Sweetgreen names new COO
Sweetgreen has added a retail and restaurant industry veteran to its C-suite.
The health-focused fast-casual chain has named Jason Cochran as its chief operating officer, effective May 5. He will oversee field operations, operations services and innovation for the company, and will report directly to Sweetgreen’s co-founder and CEO Jonathan Neman.
Cochran brings more than two decades of executive leadership experience in restaurant and consumer retail. Prior to joining Sweetgreen, he served as CEO and a board member of American West Restaurant Group, the third-largest Pizza Hut franchisee in the U.S. Previously, Cochran was VP of operations services at Chipotle Mexican Grill for nearly four years, supporting over 3,000 restaurants. Earlier in his career, Cochran spent 14 years at GameStop, ultimately serving as senior VP of U.S. stores for nearly four years.
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“Jason is a trusted and visionary leader with hands-on operational experience at growth oriented brands,” said Neman. “His strategic mindset, operational discipline, and ability to inspire teams make him uniquely positioned to help lead Sweetgreen into its next chapter of growth. Jason’s alignment with our mission and cultural fit is clear, and I’m incredibly excited to welcome him to the team as we continue scaling our impact across more communities.”
The C-suite appointment comes as Sweetgreen, which serves salads and bowls that prioritize organic, regenerative and locally-sourced produce, continues to eye expansion. In its most recent financial results released on Feb. 26, Sweetgreen said it anticipated at least 40 net new restaurant openings in fiscal 2025, with 20 slated to feature its "Infinite Kitchen" robotic kitchen system designed to automate food assembly.
“I’m thrilled to join Sweetgreen at such a pivotal moment,” said Cochran. “I’ve long admired the brand’s mission, focus on real food, and commitment to operational excellence. I look forward to working alongside this talented team to scale the business, strengthen the culture, and deliver continued value for our customers, team members, and shareholders.”
Since opening its first 560-sq.-ft. location in 2007, Sweetgreen now operates over 250 locations across the United States.
