Sweetgreen Sees Milder Same-Store Sales Decline Following Rebound From Cyclospora Outbreak

By Natalie Weger

Sweetgreen forecast a more moderate decline in same-store sales this year after bouncing back from the Cyclospora outbreak.

The salad chain now expects full-year same-store sales to be down by about 5.5%, compared with its previous forecast for a decline of 7% to 8%. The company had lowered its outlook after demand took a hit from the outbreak, which triggered widespread consumer panic against leafy greens.

Sweetgreen on Thursday said its third-quarter loss narrowed to $30.7 million, or 26 cents, from a loss of $36.1 million, or 31 cents, a year earlier. Analysts polled by FactSet expected a loss of 26 cents a share.

Revenue rose 2.1% to $176 million. Wall Street analysts expected $170.1 million. Same-store sales fell 6.4%, reflecting a 4.9% decrease in customer traffic. Analysts expected same-sore sales to decline 8.3%.

Chief Executive Jonathan Neman said the company's turnaround plan is taking hold, with sales improving throughout the quarter, which ended Sept. 27, and positive comparable sales in October driven by transaction growth. The company expects about 10 net new restaurant openings for the full year.

Shares gained 4.3% in after-hours trading to $12.04. Through market-close, the stock was down 2.1% at $11.55.

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

November 05, 2026 16:55 ET (21:55 GMT)