2022
Revenue
$125,062 $102,591 
Restaurant operating costs (exclusive of depreciation and amortization presented separately below):
Food, beverage, and packaging
35,587 27,106 
Labor and related expenses
39,243 34,302 
Occupancy and related expenses
12,630 10,517 
Other restaurant operating costs
20,665 17,275 
Total restaurant operating costs
108,125 89,200 
Operating expenses:
General and administrative34,907 50,199 
Depreciation and amortization
13,110 10,677 
Pre-opening costs
3,366 2,512 
Impairment and closure costs
190 17 
Loss on disposal of property and equipment
48 8 
Restructuring charges638  
Total operating expenses
52,259 63,413 
Loss from operations
(35,322)(50,022)
Interest income
(3,062)(168)
Interest expense
21 23 
Other (income) expense
1,058 (245)
Net loss before income taxes
(33,339)(49,632)
Income tax expense
318 20 
Net loss
$(33,657)$(49,652)
Earnings per share:
Net loss per share basic and diluted$(0.30)$(0.45)
Weighted average shares used in computing net loss per share basic and diluted
111,297,064 109,472,050 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
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SWEETGREEN, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ (DEFICIT) EQUITY
(UNAUDITED)
(in thousands, except share amounts)





For the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2023 and March 27, 2022
Common StockAdditional
Paid-in
Capital
Accumulated
Deficit
Total
SharesAmount
Balances at December 26, 2021109,345,697 $109 $1,129,224 $(476,216)$653,117 
Net loss— — — (49,652)(49,652)
Exercise of stock options153,158 1 848 — 849 
Issuance of common stock related to restricted shares12,500 —  —  
Stock-based compensation expense— — 22,165 — 22,165 
Adoption of ASC 842— — — (4,944)(4,944)
Balances at March 27, 2022109,511,355 $110 $1,152,237 $(530,812)$621,535 
Balances at December 25, 2022111,132,993 $111 $1,212,716 $(671,601)$541,226 
Net loss— — — (33,657)(33,657)
Exercise of stock options160,964  767 — 767 
Issuance of common stock related to restricted shares155,558 — — — — 
Shares repurchased for employee tax withholding(6,013)— (44)— (44)
Stock-based compensation expense— — 14,265 — 14,265 
Balances at March 26, 2023111,443,502 $111 $1,227,704 $(705,258)$522,557 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
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SWEETGREEN, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(UNAUDITED)
(in thousands)

Thirteen weeks ended
March 26,
2023
March 27,
2022
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss $(33,657)$(49,652)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization
13,110 10,677 
Amortization of lease acquisition
23 24 
Amortization of loan origination fees
21 67 
Amortization of cloud computing arrangements216  
Non-cash operating lease cost11,829 9,640 
Loss on fixed asset disposal
48 8 
Stock-based compensation
14,265 22,165 
Impairment and closure costs
190 17 
Non-cash restructuring charges638  
Deferred income tax expense319 20 
Change in fair value of contingent consideration liability
1,052 (234)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable
(1,820)(1,187)
Inventory
99 (53)
Prepaid expenses and other assets
(5,939)2,258 
Operating lease liabilities(12,789)(8,930)
Accounts payable
7,012 2,239 
Accrued payroll and benefits
2,177 (2,778)
Accrued expenses
310 (1,155)
Gift card and loyalty liability
(180)(217)
Other non-current liabilities(54)(202)
Net cash used in operating activities
(3,130)(17,293)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment(30,860)(18,059)
Purchase of intangible assets
(1,525)(1,187)
Security and landlord deposits
6 181 
Net cash used in investing activities
(32,379)(19,065)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from stock option exercise
767 849 
Payment associated to shares repurchased for tax withholding(44) 
Net cash provided by financing activities
723 849 
Net (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash
(34,786)(35,509)
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash—beginning of year
331,739 472,299 
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash—end of period
$296,953 $436,790 
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information
Purchase of property and equipment accrued in accounts payable and accrued expenses
$5,907 $2,776 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
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SWEETGREEN, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1.DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Sweetgreen, Inc., a Delaware corporation, together with its wholly owned subsidiaries (the “Company”), is a mission-driven, next generation restaurant and lifestyle brand that serves healthy food at scale. The Company’s bold vision is to be as ubiquitous as traditional fast food, but with the transparency and quality that consumers increasingly expect. As of March 26, 2023, the Company owned and operated 195 restaurants in 16 states and Washington, D.C. During the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2023, the Company had 9 Net New Restaurant Openings.
The Company was founded in November 2006 and incorporated in the state of Delaware in October 2009 and currently is headquartered in Los Angeles, California. The Company’s operations are conducted as one operating segment and one reportable segment, as the Company’s chief operating decision maker, who is the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, reviews financial information on an aggregate basis for purposes of allocating resources and evaluating financial performance. The Company’s revenue is primarily derived from retail sales of food and beverages by company-owned restaurants.

The Company has prepared the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial statements and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments consisting of normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the Company’s financial position and results of operations. Interim results of operations are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be achieved for the full year. The financial statements and related notes do not include all information and footnotes required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for annual reports and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 25, 2022.
Principles of Consolidation—The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Fiscal Year—The Company’s fiscal year is a 52- or 53-week period that ends on the Sunday closest to the last day of December. Fiscal year 2023 is a 53-week period that ends December 31, 2023 and fiscal year 2022 was a 52-week period that ended December 25, 2022. In a 52-week fiscal year, each quarter includes 13 weeks of operations. In a 53-week fiscal year, the first, second and third quarters each include 13 weeks of operations, and the fourth quarter includes 14 weeks of operations.
Management’s Use of Estimates—The condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared by the Company in accordance with GAAP and the rules and regulations of the SEC. The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect certain reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant accounting estimates made by the Company include the income tax valuation allowance, impairment of long-lived assets and operating lease assets, legal liabilities, fair value of contingent consideration liability, lease accounting matters, valuation of intangible assets acquired in business combinations, goodwill and stock-based compensation. These estimates are based on information available as of the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements; therefore, actual results could differ from those estimates.

Reclassification—The Company has elected to reclassify prior period costs related to utilities and repairs and maintenance costs to conform with the current presentation of occupancy and other related costs within the consolidated statement of operations. As such, prior period financial information has been reclassified, and as a result of the change, the Company reclassified $4.2 million for the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2022 from occupancy and related expenses to other restaurant operating costs.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments—The fair value measurement accounting guidance creates a fair value hierarchy to prioritize the inputs used to measure fair value into three categories. A financial instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of input significant to the fair value measurement,
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where Level 1 is the highest category (observable inputs) and Level 3 is the lowest category (unobservable inputs). The three levels are defined as follows:

Level 1—Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets.

Level 2—Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or
similar instruments in markets that are not active and model-derived valuations in which significant value drivers are observable.

Level 3—Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability. This includes certain pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies and similar techniques that use significant unobservable inputs.

The carrying amount of accounts receivable, other current assets, accounts payable, accrued payroll and accrued expenses approximates fair value due to the short-term maturity of these financial instruments. The Company’s contingent consideration is carried at fair value determined using Level 3 inputs in the fair value. For further details see Note 3.

Certain assets and liabilities are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis. In other words, the instruments are not measured at fair value on an ongoing basis but are subject to fair value adjustments only in certain circumstances (for example, when there is evidence of impairment). For further details see Note 3.

Impairment and closure costs—Impairment includes impairment charges related to the Company’s long-lived assets, which include property and equipment and internally developed software, and operating lease assets. Long-lived assets are reviewed for recoverability at the lowest level in which there are identifiable cash flows (“asset group”).

The Company determined that triggering events, primarily related to the impact of changing customer behavior trends, including slower than expected return to office during and following the COVID-19 pandemic (including as a result of many workplaces adopting remote or hybrid models) and as a result of broader macroeconomic conditions on the Company’s near-term restaurant level cash flow forecasts, certain restaurants during the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2023 and March 27, 2022 required an impairment review of the Company’s long-lived assets. Based on the results of this analysis, the Company did not record any non-cash impairment charges.

Closure costs include lease and related costs associated with closed restaurants, including the amortization of the operating lease asset, and expenses associated with CAM and real estate taxes for previously impaired stores. For the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2023 and March 27, 2022, the Company recognized closure costs of $0.2 million and less than $0.1 million related to the amortization of the operating lease asset, and expenses associated with common area maintenance (“CAM”) and real estate taxes for previously-closed stores, including three previously-impaired stores that were closed during the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2023.

Restructuring Charges - Restructuring charges are expenses that are paid in connection with the reorganization of the Company’s operations. These costs primarily include the amortization of the operating lease asset related to the Company’s vacated sweetgreen Support Center, as well as related real estate and CAM charges.

Contingent Consideration - Due to certain conversion features, the contingent consideration issued as part of the Spyce acquisition is considered a liability in accordance with ASC 480. The liability associated with the contingent consideration is initially recorded at fair value upon the issuance date and is subsequently re-measured to fair value at each reporting date. See Note 3. The initial fair value of the liability for the contingent consideration was $16.4 million and was included as part of the purchase price for the Spyce acquisition. The fair value of the liability as of March 26, 2023 was $22.3 million.

