Sweetgreen continues expansion into new markets

Sweetgreen has entered its fifth new market of the year.

The fast-casual healthy food chain has opened its first restaurant in Tampa, Fla., in the city’s Heights District near Tampa Riverwalk. Two additional Tampa locations, in Hyde Park Village and the Edge District, are scheduled to open in 2023.

At 2,860 sq. ft., the new Sweetgreen features a variety of indoor seating options, including booths, banquets and counter seating, as well as an outdoor patio that has space for up to 34 people. There is also a large community table that highlights specialty art done by local artist Ari Robison.

“With Tampa being one of the fastest growing cities in the US, Sweetgreen is a convenient option that reflects the active and forward thinking mindset of the community,” said Sweetgreen co-founder and chief concept cfficer Nicolas Jammet.

Most recently, Sweetgreen has been expanding into the Midwest. In August, the company opened its first location in Michigan, in Birmingham, which was followed by its its first-ever sites in Indiana, at The Fashion Mall at Keystone in Indianapolis, and in Minnesota,  at the Galleria Mall in Edina.

Sweetgreen, which went public last November, expects to open at least 35 new restaurants in 2022. It is looking to double its footprint in the next three to five years, and sees the potential for 1,000 locations by the end of the decade. The company currently operates more than 170 restaurants.

The company is also piloting new formats. It opened its first digital-only location in October, in Washington, D.C.’s Mt. Vernon Square neighborhood. The new format comes as Sweetgreen’s digital business continues to grow, accounting for 67% of its total revenue in 2021.  The 2,190 sq. ft. space is dedicated to pick-up only, with no interior dining or front-service line. It also has opened its first “sweetlane” format, in Schaumburg, Ill.

[Read More: Sweetgreen redesigns app for enhanced ordering, loyalty]

Sweetgreen specializes in plant-forward, seasonal, and earth-friendly meals from fresh ingredients and produce that prioritizes organic, regenerative and local sourcing.