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Great job, Molly! I have never been to a sweetgreen but your colorful description helped me develop a clear understanding of the company. It reminded me of our conversation in LEAD about MOD Pizza which similarly seeks to differentiate itself through how it cares for its employees and interacts with its communities.
I wonder if we could know more about sweetgreen’s financials – has it culture and local-sourcing process increased its profitability relative to its many peers in the space? I also wonder how if its sourcing process can be successfully replicated across geographies where access to local farmers and quality control might differ.
In terms of “innovative technology,” I’d like to learn more about how this aligns with its business model. Do its apps provide its customers with greater knowledge about healthy eating options or ways to engage with the community?
Really enjoyed this post, especially having previously worked at NYCEDC in their real estate division. I think your concerns about the need for mayoral leadership to replicate success are valid and would also add that this operational model might not be as easy to replicate in other cities that lack the core assets of New York City. The City of New York owns a vast array of prime real estate and has no problem attracting talented young professionals drawn to the NYC lifestyle. This is an example of a city leveraging its core assets but I wonder how other cities/regions can similarly align business and operating models when they lack the real estate portfolio or human capital pool of NYC.