Changes in fair value of the contingent consideration is recognized within other (income) expense in the accompanying condensed consolidated statement of operations.
Cash and Cash Equivalents—The Company considers all highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less at the time of purchase to be cash equivalents. Amounts receivable from credit card
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processors are converted to cash shortly after the related sales transaction and are considered to be cash equivalents because they are both short-term and highly liquid in nature. Amounts receivable from sales transactions as of March 26, 2023 and December 25, 2022, were $2.4 million and $0.7 million, respectively.
Restricted Cash—The Company’s restricted cash balance relates to certificates of deposit that are collateral for letters of credit to lease agreements entered into by the Company.
The reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash presented in the Company’s accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets to the total amount shown in its condensed consolidated statements of cash flows is as follows:
(dollar amounts in thousands)
As of March 26,
2023
As of December 25,
2022
Reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash:
Cash and cash equivalents$296,828 $331,614 
Restricted cash, noncurrent
125 125 
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash shown on statement of cash flows$296,953$331,739
Concentrations of Risk—The Company maintains cash balances at several financial institutions located in the United States. The cash balances may, at times, exceed federally insured limits. Accounts are guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) up to $0.3 million.
During the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2023 and March 27, 2022, approximately 28% and 31% of the Company’s revenue was generated from the Company’s restaurants located in the New York City metropolitan area, respectively.

Deferred Costs—Deferred costs primarily consist of capitalized implementation costs from cloud computing arrangements in relation to a new enterprise resource planning system (“ERP”). These costs amounted to $5.6 million as of March 26, 2023 and are recorded within other current assets and other assets in the condensed consolidated balance sheets. The amortization of these costs are recognized within the Company’s condensed consolidated statement of operations under general and administrative expenses over a useful life of 7 years.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted— The Company has reviewed all recently issued accounting pronouncements and concluded that the pronouncements were either not applicable or will not have a significant impact to its consolidated financial statements.
2.REVENUE RECOGNITION
The following table presents the Company’s revenue for the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2023 and March 27, 2022 disaggregated by significant revenue channel:
Thirteen weeks ended
(dollar amounts in thousands)
March 26,
2023
March 27,
2022
Owned Digital Channels$48,261 $43,927 
In-Store Channel (Non-Digital component)49,391 34,444 
Marketplace Channel27,410 24,220 
Total Revenue$125,062$102,591
Gift Cards
Gift card liability included in gift card and loyalty liability within the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet was as follows:
(dollar amounts in thousands)
As of March 26,
2023
As of December 25,
2022
Gift Card Liability$1,836$2,016
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Revenue recognized from the redemption of gift cards that was included in gift card and loyalty liability at the beginning of the year was as follows:
Thirteen weeks ended
(dollar amounts in thousands)
March 26,
2023
March 27,
2022
Revenue recognized from gift card liability balance at the beginning of the year$325$253


3.FAIR VALUE

The following tables present information about the Company’s financial liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis:
Fair Value Measurements as of March 26, 2023Fair Value Measurements as of December 25, 2022
TotalLevel 1Level 2Level 3TotalLevel 1Level 2Level 3
(dollar amounts in thousands)
Contingent consideration22,348   22,348 21,296   21,296 

The fair value of the contingent consideration was determined based on significant inputs not observable in the market.

In connection with the acquisition of Spyce on September 7, 2021, the former equity holders of Spyce may receive up to 714,285 additional shares of Class A common stock, calculated based on the initial offering price of the Company’s Class A common stock of $28.00 per share sold in the Company’s IPO (the “Reference Price”), contingent on the achievement of certain performance milestones between the closing date of the acquisition and June 30, 2026. Additionally, the former equityholders of Spyce may receive true-up payments in cash as follows: if (i) as of the second anniversary of the closing date of the acquisition, the 30-Day Volume-Weighted Average Price of the Company’s Class A common stock (“VWAP Price”) is less than the Reference Price, then the Company shall pay to each former equityholder of Spyce that has continually held its 1,316,763 shares of the Company’s Class A common stock, during such period, the delta between the Reference Price and the VWAP Price for the upfront portion of the purchase price and (ii) as of the date of the achievement of any of the three milestones, the VWAP Price as of such milestone achievement date is less than the Reference Price, then the Company shall pay to each former equityholder of Spyce that is eligible to receive a milestone payment the delta between the Reference Price and the VWAP Price for the contingent consideration associated with such milestone. The contingent consideration was valued using the Monte Carlo method. The analysis considered, among other items, the equity value, the contractual terms of the Spyce merger agreement, potential liquidity event scenarios (prior to the IPO), the Company’s credit adjusted discount rate, equity volatility, risk-free rate and the probability of milestone targets required for issuance of shares under the contingent consideration will be achieved.

The following table provides a roll forward of the aggregate fair values of the Company’s contingent consideration, for which fair value is determined using Level 3 inputs.
(dollar amounts in thousands)
Contingent Consideration
Balance—December 25, 2022$21,296 
Change in fair value
1,052 
Balance—March 26, 2023$22,348 

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4.PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
Property and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation is calculated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Leasehold improvements are amortized using the straight-line method over the shorter of the lease term or estimated useful life. A summary of property and equipment is as follows:
(dollar amounts in thousands)
As of March 26,
2023
As of December 25,
2022
Furniture and fixtures
$29,915$27,262
Computers and other equipment
31,884 30,543 
Kitchen equipment
75,600 71,304 
Leasehold improvements
226,936 212,825 
Assets not yet placed in service
32,349 34,767 
Total property and equipment
396,684 376,701 
Less: accumulated depreciation
(149,755)(141,444)
Property and equipment, net
$246,929$235,257
Depreciation expense for the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2023 and March 27, 2022 was $11.1 million and $8.8 million, respectively.
As of March 26, 2023, the Company had 19 facilities under construction due to open during fiscal year 2023. As of December 25, 2022, the Company had 20 facilities under construction, all of which were due to open during fiscal year 2023. Depreciation commences after a store opens and the related assets are placed in service.

Total research and development cost excluding any related cost associated with Spyce acquisition was $0.3 million and $0.2 million for the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2023 and March 27, 2022, respectively. Research and development cost are recorded within general and administrative cost in the Company’s accompanying condensed consolidated statement of operations.

5.GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS, NET
During the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2023, there were no changes in the carrying amount of goodwill of $36.0 million.
The following table presents the Company’s intangible assets, net balances:
(dollar amounts in thousands)
As of March 26,
2023
As of December 25,
2022
Internal use software$33,002 $31,502 
Developed technology20,050 20,050 
Total intangible assets
53,052 51,552 
Accumulated amortization(22,970)(20,990)
Intangible assets, net
$30,082$30,562

Developed technology intangible assets were recognized in conjunction with the Company’s acquisition of Spyce on September 7, 2021. The estimated useful life of developed technology is five years. As of March 26, 2023, developed technology has not been placed into service.

Amortization expense for intangible assets was $2.0 million and $1.9 million for the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2023 and March 27, 2022, respectively.

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Estimated amortization of internal use software for each of the next five years is as follows:
(dollar amounts in thousands)

2023$4,629 
20243,953 
20251,400 
202650 
2027 
6.ACCRUED EXPENSES
Accrued expenses consist of the following:
(dollar amounts in thousands)
As of March 26,
2023
As of December 25,
2022
Rent deferrals$1,362 $1,728 
Accrued general and sales tax3,276 2,736 
Accrued delivery fee1,107 968 
Accrued settlements and legal fees1,256 1,106 
Fixed asset accrual4,316 5,963 
Other accrued expenses9,414 9,568 
Total accrued expenses$20,731 $22,069 
7.DEBT
Credit Facility—On December 14, 2020, the Company entered into a First Amended and Restated Revolving Credit, Delayed Draw Term Loan and Security Agreement (as subsequently amended, as discussed below, the “2020 Credit Facility”) with EagleBank. The 2020 Credit Facility superseded the Company’s 2017 revolving credit facility with EagleBank and allows the Company to borrow (i) up to $35.0 million (subsequently increased to $45.0 million) in the aggregate principal amount under the refinanced revolving facility and (ii) up to $10.0 million in the aggregate principal amount under a delayed draw term loan facility, which expired on December 14, 2021, and which was never drawn on. The refinanced revolving facility originally matured on December 14, 2022 (and has since been extended to December 13, 2024). However, if the Company issues certain convertible debt or unsecured indebtedness under the 2020 Credit Facility, then the refinanced revolving facility will mature on the earlier to occur of (i) the maturity date indicated in the previous sentence and (ii) 90 days prior to the scheduled maturity date for any portion of such permitted convertible debt or unsecured indebtedness.

On May 9, 2022, the Company and Eagle Bank amended the 2020 Credit Facility to allow for the issuance of Letters of Credit of up to $1.5 million. In connection therewith, the Company entered into a $950,000 irrevocable standby Letter of Credit with Eagle Bank with The Travelers Indemnity Company as the beneficiary in connection with the Company’s workers compensation insurance policy.

On December 13, 2022, the Company and Eagle Bank amended the 2020 Credit Facility to extend the maturity date from December 14, 2022 to December 13, 2024. The amendment also increased the revolving facility cap by $10.0 million, to allow for the Company to borrow up to $45.0 million in the aggregate principal amount under the refinanced revolving facility. The Company incurred $0.1 million of loan origination fees related to the amendment, which was recorded within other current assets on the audited consolidated balance sheets and will be amortized over the life of the facility. Under the 2020 Credit Facility, interest accrues on the outstanding loan balance and is payable monthly at a rate of the adjusted one-month term Secured Overnight Financing Rate, plus 2.90%, with a floor on the interest rate at 3.75%. As of March 26, 2023 and December 25, 2022, the Company had no outstanding balance under the 2020 Credit Facility.
Under the 2020 Credit Facility, the Company is required to maintain certain levels of liquidity (defined as total cash and cash equivalents on hand plus the available amount under the revolving facility) which liquidity
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amount shall be no less than the trailing 90-day cash burn. The Company was in compliance with the applicable financial covenants as of March 26, 2023 and December 25, 2022.

