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Posted on 11/25/2025 12:55:59 PM PST by nickcarraway
Several restaurant chains are sounding the alarm about their customers’ attitudes as the country’s economy worsens due to inflation and slow hiring numbers.
Chipotle, Sweetgreen and Cava — all purveyors of “slop bowls” — have seen their stocks drop dramatically in 2025. Chipotle’s stock is down about 50% for the year, while Cava has seen a 60% decline. Sweetgreen last week revealed in its earnings that same-store sales slid 9.5% and visits fell nearly 12%.
“The 25-to-35 (year old) consumer is the most under pressure, and they make up about 30% of our consumer base,” Sweetgreen’s CFO Jamie McConnell said.
Chipotle’s CEO Scott Boatwright added the chain is not losing its consumer base to competition, but instead to grocery stores and people eating at home.
A “slop bowl,” an informal term for a bowl of mixed ingredients, has been popular for years among young adults, who are “one of our core consumer cohorts,” he said. “They feel the pinch and we feel the pullback from them, as well.”
Raymond James restaurant analyst Brian Vaccaro said customer bases for chains are also being affected by the government shutdown and by increased competition from value meals at fast-food rivals.
“The fast-casual restaurants face several issues, in particular that the softer wage and spending growth that had been affecting lower-income consumers seems to be creeping up into the middle income and young professional consumers,” Vaccaro said.
McDonald’s and WingStop also acknowledged sales have declined in areas made up largely of low-income customers.
Starting this week, Sweetgreen said it will begin promoting that it has boosted protein portions by 25%.
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“Who can afford eating out? Burgers start at $25 around here now. I went to a pub the other day and it was $60 per person for just some pub food and a beer. I can afford it but Geesh’
Where might “here” be? Seems ridiculous. Find a Chili’s. “Three for me” deal. Very decent Burger, non alcoholic drink and two sides from $10.99 to $16.99 for a selection of 7 different Hamburger / Chicken Sandwiches.
Oh yes there is a 6oz. Sirloin “Three for me” deal as well for $16.99 which gives you a 3rd side / appetizer as well.
When I was young, we could not afford to eat out. We had to eat at home.
“4 lb pepperoni stick sliced at home 10.00”
A 1-pound pepperoni stick is over $8 at my local Walmart.
I hit Chipotle about once a week. I like it. Admittedly it is more expensive than your typical fast food meal. I have never before heard it called a ‘slop bowl’ though….
But not Qdoba?!
When I was young there were eleven of us and dining out was indeed a very rare and special treat …. Usually for weddings and graduations …. Even a trip to McDonald’s was a big deal.
Darden’s isn’t looking very healthy, either.
But the stock is not down as much as CMG
Last time we went to CAVA they were remarkably busy. (It was a newly opened store). People who ordered online were waiting 45 minutes to get their carry out)
I think it was a combination of factors. New restaurant, inexperienced staff, poor design and poor managers.
With a significant number of orders being online, they should have a separate prep line in the back for those orders. Then the walk in customers would be also served promptly.
“So I know what happens back in the kitchen”
when in high school, i had friends who worked in fast food joints and the tales they told SHOULD have sworn me off right then and there from EVER eating at a restaurant ... took me almost 60 years to take the lesson to heart ...
A quesadilla and some nachos at Moe’s or a couple of burgers and fries at 5 Guys costs about as much as a full meal at places like Cracker Barrel, so they are pricing themselves out of business. Even the veggie bowl at Moe’s is over 10 bucks, and there isn’t a dollar’s worth of stuff in there.
When my daughter was in HS, she worked in restaurants too. She’s now nearly 40.
She told me tales from where she worked.
Things have not changed in all the intervening years...........
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