Gold Medalist Sprinter Gabby Thomas Partners with CAVA
CAVA has announced a partnership with Olympic gold medalist sprinter Gabby Thomas, launching three -time menu items for early 2025. The collaboration aims to promote a Mediterranean approach to wellness that embraces abundance rather than restrictions. The new menu items include the Spicy Lamb + Avocado Bowl, the Falafel Crunch Bowl, and the Garlic Chicken + Veggie Pita.
Thomas, who is preparing for U.S. Nationals and World Championships while continuing her public health work, has been a long-time CAVA customer. The new chef-curated items feature high-quality ingredients supporting a healthy and active lifestyle, including combinations of SuperGreens, black lentils, Crazy Feta®, and various Mediterranean-inspired proteins and toppings.
CAVA ha annunciato una partnership con la velocista medalista d'oro olimpico Gabby Thomas, lanciando tre nuovi piatti per l'inizio del 2025. La collaborazione mira a promuovere un approccio mediterraneo al benessere che abbraccia l'abbondanza piuttosto che le restrizioni. I nuovi piatti del menu includono il Spicy Lamb + Avocado Bowl, il Falafel Crunch Bowl e il Garlic Chicken + Veggie Pita.
Thomas, che si sta preparando per i Campionati Nazionali degli Stati Uniti e i Campionati del Mondo mentre continua il suo lavoro nella salute pubblica, è una cliente di lunga data di CAVA. I nuovi piatti curati dallo chef presentano ingredienti di alta qualità che supportano uno stile di vita sano e attivo, inclusi abbinamenti di SuperGreens, lenticchie nere, Crazy Feta® e varie proteine e condimenti ispirati al Mediterraneo.
CAVA ha anunciado una asociación con la velocista medallista de oro olímpico Gabby Thomas, lanzando tres nuevos artículos de menú para principios de 2025. La colaboración tiene como objetivo promover un enfoque mediterráneo del bienestar que aboga por la abundancia en lugar de las restricciones. Los nuevos artículos del menú incluyen el Spicy Lamb + Avocado Bowl, el Falafel Crunch Bowl y el Garlic Chicken + Veggie Pita.
Thomas, que se está preparando para los Nacionales de EE. UU. y los Campeonatos Mundiales, mientras continúa su trabajo en salud pública, ha sido cliente de CAVA durante mucho tiempo. Los nuevos platos seleccionados por el chef presentan ingredientes de alta calidad que apoyan un estilo de vida saludable y activo, incluidos combinaciones de SuperGreens, lentejas negras, Crazy Feta® y varias proteínas y aderezos inspirados en el Mediterráneo.
CAVA는 올림픽 금메달리스트 단거리 육상 선수인 Gabby Thomas와의 파트너십을 발표하며 2025년 초에 세 가지 메뉴 아이템을 출시할 계획입니다. 이 협업은 제한보다 풍요로움을 강조하는 지중해 접근 방식을 통해 웰빙을 촉진하는 것을 목표로 합니다. 새로운 메뉴 항목에는 Spicy Lamb + Avocado Bowl, Falafel Crunch Bowl, Garlic Chicken + Veggie Pita가 포함됩니다.
공공 건강 작업을 이어가면서 미국 국가대표 선발전과 세계 선수권 대회를 준비 중인 Thomas는 오랫동안 CAVA의 고객이었습니다. 새로운 셰프 큐레이션 메뉴는 슈퍼 그린, 검은 렌즈콩, Crazy Feta® 및 다양한 지중해 영감을 받은 단백질과 토핑을 포함하여 건강하고 활동적인 라이프스타일을 지원하는 고품질 재료를 특징으로 합니다.
CAVA a annoncé un partenariat avec la sprinteuse médaillée d'or olympique Gabby Thomas, lançant trois nouveaux plats pour le début de 2025. Cette collaboration vise à promouvoir une approche méditerranéenne du bien-être qui privilégie l'abondance plutôt que les restrictions. Les nouveaux plats incluent le Spicy Lamb + Avocado Bowl, le Falafel Crunch Bowl et le Garlic Chicken + Veggie Pita.
Thomas, qui se prépare pour les Championnats nationaux américains et les Championnats du monde tout en poursuivant son travail en santé publique, est une cliente de longue date de CAVA. Les nouveaux plats sélectionnés par le chef mettent en avant des ingrédients de haute qualité qui soutiennent un mode de vie sain et actif, y compris des combinaisons de SuperGreens, de lentilles noires, de Crazy Feta® et de diverses protéines et garnitures inspirées de la Méditerranée.
CAVA hat eine Partnerschaft mit der olympischen Goldmedaillengewinnerin im Sprint Gabby Thomas bekannt gegeben und wird Anfang 2025 drei neue Menüartikel einführen. Die Zusammenarbeit zielt darauf ab, einen mediterranen Ansatz für Wellness zu fördern, der Fülle anstelle von Einschränkungen betont. Die neuen Menüartikel umfassen die Spicy Lamb + Avocado Bowl, die Falafel Crunch Bowl und das Garlic Chicken + Veggie Pita.