The obligations under the 2020 Credit Facility are guaranteed by the Company’s existing and future material subsidiaries and secured by substantially all of the Company’s and subsidiaries guarantor’s assets. The 2020 Credit Facility also restricts the Company’s ability, and the ability of the Company’s subsidiary guarantors, to, among other things, incur liens; incur additional indebtedness; transfer or dispose of assets; make acquisitions, change the nature of the business; guarantee obligations; pay dividends to shareholders or repurchase stock; and make advances, loans, or other investments. The 2020 Credit Facility contains customary events of default, including, without limitation, failure to pay the outstanding loans or accrued interest on the due date.

8.LEASES

As a result of the Company losing its emerging growth company status on December 25, 2022, the Company was required to adopt ASC 842, effective beginning on December 27, 2021. As a result, the amounts included in the Company’s condensed consolidated statement of operations represent the updated balances to the respective line items within previously filed quarterly statements’ condensed consolidated statement of operations. For the reasons described herein, the fiscal year 2022 quarterly information presented herein does not mirror the financial information included in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed during fiscal year 2022. For the reasons described herein, the fiscal year-end 2022 as presented on the filed 2022 10-K conform to ASC 842.

The Company leases restaurants and corporate office space under various non-cancelable lease agreements that expire on various dates through 2033. Lease terms for restaurants generally include a base term of 10 years, with options to extend these leases for additional periods of 5 to 15 years.

The components of lease cost for the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2023 and March 27, 2022 were as follows:

(dollar amounts in thousands)ClassificationMarch 26,
2023
March 27,
2022
Operating lease costOccupancy and related expense
General and administrative expense
Pre-opening costs
11,829 9,640 
Variable lease costOccupancy and related expense
General and administrative expense
2,612 2,023 
Short term lease costOccupancy and related expense
General and administrative expense
145 145 
Sublease incomeGeneral and administrative expense(178)(178)
Total lease cost$14,408 $11,630 

As of March 26, 2023, future minimum lease payments for operating leases consisted of the following:

(dollar amounts in thousands)
202332,748 
202452,260 
202552,457 
202651,329 
202747,018 
Thereafter
163,890 
Total
399,702 
Less: imputed interest96,281 
Total lease liabilities303,421 
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As of March 26, 2023 and December 25, 2022 the Company had additional operating lease commitments of $22.5 million and $18.0 million, respectively, for non-cancelable leases without a possession date, which the Company anticipates will commence in fiscal year 2023 or early 2024. These nature of such lease commitments is consistent with the nature of the leases that the Company has executed thus far.

A summary of lease terms and discount rates for operating leases as of March 26, 2023 and December 25, 2022 is as follows:

March 26,
2023
December 25,
2022
Weighted average remaining lease term (years):
Operating Leases7.917.98
Weighted average discount rate:
Operating Leases6.35 %6.09 %

Supplemental cash flow information related to leases for the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2023 and March 27, 2022:
March 26,
2023
March 27,
2022
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:
Operating cash flows from operating leases, net of lease incentives$12,789 $8,930 
Right of use assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations:
Operating leases$10,532 $8,697 


9.COMMON STOCK
As of March 26, 2023 and December 25, 2022, the Company had reserved shares of common stock for issuance in connection with the following:
As of March 26,
2023
As of December 25,
2022
Options outstanding under the 2009 Stock Plan, 2019 Equity Incentive Plan, Spyce Food Co. 2016 Stock Option Plan and Grant Plan and 2021 Equity Incentive Plan14,367,322 13,813,922 
Shares reserved for achievement of Spyce milestones714,285 714,285 
Shares reserved for employee stock purchase plan3,000,000 3,000,000 
RSUs and PSUs outstanding under the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan and 2021 Equity Incentive Plan8,231,831 8,402,109 
Shares available for future issuance under the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan and 2021 Equity Incentive Plan9,961,480 10,655,568 
Total reserved shares of common stock36,274,918 36,585,884 
10.STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

2021 Equity Incentive Plan

In connection with the Company’s IPO, the Company adopted the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2021 Plan”), which allows for issuance of stock options (including incentive stock options and non-qualified stock options), RSUs, including performance-based awards, and other types of awards. The maximum number of shares of common stock that may be issued under the 2021 Plan is 35,166,753, which is the sum of (i) 11,500,000 new shares, plus (ii) an additional number of shares consisting of (a) shares that were available for the issuance of awards under any prior equity incentive plans in place (which shall include the Prior Stock
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Plans (as defined below)) and the options to purchase certain shares of common stock, assumed by the Company, pursuant to the Spyce Food Co. 2016 Stock Option and Grant Plan, prior to the time the Company’s 2021 Plan became effective and (b) any shares of the Company’s common stock subject to outstanding stock options or other stock awards granted under the Prior Stock Plans that on or after the Company’s 2021 Plan became effective, terminate or expire prior to the exercise or settlement; are not issued because the award is settled in cash; are forfeited because of the failure to vest; or are reacquired or withheld (or not issued) to satisfy a tax withholding obligation or the purchase or exercise price. Options granted during, or prior to, the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2023 generally have vesting terms between twelve months and four years and have a contractual life of 10 years.

The Company issues shares of Class A common stock upon the vesting and settlement of RSUs and upon the exercises of stock options under the 2021 Plan. The 2021 Plan is administered by the board of directors, or a duly authorized committee of the Company’s board of directors. Options granted to members of the Company’s board of directors generally vest immediately.

2009 Stock Plan and 2019 Equity Incentive Plan

Prior to the Company’s IPO, the Company granted stock options, RSUs and performance-based restricted stock awards (“PSUs”) to its employees, as well as nonemployees (including directors and others who provide substantial services to the Company) under the Company’s 2009 Stock Plan and 2019 Equity Incentive Plan (collectively, the “Prior Stock Plans”). Awards permitted to be granted under the Prior Stock Plans include incentive stock options to the Company’s employees and non-qualified stock options to the Company’s employees and non-employees, as well as stock appreciation rights, restricted stock awards, RSUs (including PSUs), and other forms of stock awards to the Company’s employees, directors and consultants and any of the Company’s affiliated employees and consultants.

Options granted in the fiscal year ended December 26, 2021 and prior generally have vesting terms between one year and four years and have a contractual life of 10 years. No further stock awards will be granted under the Prior Stock Plans now that the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan is effective; however, awards outstanding under the Prior Stock Plans will continue to be governed by their existing terms.

Spyce Acquisition

In conjunction with the Spyce acquisition, the Company issued shares of Class S stock which converted to the Class A common stock upon the Company’s IPO. Shares of Class S stock that were issued to certain Spyce employees, and the corresponding shares of Class A common stock received by such employees in connection with the Company’s IPO, are subject to time-based service requirements and will vest on September 7, 2023, subject to vesting acceleration in full upon the occurrence of certain events. As the value is fixed, the grant date fair value of these shares represents the fair value of the shares on the acquisition date. For both the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2023 and March 27, 2022, the Company recognized stock-based compensation expense of $0.8 million, related to the vested portion of such shares.

2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan

In conjunction with the IPO, the Company’s board of directors adopted, and the Company’s stockholders approved the Company’s 2021 employee stock purchase plan (the “ESPP”). The Company’s ESPP authorizes the issuance of 3,000,000 shares of common stock under purchase rights granted to the Company’s employees or to the employees of any of its designated affiliates. The number of shares of the Company’s common stock reserved for issuance will automatically increase on January 1 of each year for a period of 10 years, which began on January 1, 2023, by the lesser of (i) 1% of the total number of shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding on December 31 of the immediately preceding year; and (ii) 4,300,000 shares, except before the date of any such increase, the Company’s board of directors may determine that such increase will be less than the amount set forth in clauses (i) and (ii). On January 1, 2023 the ESPP authorized shares increased by 1,111,331 to 4,111,331 in accordance with the above.

As of March 26, 2023, there had been no offering period or purchase period under the ESPP, and no such period will begin unless and until determined by the administrator.
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Stock Options

The following table summarizes the Company’s stock option activity for the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2023 and March 27, 2022:
(dollar amounts in thousands except per share amounts)
Number of
Shares
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price Per
Share
Weighted-Average
Remaining
Contractual Term
(In Years)
Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
Balance—December 25, 202213,813,922$7.86 6.63$34,454 
Options granted1,014,8447.95 
Options exercised(160,964)4.77 
Options forfeited(256,242)8.66 
Options expired(44,238)11.09 
Balance—March 26, 202314,367,322$7.88 6.75$17,845 
Exercisable—March 26, 20239,945,317$6.24 5.79$17,638 
Vested and expected to vest—March 26, 202314,367,322$7.88 6.75$17,845 
(dollar amounts in thousands except per share amounts)
Number of
Shares
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price Per
Share
Weighted-Average
Remaining
Contractual Term
(In Years)
Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
Balance—December 26, 202113,773,414$6.87 7.42$337,269 
Options assumed 
Options granted369,27425.39 
Options exercised(153,158)5.45 
Options forfeited(53,721)9.99 
Options expired(11,197)6.07 
Balance—March 27, 202213,924,612$7.37 7.31$348,686 
Exercisable—March 27, 20228,642,689$5.07 6.31$236,185 
Vested and expected to vest—March 27, 202213,924,612$7.37 7.31$348,686 
The weighted-average fair value of options granted during the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2023 and thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2022, was $8.43 and $11.16, respectively.
The fair value of each option granted has been estimated as of the date of the grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The Company has elected to account for forfeitures as they occur.
As of March 26, 2023, there was $21.6 million in unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested stock-based compensation arrangements and is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period 2.37 years.


