In Q3 2025, Sweetgreen faced a 9.5% decline in same-store sales, driven by a 11.7% drop in traffic. The Northeast and Los Angeles were most affected, particularly among 25-35-year-olds. Other chains like Shake Shack and Wingstop have also seen sales declines in specific regions this year.

To combat the sales decline, Sweetgreen increased protein servings to improve value perception, but this impacted restaurant margins negatively. The brand is looking to drive traffic through menu tweaks and plans to test a handheld product next year. Sweetgreen will also launch a steak bowl and plate to diversify its menu offerings.

CEO Neman shared that Sweetgreen is focusing on communicating the quality of its ingredients to consumers. Analysts noted that the brand’s efforts to return to sales growth involve improved operations and menu innovation. Sweetgreen is also reviewing its menu and pricing architecture to strengthen its value proposition and loyalty program.

The loyalty program SG Rewards replaced Sweetpass and Sweetpass+ earlier this year. While the end of the subscription program impacted sales, SG Rewards will target less frequent users with discounts and promotions in the next quarter. Sweetgreen is evaluating potential tiers and benefits for members to enhance customer relationships. 1. The stock market experienced a sharp decline today, with the S&P 500 falling by 3% and the Nasdaq dropping by 2.5%. This was due to concerns over rising inflation and interest rates.

2. The unemployment rate has decreased to 4.2%, with 210,000 jobs added in the month of October. This is the lowest unemployment rate since the start of the pandemic.

3. The FDA has approved a new drug for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. The drug, Aduhelm, has shown promising results in clinical trials and is the first new treatment for Alzheimer’s in nearly 20 years.

Read more at Yahoo Finance: Sweetgreen battered by 9.5% same-store sales drop