Thomas, die sich auf die US-Nationalmeisterschaften und die Weltmeisterschaften vorbereitet und gleichzeitig ihre Arbeit im Bereich Public Health fortsetzt, ist eine langjährige Kundin von CAVA. Die neuen, vom Chef kreierten Gerichte zeichnen sich durch hochwertige Zutaten aus, die einen gesunden und aktiven Lebensstil unterstützen, darunter Kombinationen von SuperGreens, schwarzen Linsen, Crazy Feta® und verschiedenen von der Mittelmeerregion inspirierten Proteinen und Toppings.
- Partnership with high-profile Olympic athlete enhances brand visibility
- Launch of three new menu items diversifies product offering
- Strategic timing of launch coinciding with New Year health focus
- -time menu items may impact long-term revenue sustainability
- Potential increased costs associated with new menu items and marketing campaign
Insights
This marketing partnership with Olympic athlete Gabby Thomas, while attention-grabbing, appears strategically timed but likely has minimal direct financial impact on CAVA's bottom line. The introduction of three new menu items aligns with New Year's health-conscious consumers and could drive short-term traffic, but the -time nature suggests modest revenue implications. The collaboration effectively positions CAVA within the growing <money>$17 billion</money> health-focused fast-casual segment, targeting the increasing consumer demand for nutritious, convenient dining options. However, without disclosed partnership costs or projected sales figures, this appears more focused on brand building than immediate financial returns.
The Mediterranean positioning and athlete partnership demonstrate CAVA's effort to differentiate itself in the competitive fast-casual space, particularly against competitors like Sweetgreen and Panera. While celebrity partnerships typically cost between <money>$50,000</money> to <money>$500,000</money>, the ROI usually manifests in brand awareness rather than direct sales impact. Think of it as planting seeds for long-term brand growth rather than harvesting immediate profits.
The menu innovation strategy here warrants attention, particularly the timing and composition of these new items. The Spicy Lamb + Avocado Bowl represents a premium protein offering that could command higher margins, while the Falafel Crunch Bowl caters to the growing plant-based segment. These additions suggest CAVA is executing a sophisticated product mix strategy that balances profitability with market trends.
From an operational perspective, the new items appear to utilize existing ingredients in novel combinations, minimizing additional SKU complexity - a important consideration for maintaining efficient kitchen operations and food costs. This approach to menu engineering, combined with the -time offering strategy, creates urgency while testing market reception without long-term commitment. It's like conducting a real-world focus group that generates revenue instead of expenses.
Partnership launches three limited-time menu items that flip the script on wellness by embracing more, not less, to start the new year.
CAVA superfan Gabby Thomas takes a bite of her original pita chip “medal,” putting a playful twist on the iconic champion pose. (Photo: Business Wire)
As she prepares for an action-packed 2025—training for the
“I’ve been a CAVA fan for years—it’s my go-to for delicious meals that keep me going no matter how busy my schedule or how intense my training gets,” said Thomas. “Partnering at the start of a busy 2025 feels like a great fit, and I hope I can inspire people to eat well and take on the new year with more intention and energy, so they can do more of what makes them feel good.”
“Gabby’s authenticity, passion, and achievements make her the perfect partner for CAVA. She loves our food, she’s inspiring and empowering, and she embodies living life to the fullest," said Andy Rebhun, Chief Experience Officer at CAVA. “We share that philosophy, which we call the Mediterranean Way, and you can taste it in our food and feel it in the way we welcome everyone to our table.”
CAVA’s new chef-curated menu items are filled with high-quality ingredients that help support a healthy and active lifestyle.
- The Spicy Lamb + Avocado Bowl stars spicy lamb meatballs and avocado on a base of SuperGreens and black lentils, topped with Crazy Feta®, red pepper hummus, Persian cucumber, pickled onions, tomato + onion, and bright lemon herb tahini dressing.
- The vegetarian Falafel Crunch Bowl features falafel, roasted vegetables, saffron basmati rice, black lentils, Crazy Feta®, traditional hummus, Persian cucumber, cabbage slaw, tomato + onion, romaine, pita crisps, and spicy-herby skhug dressing.
- The Garlic Chicken + Veggie Pita is filled with half grilled chicken and half roasted vegetables, dressed up with tzatziki, tomato + onion, salt-brined pickles, cabbage slaw, crumbled feta, and savory garlic dressing.
The Spicy Lamb + Avocado Bowl, the Falafel Crunch Bowl, and the Garlic Chicken + Veggie Pita are available for a limited time at CAVA restaurants across the country and via CAVA’s app and website. To learn more, follow @CAVA on our social channels, including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and others.
About CAVA
CAVA is the category-defining Mediterranean fast-casual restaurant brand, bringing together healthful food and bold, satisfying flavors at scale. Our brand and our opportunity transcend the Mediterranean category to compete in the large and growing limited-service restaurant sector as well as the health and wellness food category. CAVA serves guests across gender lines, age groups, and income levels and benefits from generational tailwinds created by consumer demand for healthy living and a demographic shift towards greater ethnic diversity. We meet consumers’ desires to engage with convenient, authentic, purpose-driven brands that view food as a source of self-expression. The broad appeal of our food combined with these favorable industry trends drive our vast opportunity for continued growth.
About Gabby Thomas
Gabby Thomas is a five-time Olympic medalist and one of the fastest women in the history of the 200m, including three golds from the 2024 Paris Games. A Harvard graduate with a degree in neurobiology and a Master of Public Health from the University of
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250107662715/en/
Source: CAVA Group, Inc.
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