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Restricted Stock Units and Performance Stock Units

Restricted stock units

The following table summarizes the Company’s RSU activity for the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2023 and March 27, 2022:

(dollar amounts in thousands except per share amounts)
Number of SharesWeighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value
Balance—December 25, 2022
1,780,681 $23.40 
   Granted214,431 8.42 
   Released(155,558)22.15 
   Forfeited(229,151)22.65 
Balance—March 26, 2023
1,610,403 $23.77 

(dollar amounts in thousands except per share amounts)
Number of SharesWeighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value
Balance—December 26, 20212,392,426 $24.18 
   Granted235,972 25.70 
   Released(12,500)23.00 
   Forfeited(60,711)29.22 
Balance—March 27, 2022
2,555,187 $24.21 


As of March 26, 2023, unrecognized compensation expense related to RSUs was $21.0 million and is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.81 years. The fair value of shares released as of the vesting date during the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2023 was $1.6 million.

Performance stock units

In October 2021, the Company granted 2,100,000 PSUs to each founder (the “founder PSUs”) for a total of 6,300,000 PSUs, under the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan. The founder PSUs vest upon the satisfaction of a service condition and the achievement of certain stock price goals. As of March 26, 2023 unrecognized compensation expense related to the founder PSUs was $51.5 million and is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.73 years.

Subsequent to the Company’s IPO, the Company issued 321,428 PSUs to the Spyce founders (“Spyce PSUs”) based on three separate performance-based milestone targets. During the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2023, the Company has not recorded any stock-based compensation expense related to the Spyce PSUs, as no expense will be recognized until the targets are probable of being met. Unrecognized compensation expense related to the Spyce PSUs was $9.8 million, which will be expensed if the performance-based milestone targets become probable of being met.

There were no PSU grants during the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2023 and March 27, 2022.

A summary of stock-based compensation expense recognized during the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2023 and March 27, 2022 is as follows:

Thirteen weeks ended
(dollar amounts in thousands)March 26,
2023
March 27,
2022
Stock-options$2,472 $2,532 
Restricted stock units2,745 10,584 
Performance stock units9,048 9,049 
Total stock-based compensation$14,265 $22,165 
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11.INCOME TAXES
The Company’s entire pretax loss for the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2023 and March 27, 2022 was from its U.S domestic operations. The Company’s tax provision for interim periods is determined using an estimate of its annual effective tax rate, adjusted for discrete items arising during interim periods. For the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2023 and March 27, 2022, there were no significant discrete items recorded and the Company recorded a $0.3 million and less than $0.1 million in income tax expense, respectively.

On March 27, 2020, President Trump signed into law the CARES Act. Intended to provide economic relief to those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the CARES Act includes provisions, among others, to enhance business’ liquidity and provide for refundable employee retention tax credits, which could be used to offset payroll tax liabilities. On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act (“ARPA”). The ARPA includes several provisions, such as measures that extend and expand the employee retention credit, previously enacted under the CARES Act, through September 30, 2021. As there is no authoritative guidance under U.S. GAAP on accounting for government assistance to for-profit business entities, the Company accounts for the ERC by analogy to International Accounting Standard ("IAS") 20, Accounting for Government Grants and Disclosure of Government Assistance. In accordance with IAS 20, management determined it has reasonable assurance for receipt of the ERC and recorded the ERC benefit of $1.8 million within Labor and other related expenses and $5.1 million within general and administrative expenses in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations for the thirteen ended March 26, 2023 as an offset to Social Security tax expense. The Company recorded a corresponding receivable for the benefit expected to be received within other current assets on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of March 26, 2023.

On August 16, 2022, President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (“IRA”) into law. The IRA contains several revisions to the Internal Revenue Code, including a 15% corporate minimum income tax for entities with adjusted financial statement income of over $1.0 billion and a 1% excise tax on corporate stock repurchases in tax years beginning after December 31, 2022. These tax law changes did not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations.

12.NET LOSS PER SHARE

During the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2023 and March 27, 2022, the rights, including the liquidation and dividend rights, of the holders of Class A and Class B common stock were identical, except with respect to voting. As the liquidation and dividend rights were identical, the undistributed earnings were allocated on a proportionate basis and the resulting net loss per share attributable to common stockholders were, therefore, the same for both Class A and Class B common stock on an individual or combined basis.

The following table sets forth the computation of net loss per common share:
Thirteen weeks ended
March 26,
2023
March 27,
2022
(dollar amounts in thousands)
Numerator:
Net loss$(33,657)$(49,652)
Denominator:
Weighted-average common shares outstanding—basic and diluted111,297,064 109,472,050 
Earnings per share—basic and diluted$(0.30)$(0.45)

The Company’s potentially dilutive securities, which include preferred stock, time-based vesting restricted stock units, performance stock units, contingently issuable stock and options to purchase common stock, have been excluded from the computation of diluted net loss per share as the effect would be antidilutive. Therefore, the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding used to calculate both basic and
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diluted net loss per share is the same. The Company excluded the following potential common shares, presented based on amounts outstanding at each period end, from the computation of diluted net loss per share for the periods indicated because including them would have had an anti-dilutive effect:

Thirteen weeks ended
March 26,
2023
March 27,
2022
Options to purchase common stock14,367,322 13,924,612 
Time-based vesting restricted stock units1,610,403 2,555,187 
Performance stock units6,621,428 6,621,428 
Contingently issuable stock714,285 714,285 
Total common stock equivalents23,313,438 23,815,512 
13.RELATED-PARTY TRANSACTIONS
The Company’s founders and Chief Financial Officer each hold indirect minority passive interests in Luzzatto Opportunity Fund II, LLC, an entity which holds indirect equity interests in Welcome to the Dairy, LLC, which is the owner of the properties leased by the Company for the Company’s principal corporate headquarters. For the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2023 and March 27, 2022, total payments to Welcome to the Dairy, LLC, totaled $1.0 million and $1.7 million, respectively.

14.COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Lease Commitments

The Company is obligated under various operating leases related to its office facilities, restaurant locations, and certain equipment under non-cancelable operating leases that expire on various dates. Under certain of these leases, the Company is liable for contingent rent based on a percentage of sales in excess of specified thresholds and typically responsible for its proportionate share of real estate taxes, CAMs and other occupancy costs. Refer to Note 8, Leases, for additional information.

Purchase Obligations

Purchase obligations include agreements to purchase goods or services that are enforceable and legally binding on us and that specify all significant terms. The majority of the Company’s purchase obligations relate to amounts owed for supplies within its restaurants and are due within the next twelve months.

Legal Contingencies

The Company is subject to various claims, lawsuits, governmental investigations and administrative proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of business. The Company does not believe that the ultimate resolution of any of these matters will have a material effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, liquidity, or capital resources. However, an increase in the number of these claims, or one or more successful claims under which the Company incurs greater liabilities than the Company currently anticipates, could materially and adversely affect the Company’s business, financial position, results of operations, and cash flows.

15.SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
The Company evaluated subsequent events through May 4, 2023, the date its accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements were available to be issued, and determined there are no events that require adjustment to or disclosure in these condensed consolidated financial statements.
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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations together with the condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this report. This discussion contains forward-looking statements based upon current plans, expectations and beliefs that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those set forth in the section titled “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and in other parts of this report. Unless the context otherwise requires, all references in this section to “we,” “us,” “our,” the “Company,” or “sweetgreen” refer to Sweetgreen, Inc. and its subsidiaries.

As a result of losing our emerging growth company status on December 25, 2022, we were required to adopt ASC 842, effective beginning on December 27, 2021. Additionally, we elected to reclassify prior period costs related to utilities and repairs and maintenance costs to conform with the current presentation of occupancy and other related cost within the condensed consolidated statement of operations. As a result, the amounts included in our condensed consolidated statement of operations represent the updated balances to the respective line items within previously filed quarterly statements’ condensed consolidated statement of operations. For the reasons described herein, the fiscal year 2022 quarterly information presented herein does not mirror the financial information included in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed during fiscal year 2022.
Overview
We are a mission-driven, next generation restaurant and lifestyle brand that serves healthy food at scale. Our bold vision is to be as ubiquitous as traditional fast food, but with the transparency and quality that consumers increasingly expect. As of March 26, 2023, we owned and operated 195 restaurants in 16 states and Washington, D.C.
Factors Affecting Our Business

As we move into the second fiscal quarter, while it is still early, we have seen positive momentum in our revenues. We are encouraged by the the launch of our loyalty program in the second fiscal quarter and broadened menu offerings. However, these results are preliminary and we cannot currently predict whether such momentum will continue or that it will be indicative of our second fiscal quarter or future results.
Expanding Restaurant Footprint
Opening new restaurants is an important driver of our revenue growth. During the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2023 and March 27, 2022, we had 9 and 8 Net New Restaurant Openings, respectively. Our total count as of March 26, 2023 was 195 restaurants in 16 states and Washington, D.C.

We are still in the very nascent stages of our journey, and one of our greatest immediate opportunities is to grow our footprint in both existing and new U.S. markets and, over time, internationally.
Real Estate Selection
We utilize a rigorous, data-driven real estate selection process to identify the location and timing of opening new restaurants, both in new and existing U.S. markets and in urban and suburban areas, with both high anticipated foot or vehicle traffic and proximity to workplaces, residences and other restaurant and retail businesses that support our multi-channel approach, including our Native Delivery, Marketplace Delivery and Outpost and Catering Channels.
Macroeconomic Conditions, Inflation, the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Supply Chain Constraints
Consumer spending on food outside the home fluctuates with macroeconomic conditions. Consumers tend to allocate higher spending to food outside the home when macroeconomic conditions are stronger, and rationalize spending on food outside the home during weaker economies. Throughout our history, our customers have demonstrated a willingness to pay a premium for a craveable, convenient, and healthier alternative to traditional fast-food and fast-casual offerings. However, as a premium offering in the fast-casual industry, we are exposed both
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to consumers trading the convenience of food away from home for the cost benefit of cooking, and to consumers selecting less expensive fast-casual alternatives during weaker economic periods.

While we have historically been able to partially offset inflation and other increases, such as wage increases and increases in cost of goods sold, in the costs of core operating resources by gradually increasing menu prices or other customer fees, such as service fees and delivery fees, coupled with more efficient purchasing practices, productivity improvements, and greater economies of scale, there can be no assurance that we will be able to continue to do so in the current macroeconomic environment or in the future. In particular, current and future macroeconomic conditions could cause additional menu price increases to negatively impact our Same Store Sales Growth. There can be no assurance that future cost increases, including as a result of inflation, can be offset by increased menu prices or that our current or future menu prices will be fully absorbed by our customers without any resulting change to their demand for our products.

Our revenue growth has been negatively impacted in recent periods, in part by current macroeconomic conditions and softening consumer demand. We have seen increased variability in our customer traffic patterns, including as a result of employees returning to offices at a slower rate and at a lower frequency than anticipated as a result of many workplaces adopting remote or hybrid models. Additionally, since fiscal year 2022, as a result of inflation we have seen an increase in wage rates and costs of goods sold, which in recent periods has had a negative impact on our Restaurant Level Profit.

During the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2023, we experienced an interruption by our supplier to the supply of packaging to our stores. This caused, and may in the future cause, a disruption in our stores, as well as higher costs of materials, which negatively impacted our restaurant operating costs during the period. While we have secured alternative suppliers, there can be no assurance we will be able to do so in the future on a timely basis, at commercially reasonable terms, or at all, and an interruption in supply of packaging could in the future adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations, including in particular our margins.

Seasonality
Our revenue fluctuates as a result of seasonal factors and weather conditions. Historically, our revenue has been lower in the first and fourth quarters of the year due, in part, to the holiday season and the fact that fewer people eat out during periods of inclement weather (generally the winter months, though inclement weather conditions may occur in certain markets at any time of the year) than during periods of mild to warm weather (the spring, summer, and fall months). In addition, a core part of our menu, salads, has proven to be more popular among consumers in the warmer months. Recently, as consumer behavior trends have changed, due in part to the COVID-19 pandemic and the emergence of hybrid or remote work environments, the seasonality in our business has been less predictable than in prior years and we have seen an increase and prolonged negative impact on our revenue around national holidays. As we move into the spring months, we have started to see improvement in our key metrics, specifically AUV.
Sales Channel Mix

Our revenue is derived from sales of food and beverage to customers through our five sales channels: In-Store Channel, Pick-Up Channel, Native Delivery Channel, Marketplace Channel and Outpost and Catering Channel. There have been historical fluctuations in the mix of sales between our various channels. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, we saw a significant increased percentage of sales through our Native Delivery and Marketplace Channels. Due to the fact that our Native Delivery, Outpost and Catering, and Marketplace Channels require the payment of third-party fees in order to fulfill deliveries, sales through these channels have historically negatively impacted our margins. Additionally, historically, orders on our Native Delivery, Outpost and Catering and Marketplace Channels have resulted in a higher rate of refunds and credits than our In-Store and Pick-Up Channels, which has a negative impact on revenue on these channels. We have also historically prioritized promotions and discounts on our Owned Digital Channels, which also reduces revenue on these channels. If we see a shift in sales through the Native Delivery, Outpost and Catering, and Marketplace channels, our margins may decrease.
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Key Performance Metrics

We track the following key performance metrics and non-GAAP financial measures to evaluate our performance, identify trends, formulate financial projections, and make strategic decisions. We believe that these key performance metrics, which include certain non-GAAP financial measures, provide useful information to investors and others in understanding and evaluating our results of operations in the same manner as our management team. These key performance metrics and non-GAAP financial measures are presented for supplemental informational purposes only, should not be considered a substitute for financial information presented in accordance with GAAP, and may be different from similarly titled metrics or measures presented by other companies. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below for a reconciliation of Restaurant-Level Profit, Restaurant-Level Profit Margin, Adjusted EBITDA, and Adjusted EBITDA Margin to the most directly comparable financial measures stated in accordance with GAAP.
Thirteen weeks ended
(dollar amounts in thousands )March 26,
2023
March 27,
2022
Net New Restaurant Openings9
Average Unit Volume (as adjusted)(1)
$2,932 $2,793 
Same-Store Sales Change (%)%35 %
Restaurant-Level Profit
$16,937 $13,391 
Restaurant-Level Profit Margin (%)
14 %13 %
Adjusted EBITDA$(6,694)$(16,976)
Adjusted EBITDA Margin (%)(5)%(17)%
Total Digital Revenue Percentage61 %66 %
Owned Digital Revenue Percentage39 %43 %
(1)Our results for the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2023 have been adjusted to reflect the temporary closures of two restaurants which were excluded from the Comparable Restaurant Base. Such adjustments did not result in a material change to AUV. No restaurants were excluded from the Comparable Restaurant Base for the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2022.
.

Net New Restaurant Openings
Net New Restaurant Openings reflect the number of new sweetgreen restaurant openings during a given reporting period, net of any permanent sweetgreen restaurant closures during the same given period. Before we open new restaurants, we incur pre-opening costs, as further described below.
Average Unit Volume

AUV is defined as the average trailing revenue for the prior four fiscal quarters for all restaurants in the Comparable Restaurant Base. The measure of AUV allows us to assess changes in guest traffic and per transaction patterns at our restaurants. Comparable Restaurant Base for any measurement period is defined as all restaurants that have operated for at least twelve full months as of the end of such measurement period, other than any restaurants that had a material, temporary closure during the relevant measurement period. For the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2023, two restaurants were excluded from the Comparable Restaurant Base to reflect the temporary closure of such restaurants during the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2023. Such exclusions did not result in a material change to AUV. For the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2022, no restaurants were excluded from the Comparable Restaurant Base.
Same-Store Sales Change

Same-Store Sales Change reflects the percentage change in year-over-year revenue for the relevant fiscal period for all restaurants that have operated for at least 13 full fiscal months as of the end of such fiscal period; provided, that for any restaurant that has had a temporary closure (which historically has been defined as a closure of at least five days during which the restaurant would have otherwise been open) during any prior or current fiscal month, such fiscal month, as well as the corresponding fiscal month for the prior or current fiscal year, as applicable,
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will be excluded when calculating Same-Store Sales Change for that restaurant. This financial measure highlights the performance of existing restaurants, while excluding the impact of new restaurant openings and closures.


Restaurant-Level Profit and Restaurant-Level Profit Margin

We define Restaurant-Level Profit as loss from operations adjusted to exclude general and administrative expense, depreciation and amortization, pre-opening costs, loss on disposal of property and equipment, and, in certain periods, impairment and closure costs and restructuring charges. Restaurant-Level Profit Margin is Restaurant-Level Profit as a percentage of revenue.

As it excludes general and administrative expense, which is primarily attributable to our sweetgreen Support Center, we evaluate Restaurant-Level Profit and Restaurant-Level Profit Margin as a measure of profitability of our restaurants.

Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin

We define Adjusted EBITDA as net loss adjusted to exclude interest income, interest expense, provision for income taxes, depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation expense, loss on disposal of property and equipment, other (income) expense, Spyce acquisition costs and ERP implementation and, in certain periods, impairment and closure costs and restructuring charges. Adjusted EBITDA Margin is Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenue.
Total Digital Revenue Percentage and Owned Digital Revenue Percentage
Our Total Digital Revenue Percentage is the percentage of our revenue attributed to purchases made through our Total Digital Channels. Our Owned Digital Revenue Percentage is the percentage of our revenue attributed to purchases made through our Owned Digital Channels.
Components of Results of Operations
Revenue
We recognize food and beverage revenue, net of discounts and incentives, when payment is tendered at the point of sale as the performance obligation has been satisfied, through our three disaggregated revenue channels: Owned Digital Channels, In-Store-Channel (Non-Digital component), and Marketplace Channel. Provisions for discounts are provided for in the same period the related sales are recorded. Sales taxes and other taxes collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities are presented on a net basis, and as such, are excluded from revenue. We expect revenue to increase as we focus on opening additional restaurants, diversify and expand our menu, make investments in our Owned Digital Channels to attract new customers and increase order frequency in our existing customers, as well as any increases in the price of our menu items.
Gift Cards
We also sell gift cards that do not have an expiration date. Upon sale, gift cards are recorded as unearned revenue and included within gift card liability in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The revenue from gift cards is recognized when redeemed by customers. Because we do not track addresses of gift card purchasers, the relevant jurisdiction related to the requirement for escheatment, the legal obligation to remit unclaimed assets to the state, is our state of incorporation, which is Delaware. The state of Delaware requires escheatment after five years from issuance. We do not recognize breakage income because of our requirements to escheat unredeemed gift card balances.
Delivery
All of our restaurant locations offer a delivery option. Delivery services are fulfilled by third-party service providers whether delivery is ordered through our Native Delivery Channel or Marketplace Channel. With respect to Native Delivery Channel sales, we control the delivery services and recognize revenue, including delivery revenue, when the delivery partner transfers food or beverage to the customer. For these sales, we receive payment directly from the customer at the time of sale. With respect to Marketplace Channel sales, we recognize revenue, excluding
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delivery fees collected by the delivery partner as we do not control the delivery service, when control of the food or beverage is delivered to the end customer. We receive payment from the delivery partner subsequent to the transfer of food and the payment terms are short-term in nature. For all delivery sales, we are considered the principal and recognize the revenue on a gross basis. For a more detailed discussion of our third-party delivery fees and our expectations regarding our margins, see the section titled “—Sales Channel Mix” above.
Restaurant Operating Costs, Exclusive of Depreciation and Amortization
Food, Beverage, and Packaging
Food, beverage, and packaging costs include the direct costs associated with food, beverage, and packaging of our menu items. We anticipate food, beverage and packaging costs on an absolute dollar basis will increase for the foreseeable future to the extent we experience additional in-store orders, as we open additional restaurants, and as a result our revenue grows. Additionally, we have recently experienced an increase in freight-related surcharges from our vendors as a result of increased inflation and higher gas prices. However, food, beverage, and packaging costs as a percentage of revenue may vary, as these costs are impacted by menu mix and fluctuations in commodity costs, inflation, and availability, as well as geographic scale and proximity.
Labor and Related Expenses
Labor and related expenses include salaries, bonuses, benefits, payroll taxes, workers compensation expenses, and other expenses related to our restaurant employees. As with other variable expense items, we expect labor costs to grow as our revenue grows. Other factors that influence labor costs include each jurisdiction’s minimum wage and payroll tax legislation, inflation, the strength of the labor market for hourly employees, benefit costs, health care costs, and the size and location of our restaurants.
Occupancy and Related Expenses
Occupancy and related expenses consist of restaurant-level occupancy expenses (including rent, common area maintenance (“CAM”) expenses and real estate taxes) and exclude occupancy expenses associated with unopened restaurants, which are recorded separately in pre-opening costs. We anticipate occupancy and related expenses on an absolute dollar basis will increase for the foreseeable future to the extent we continue to open new restaurants and revenue grows. Occupancy and related expenses as a percentage of revenue are impacted by geographic location, type of restaurant build, and amount of revenue.
Other Restaurant Operating Costs
Other restaurant operating costs include other operating expenses incidental to operating our restaurants, such as repairs and maintenance, utilities, certain local taxes, third-party delivery fees, non-perishable supplies, restaurant-level marketing, credit card fees and property insurance. We expect that other restaurant operating costs will increase on an absolute dollar basis for the foreseeable future to the extent we continue to open new restaurants and our revenue grows. Other restaurant operating costs as a percentage of revenue are expected to increase in line with growth in our Native Delivery, Outpost and Catering, and Marketplace Channels, as these channels require us to pay third-party delivery fees. However, as revenue increases, we expect that other restaurant operating costs, such as repairs and maintenance and property insurance, as a percentage of revenue will decline.
Operating Expenses
General and Administrative

General and administrative expenses consist primarily of operations, technology, finance, legal, human resources, administrative personnel, and other personnel costs that support restaurant development and operations, as well as stock-based compensation expense, brand-related marketing, and Spyce acquisition costs. We also incur expenses as a result of operating as a public company, including expenses to comply with the rules and regulations applicable to companies listed on a national securities exchange, expenses related to compliance and reporting obligations pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC, as well as higher expenses for general liability and director and officer insurance, investor relations, and professional services. As a percentage of revenue, we expect our general and administrative expenses to vary from period to period and to decrease over time.

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Depreciation and Amortization
Depreciation and amortization include the depreciation of fixed assets, including leasehold improvements and equipment, and the amortization of external costs and certain internal costs directly associated with developing computer software applications for internal use. We expect that depreciation and amortization expenses will increase on an absolute dollar basis as we continue to build new restaurants and make investments in our digital platform.
Pre-Opening Costs
Pre-opening costs primarily consist of non-cash rent, wages, travel for training and restaurant opening teams, food, marketing, and other restaurant costs that we incur prior to the opening of a restaurant. These expenses will increase in proportion to the increase of our new restaurant openings. These costs are expensed as incurred. We expect that pre-opening costs will increase on an absolute dollar basis as we continue to build new restaurants and enter new markets.
Impairment and Closure Costs

Impairment includes impairment charges related to our long-lived assets, which include property and equipment, and operating lease assets.

Closure costs include lease and related costs associated with closed restaurants, including the amortization of the operating lease asset, and expenses associated with CAM and real estate taxes for previously closed stores.
Loss on Disposal of Property and Equipment
Loss on disposal of property and equipment includes the net book value of assets that have been retired and consists primarily of furniture, equipment and fixtures that were replaced in the normal course of business.

Restructuring Charges

Restructuring charges are expenses that are paid in connection with the reorganization of our operations. These costs primarily include the amortization of the operating lease asset related to our vacated sweetgreen Support Center, as well as related real estate and CAM charges.
Interest Income and Interest Expense
Interest income consists of interest earned on our cash and cash equivalents. Interest expense includes mainly the interest incurred on our outstanding indebtedness, as well as amortization of deferred financing costs, mainly debt origination and commitment fees.
Other (Income) Expense
Other (income) expense consists of changes in the fair value of our contingent consideration liability and changes in fair value in our preferred warrant liability. We will continue to remeasure the liability associated with our contingent consideration liability until the underlying service conditions are met, or the performance period expires.
Income Tax Expense
Income tax expense consists of federal and state tax expense on our operating activity, and changes to our deferred tax asset and deferred tax liability. For additional information, see Note 11 to our condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report.
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Results of Operations
Comparison of the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2023 and March 27, 2022

The following table summarizes our results of operations for the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2023 and March 27, 2022:

Thirteen weeks ended
(dollar amounts in thousands)
March 26, 2023March 27, 2022Dollar ChangePercentage
Change
Revenue
$125,062 $102,591 $22,471 22 %
Restaurant operating costs (exclusive of depreciation and amortization presented separately below):
Food, beverage, and packaging35,587 27,106 8,481 31 %
Labor and related expenses39,243 34,302 4,941 14 %
Occupancy and related expenses12,630 10,517 2,113 20 %
Other restaurant operating costs20,665 17,275 3,390 20 %
Total cost of restaurant operations
108,125 89,200 18,925 21 %
Operating expenses:
General and administrative34,907 50,199 (15,292)(30 %)
Depreciation and amortization13,110 10,677 2,433 23 %
Pre-opening costs3,366 2,512 854 34 %
Impairment and closure costs
190 17 173 1018 %
Loss on disposal of property and equipment48 40 100 %
Restructuring charges638 — 638 N/A
Total operating expenses52,259 63,413 (11,154)(18 %)
Loss from operations(35,322)(50,022)14,700 (29 %)
Interest income(3,062)(168)(2,894)1723 %
Interest expense21 23 (2)(9 %)
Other (income) expense1,058 (245)1,303 (532 %)
Net loss before income taxes(33,339)(49,632)16,293 (33 %)
Income tax expense318 20 298 100 %
Net loss$(33,657)$(49,652)$16,591 (32 %)


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Revenue
Thirteen weeks ended
(dollar amounts in thousands)
March 26, 2023March 27, 2022Percentage
Change
Revenue
125,062 102,591 22 %
Average Unit Volume
2,932 2,793 %
Same-Store Sales Change
%35 %(30 %)
The increase in revenue for the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2023 was primarily due to an increase of $18.7 million incremental revenue associated with 45 Net New Restaurant Openings during or subsequent to the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2022. The remaining increase in revenue was due to an increase in Comparable Restaurant Base revenue of $5.6 million, resulting in a positive Same-Store Sales Change of 5%, consisting of a 3% benefit from menu price increases that were implemented subsequent to the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2022 and a 2% increase from transactions. These increases were partially offset by a $1.8 million negative impact from restaurant closures and remodels that occurred subsequent to March 27, 2022.
Restaurant Operating Costs
Food, Beverage, and Packaging
Thirteen weeks ended
(dollar amounts in thousands)
March 26, 2023March 27, 2022Percentage
Change
Food, beverage, and packaging
35,587 27,106 31 %
As a percentage of total revenue
28 %26 %%

The increase in food, beverage, and packaging costs for the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2023 was primarily due to a $6.9 million increase in food and beverage costs, a $1.5 million increase in packaging costs and a $0.1 million increase in freight and gas surcharges associated with deliveries from our distribution partners. This was primarily due to the 45 Net New Restaurant Openings during or subsequent to the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2022. In addition, during the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2023, we experienced supply chain disruptions for our bowls and plates, which resulted in use of alternative packaging solutions as well as higher costs of materials.
As a percentage of revenue, food, beverage, and packaging costs for the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2023 increased compared to the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2022 mostly due to an increase in costs of materials as discussed above, partially offset by greater sales leverage.

Labor and Related Expenses
Thirteen weeks ended
(dollar amounts in thousands)
March 26, 2023March 27, 2022Percentage
Change
Labor and related expenses
39,243 34,302 14 %
As a percentage of total revenue
31 %33 %(2 %)
The increase in labor and related expenses for the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2023 was primarily due to the 45 Net New Restaurant Openings during or subsequent to the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2022. The increase was also due to an increase in staffing expenses across all restaurant locations, primarily related to an increase in prevailing wage rates in many of our markets as a result of continued wage rate inflation in the industry.
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These increases were partially offset by a $1.8 million benefit related to refundable employee retention tax credits (“ERC”) issued as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (the “Cares Act”) as well as an improvement in labor efficiencies. See Note 11 to our condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report.

As a percentage of revenue, the decrease in labor and related expenses for the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2023 was primarily due to the $1.8 million retention credit in connection with the CARES Act as discussed above, as well as greater sales leverage.

Occupancy and Related Expenses
Thirteen weeks ended
(dollar amounts in thousands)
March 26, 2023March 27, 2022Percentage
Change
Occupancy and related expenses
12,630 10,517 20 %
As a percentage of total revenue
10 %10 %— %
The increase in occupancy and related expenses for the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2023 was primarily due to the 45 Net New Restaurant Openings during or subsequent to the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2022.
As a percentage of revenue, occupancy and related expenses remained flat for the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2023 compared to March 27, 2022, primarily due to the impact of menu price increases and greater sales leverage, described above, offset by the impact of the COVID-19-related rent abatement received for multiple restaurant locations during the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2022.
Other Restaurant Operating Costs
Thirteen weeks ended
(dollar amounts in thousands)
March 26, 2023March 27, 2022Percentage
Change
Other restaurant operating costs
20,665 17,275 20%
As a percentage of total revenue
17 %17 %—%
The increase in other restaurant operating costs for the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2023 was primarily due to the 45 Net New Restaurant Openings during or subsequent to the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2022, including a $1.4 million increase in increase in real estate taxes, utilities and repair and maintenance expenses and a $0.7 million increase in kitchen, cleaning and related supplies to support the Net New Restaurant Openings described above. In addition, there was a $0.5 million increase in credit card and online related processing fees, related to the increases in revenue, and a $0.4 million increase in delivery fees from the growth in transaction volume from our Native Delivery, Outpost and Catering, and Marketplace Channels. The remaining $0.4 million increase is attributable to other store expenses, including personal property taxes, security and signage.
As a percentage of revenue, other restaurant operating costs for the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2023 were flat compared to the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2022 due to the impact of menu price increases and greater sales leverage, offset by inflationary pressures and the increases described above.
Operating Expenses
General and Administrative
Thirteen weeks ended
(dollar amounts in thousands)
March 26, 2023March 27, 2022Percentage
Change
General and administrative
34,907 50,199 (30 %)
As a percentage of total revenue
28 %49 %(21 %)
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The decrease in general and administrative expenses for the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2023 was primarily due to a $7.9 million decrease in stock-based compensation expense. Additionally, there was a benefit of $5.1 million of ERC’s. We also experienced a $2.2 million decrease in management salaries and benefits, including bonus, a $0.4 million decrease in COVID-19-related expenses and a $0.3 million decrease in other general and administrative costs. These decreases were partially offset by a $0.4 million increase in consulting fees and a $0.2 million increase in expense related to the amortization of costs associated with the implementation of our cloud computing arrangements in relation to our new ERP system.
As a percentage of revenue, the decrease in general and administrative expenses for the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2023 was primarily due to the fluctuations noted above, as well as an increase in revenue.
Depreciation and Amortization
Thirteen weeks ended
(dollar amounts in thousands)
March 26, 2023March 27, 2022Percentage
Change
Depreciation and amortization
13,110 10,677 23 %
As a percentage of total revenue
10 %10 %— %
The increase in depreciation and amortization for the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2023 was primarily due to the 45 Net New Restaurant Openings during or subsequent to the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2022.
As a percentage of revenue, depreciation and amortization remained flat for the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2023, which was primarily due to comparatively higher revenue in the current period, offset by the increases noted above.
Pre-Opening Costs
Thirteen weeks ended
(dollar amounts in thousands)
March 26, 2023March 27, 2022Percentage
Change
Pre-opening costs
3,366 2,512 34%
As a percentage of total revenue
%%1%
The increase in pre-opening costs for the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2023 was due to the timing of openings in the period and an acceleration of restaurant openings anticipated in fiscal year 2023.
As a percentage of revenue, the increase in pre-opening costs in the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2023 was due to the increases noted above, partially offset by comparatively higher revenue in the current period.
Impairment and Closure Costs

Thirteen weeks ended
(dollar amounts in thousands)
March 26, 2023March 27, 2022Percentage
Change
Impairment and closure costs
190 17 N/A
As a percentage of total revenue
— %— %0%

During the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2023, we recorded closure costs of $0.2 million related to lease and related costs associated with closed restaurants, including the amortization of operating lease asset, and expenses associated with CAM and real estate taxes for previously closed stores.

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Restructuring

Thirteen weeks ended
(dollar amounts in thousands)
March 26, 2023March 27, 2022Percentage
Change
Restructuring charges638 — N/A
As a percentage of total revenue
%— %1%

During the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2023, we recorded restructuring charges of $0.6 million related to lease and related costs associated with the former sweetgreen Support Center that was vacated in fiscal year 2022, including the amortization of the operating lease asset, and expenses associated with CAM and real estate taxes.

Loss on Disposal of Property and Equipment
Thirteen weeks ended
(dollar amounts in thousands)
March 26, 2023March 27, 2022Percentage
Change
Loss on disposal of property and equipment
48 — %
As a percentage of total revenue
— %— %— %
The increase in loss on disposal of property and equipment was due to an increase in furniture, equipment and fixture replacements at multiple restaurants for the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2023 compared to the prior year period.

Interest Income and Interest Expense
Thirteen weeks ended
(dollar amounts in thousands)
March 26, 2023March 27, 2022Percentage
Change
Interest income
(3,062)(168)1723 %
Interest expense
21 23 (9 %)
Total interest income, net
$(3,041)$(145)1997 %
As a percentage of total revenue
— %— %— %

The increase in interest income, net, was primarily due to higher interest rates on our money market cash accounts during the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2023 compared to the prior year period.
Other (Income) Expense
Thirteen weeks ended
(dollar amounts in thousands)
March 26, 2023March 27, 2022Percentage
Change
Other (income) expense
1,058 (245)(532 %)
As a percentage of total revenue
%— %%
The change in other (income) expense for the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2023 was due to an increase in the fair value of our contingent consideration compared to the prior year, which was issued as part of the Spyce acquisition in the third quarter of fiscal year 2021.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
In addition to our consolidated financial statements, which are presented in accordance with GAAP, we present certain non-GAAP financial measures, including Restaurant-Level Profit, Restaurant-Level Profit Margin,
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Adjusted EBITDA, and Adjusted EBITDA Margin. We believe these measures are useful to investors and others in evaluating our performance because these measures:
facilitate operating performance comparisons from period to period by isolating the effects of some items that vary from period to period without any correlation to core operating performance or that vary widely among similar companies. These potential differences may be caused by variations in capital structures (affecting interest expense), tax positions (such as the impact on periods or companies of changes in effective tax rates or NOL), and the age and book depreciation of facilities and equipment (affecting relative depreciation expense);
are widely used by analysts, investors, and competitors to measure a company’s operating performance; are used by our management and board of directors for various purposes, including as measures of performance, as a basis for strategic planning and forecasting; and
are used internally for a number of benchmarks including to compare our performance to that of our competitors.
We define Restaurant-Level Profit as loss from operations adjusted to exclude general and administrative expense, depreciation and amortization, pre-opening costs, loss on disposal of property and equipment, and, in certain periods, impairment and closure costs and restructuring charges. Restaurant-Level Profit Margin is Restaurant-Level Profit as a percentage of revenue. As it excludes general and administrative expense, which is primarily attributable to our sweetgreen Support Center, we evaluate Restaurant-Level Profit and Restaurant-Level Profit Margin as a measure of profitability of our restaurants.

We define Adjusted EBITDA as net loss adjusted to exclude interest income, interest expense, provision for income taxes, depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation expense, loss on disposal of property and equipment, other (income) expense, Spyce acquisition costs, ERP implementation and related costs and, in certain periods, impairment and closure costs and restructuring charges. Adjusted EBITDA Margin is Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenue.

Restaurant-Level Profit, Restaurant-Level Profit Margin, Adjusted EBITDA, and Adjusted EBITDA Margin have limitations as analytical tools, and you should not consider them in isolation or as substitutes for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. In particular, Restaurant-Level Profit and Adjusted EBITDA should not be viewed as substitutes for, or superior to, loss from operations or net loss prepared in accordance with GAAP as a measure of profitability. Some of these limitations are:
although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized may have to be replaced in the future, and Restaurant-Level Profit and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect all cash capital expenditure requirements for such replacements or for new capital expenditure requirements;
Restaurant-Level Profit and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital needs;
Restaurant-Level Profit and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect the impact of the recording or release of valuation allowances or tax payments that may represent a reduction in cash available to us;
Restaurant-Level Profit and Adjusted EBITDA do not consider the potentially dilutive impact of stock-based compensation;
Restaurant-Level Profit is not indicative of overall results of the Company and does not accrue directly to the benefit of stockholders, as corporate-level expenses are excluded;
Adjusted EBITDA does not take into account any income or costs that management determines are not indicative of ongoing operating performance, such as stock-based compensation; loss on disposal of property and equipment; certain other expenses; Spyce acquisition costs; ERP implementation and related costs; and, in certain periods, impairment and closure costs and restructuring costs; and
other companies, including those in our industry, may calculate Restaurant-Level Profit and Adjusted EBITDA differently, which reduces their usefulness as comparative measures.
Because of these limitations, you should consider Restaurant-Level Profit, Restaurant-Level Profit Margin, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin alongside other financial performance measures, loss from operations, net loss, and our other GAAP results.
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The following table sets forth a reconciliation of our loss from operations to Restaurant-Level Profit, as well as the calculation of loss from operations margin and Restaurant-Level Profit Margin for each of the periods indicated:
Thirteen weeks ended
(dollar amounts in thousands)March 26, 2023March 27, 2022
Loss from operations$(35,322)$(50,022)
Add back:
General and administrative34,907 50,199 
Depreciation and amortization13,110 10,677 
Pre-opening costs3,366 2,512 
Impairment and closure costs190 17 
Loss on disposal of property and equipment(1)
48 
Restructuring charges(2)
638 — 
Restaurant-Level Profit
$16,937 $13,391 
Loss from operations margin
(28)%(49)%
Restaurant-Level Profit Margin
14 %13 %
__________
__
(1)Loss on disposal of property and equipment includes the loss on disposal of assets related to retirements and replacement or write-off of leasehold improvements or equipment.
(2)Restructuring charges are expenses that are paid in connection with reorganization of our operations. These costs primarily include lease and related costs associated with the vacated sweetgreen Support Center, including the amortization of the operating lease asset.

The following table sets forth a reconciliation of our net loss to Adjusted EBITDA, as well as the calculation of net loss margin and Adjusted EBITDA Margin for each of the periods indicated:
Thirteen weeks ended
(dollar amounts in thousands)March 26, 2023March 27, 2022
Net loss$(33,657)$(49,652)
Non-GAAP adjustments:
Income tax expense318 20 
Interest income(3,062)(168)
Interest expense21 23 
Depreciation and amortization13,110 10,677 
Stock-based compensation(1)
14,265 22,165 
Loss on disposal of property and equipment(2)
48 
Impairment and closure costs(3)
190 17 
Other expense/(income)(4)
1,058 (245)
Spyce acquisition costs(5)
161 179 
Restructuring charges(6)
638 — 
ERP implementation and related costs(7)
216 — 
Adjusted EBITDA
$(6,694)$(16,976)
Net loss margin
(27)%(48)%
Adjusted EBITDA Margin
(5)%(17)%
__________
__
(1)Includes non-cash, stock-based compensation.
(2)Loss on disposal of property and equipment includes the loss on disposal of assets related to retirements and replacement or write-off of leasehold improvements or equipment.
(3)Includes costs related to impairment of long-lived assets and store closures.
(4)Other expense/(income) includes the change in fair value of the contingent consideration and the change in fair value of the warrant liability. See Notes 1 and 3 to our condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report.
(5)Spyce acquisition costs includes one-time costs we incurred in order to acquire Spyce including, severance payments, retention bonuses, and valuation and legal expenses.
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(6)Restructuring charges are expenses that are paid in connection with reorganization of our operations. These costs primarily include lease and related costs associated with the vacated sweetgreen Support Center, including the amortization of the operating lease asset.
(7)Represents the amortization costs associated to the implementation from our cloud computing arrangements in relation to our new ERP.
Liquidity and Capital Resources

Sources and Material Cash Requirements

To date, we have funded our operations through proceeds received from previous common stock and preferred stock issuances, our ability to obtain lending commitments and through cash flow from operations. Additionally, in November 2021, we completed our IPO, from which we received net proceeds of $384.7 million from sales of our shares of Class A common stock, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses. As of March 26, 2023 and December 25, 2022, we had $296.8 million and $331.6 million in cash and cash equivalents, respectively. As of March 26, 2023, we had access to a $44.1 million revolver loan(s) under our 2020 Credit Agreement after giving effect to a $950,000 irrevocable standby Letter of Credit outstanding thereunder. As of March 26, 2023, there have been no draws on the revolving facility. Based on our current operating plan, we believe our existing cash and cash equivalents and access to available revolving loan(s), will be sufficient to fund our operating lease obligations, capital expenditures, and working capital needs for at least the next 12 months. We believe we will meet longer-term expected future cash requirements and obligations through a combination of cash flows from operating activities, available cash balances, and available revolving loan(s). If we are unable to generate positive operating cash flows, additional debt and equity financings may be necessary to sustain future operations, and there can be no assurance that such financing will be available to us on commercially reasonable terms, or at all.
Our primary liquidity and capital requirements are for new restaurant development, initiatives to improve the team member and customer experience in our restaurants, research and development costs, marketing-related costs, working capital and general corporate needs. We have not required significant working capital because customers generally pay using cash or credit and debit cards and, as a result, our operations do not require significant receivables. Additionally, our operations do not require significant inventories due, in part, to our use of numerous fresh ingredients. Additionally, we are able to sell most of our inventory items before payment is due to the supplier of such items. Refer to Note 8 to our condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report for additional information.

Credit Facility

On December 14, 2020, we entered into a First Amended and Restated Revolving Credit, Delayed Draw Term Loan and Security Agreement (as subsequently amended, as discussed below, the “2020 Credit Facility”) with EagleBank. The 2020 Credit Facility superseded our 2017 revolving credit facility with EagleBank and allows us to borrow (i) up to $35.0 million (subsequently increased to $45.0 million) in the aggregate principal amount under the refinanced revolving facility and (ii) up to $10.0 million in the aggregate principal amount under a delayed draw term loan facility, which expired on December 14, 2021, and which was never drawn on. The refinanced revolving facility originally matured on December 14, 2022 (and has since been extended to December 13, 2024). However, if we issue certain convertible debt or unsecured indebtedness under the 2020 Credit Facility, then the refinanced revolving facility will mature on the earlier to occur of (i) the maturity date indicated in the previous sentence and (ii) 90 days prior to the scheduled maturity date for any portion of such permitted convertible debt or unsecured indebtedness.

On May 9, 2022, we and Eagle Bank amended the 2020 Credit Facility to allow for the issuance of Letters of Credit of up to $1.5 million. In connection therewith, we entered into a $950,000 irrevocable standby Letter of Credit with Eagle Bank with The Travelers Indemnity Company as the beneficiary in connection with our workers compensation insurance policy.

On December 13, 2022, we and Eagle Bank amended the 2020 Credit Facility to extend the maturity date from December 14, 2022 to December 13, 2024. The amendment also increased the revolving facility cap by $10.0 million, to allow for us to borrow up to $45.0 million in the aggregate principal amount under the refinanced revolving facility.

Under the 2020 Credit Facility, interest accrues on the outstanding loan balance and is payable monthly at a rate of the adjusted one-month term Secured Overnight Financing Rate, plus 2.90%, with a floor on the interest rate
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at 3.75%. As of March 26, 2023 and December 25, 2022, we had no outstanding balance under the 2020 Credit Facility.

The obligations under the 2020 Credit Facility are guaranteed by our existing and future material subsidiaries and secured by substantially all of our and our subsidiary guarantor’s assets. The 2020 Credit Facility also restricts our ability, and the ability of our subsidiary guarantors, to, among other things, incur liens; incur additional indebtedness; transfer or dispose of assets; make acquisitions, change the nature of the business; guarantee obligations; pay dividends to shareholders or repurchase stock; and make advances, loans, or other investments. The 2020 Credit Facility contains customary events of default, including, without limitation, failure to pay the outstanding loans or accrued interest on the due date.

Cash Flows
The following table summarizes our cash flows for the periods indicated:

(amounts in thousands)Thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2023Thirteen weeks ended
March 27, 2022
Net cash used in operating activities
(3,130)(17,293)
Net cash used in investing activities
(32,379)(19,065)
Net cash provided by financing activities
723 849 
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash$(34,786)$(35,509)
Operating Activities

For the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2023, cash used in operating activities decreased $14.2 million compared to the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2022. The decrease was primarily due to a $12.9 million reduction in loss after excluding non-cash items, partially offset by the impact of unfavorable working capital fluctuations of $2.7 million.
The unfavorable working capital fluctuations were primarily due to an increase in other current assets related to the expected receipt of $6.9 million in ERC’s, and timing of payments in the ordinary course of business.
Investing Activities
For the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2023, cash used in investing activities increased $13.3 million compared to the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2022, primarily due to a $12.8 million increase in the purchases of property and equipment, due to an increase in new restaurants.
Financing Activities
For the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2023, cash provided by financing activities decreased $0.1 million compared to the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2022. This was primarily due to a decrease in proceeds received from stock option exercises of $0.1 million.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
Our material off-balance sheet arrangements are operating lease obligations and purchase obligations. We excluded these items from the balance sheet in accordance with GAAP. For additional information, see Note 1 and Note 8 to our condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report.
Critical Accounting Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make certain estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the balance sheet date, as well as reported amounts of revenue and
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expenses during the reporting period. Our most significant estimates and judgments involve difficult, subjective, or complex judgements made by management. Actual results may differ from these estimates. To the extent that there are differences between our estimates and actual results, our future financial statement presentation, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows will be affected. We had no significant changes to our critical accounting estimates as described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 25, 2022.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
See Note 1 to our condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report for recently adopted accounting pronouncements and recently issued accounting pronouncements not yet adopted as of the date of this Quarterly Report.

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
We are exposed to market risks in the ordinary course of business. The primary risks we face are commodity price risks, interest rate risk, and the effects of inflation. There have been no material changes to our exposure to market risks as described in Part II, Item 7A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 25, 2022.

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of such date. Our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There were no changes to our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the fiscal quarter ended March 26, 2023 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

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PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
We are subject to various claims, lawsuits, governmental investigations, and administrative proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of business. We do not believe that the ultimate resolution of any of these matters will have a material effect on our financial position, results of operations, liquidity, or capital resources. However, an increase in the number of these claims, or one or more successful claims under which we incur greater liabilities than we currently anticipate, could materially and adversely affect our business, financial position, results of operations, and cash flows.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
There have been no material changes to the risk factors disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 25, 2022.

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
None.
ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
None.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.
ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION

None.
ITEM 6. EXHIBITS
The following exhibits are included herein or incorporated herein by reference:
Exhibit NumberExhibit DescriptionFormFile No.ExhibitFiling DateFiled Herewith
3.18-K001-410693.111/22/2021
3.28-K001-410693.211/22/2021
31.1

X
31.2

X
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Exhibit NumberExhibit DescriptionFormFile No.ExhibitFiling DateFiled Herewith
32.1†X
101.INSXBRL Instance Document (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)X
101.SCHXBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema DocumentX
101.CALXBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase DocumentX
101.DEFXBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase DocumentX
101.LABXBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase DocumentX
101.PREXBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase DocumentX
104Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)X
__________
† The certifications attached as Exhibit 32.1 that accompany this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are not deemed filed with the SEC and are not to be incorporated by reference into any filing of the Registrant under the Securities Act, whether made before or after the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, irrespective of any general incorporation language contained in such filing.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
SWEETGREEN, INC.
Date: May 4, 2023By: /s/ Mitch Reback
Mitch Reback
Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer, Principal Accounting Officer, and Duly Authorized Signatory)

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