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Episode 340: Ted Xenohristos – CAVA, Mediterranean Food Defender

Ted Xenohristos, the Co-Founder & Chief Concept Officer of CAVA, joins the show to share his journey from starting a casual Mediterranean restaurant to scaling to over 400 fast-casual locations and going public. Hear what he learned growing up in a restaurant, how to create a buzzworthy brand, how to prevent menu creep, how CAVA stays fresh & generous, and the Greek Edition of Rapid-Fire Q&A. This episode covers everything from moussaka to galaktoboureko. Here’s a small sample of what you will hear in this episode:

• What’s the 1st lesson Ted learned about running a restaurant
• How did he start Cava Mezze
• What’s the most successful food CAVA has introduced
• Folegandros
• Giannis Antetokounmpo

Connect with Ted at CAVA.com, on LinkedIn, and on Instagram @CAVATedX

Enjoy the shoooooow! Check out the show notes below for much more detail. You can also find the full transcript here.

Show Notes

• Intro & Growing up in a Restaurant
  • [0:26] Email me at max@maxpodcasting.com to save time with your high-quality podcast and use it as a business-building tool
  • [0:40] Connect with Ted at CAVA.com, on LinkedIn, and on Instagram @CAVATedX
  • [2:25] What was it like growing up in a restaurant
  • [3:30] What’s the 1st lesson Ted learned about running a restaurant

• The CAVA Story
  • [5:11] How did Ted start Cava Mezze
  • [7:44] “Moose-Kaka” from My Big Fat Greek Wedding
  • [8:33] What was different about the first CAVA location
  • [11:28] CAVA Love Button
  • [12:27] Hot Harissa Meal featuring Peter Chip, Sweet Sammy, Jimmy Harissa, and Garlic Gus
  • [13:25] How did Ted scale CAVA
  • [15:08] CEO Brett Schulman (Chief Executive Officer)
  • [16:47] How do you go from casual restaurant to fast casual restaurant
  • [19:06] Shoutout, Alex & Spense!
  • [19:44] How do you create a buzzworthy brand
  • [24:21] What’s the most successful food CAVA has introduced
  • [26:03] The Wild Business Growth podcast is on YouTube! Subscribe @MaxBranstetter to watch full video interviews with Wild entrepreneurs like Ted
  • [26:04] Sign up for the Podcasting to the Max newsletter at MaxPodcasting.com/Newsletter and receive How to Edit Your Podcast in Audacity. It’s where podcasting meets entrepreneurship – and terrible puns
  • [26:05] Such an honor speaking at Podcast Movement ’23 in Denver! Sign up to grab the slides from my session at MaxPodcasting.com/PM23

• Rapid-Fire Q&A: Greek Edition
  • [26:18] Paros, Folegandros
  • [26:41] Peloponnese
  • [27:07] Giannis Antetokounmpo
  • [27:38] Souvlaki
  • [28:15] Galaktoboureko, Baklava
  • [28:50] Connect with Ted at CAVA.com, on LinkedIn, and on Instagram @CAVATedX
  • [29:03] What are Ted’s Final Thoughts
  • [30:06] Follow the Wild Business Growth podcast and tell a friend about the podcast. And show love (or roast me) by leaving 5 stars on Apple Podcasts and/or Spotify
  • [30:18] The Wild Business Growth podcast is on YouTube! Subscribe @MaxBranstetter to watch full video interviews with Wild entrepreneurs like Ted
  • [30:19] Check out the Wild Business Growth podcast on Goodpods, where you can see what your favorite people are listening to
  • [30:22] Connect with me on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter (aka X), and Threads @MaxBranstetter and TikTok @WildBusinessGrowth
  • [30:25] Save time with your high-quality podcast. Email me at max@maxpodcasting.com to bring your podcast to life and use it as a business-building tool
  • [30:28] Sign up for the Podcasting to the Max newsletter at MaxPodcasting.com/Newsletter and receive How to Edit Your Podcast in Audacity. It’s where podcasting meets entrepreneurship – and terrible puns
  • Theme music: Freestyle Percussion Magik – “Jungle Tribe” – provided by Jamendo

What is the Wild Business Growth podcast?

Wild ideas. Wild growth. Every Wednesday morning a new entrepreneur joins the Wild Business Growth podcast to share the wildly creative and unusual ways they grew their business – and teaches you how to do it, too. Hear the minds behind WordPress, Stacy’s Pita Chips, Drybar, NFL RedZone, Big Mouth Billy Bass, the voice of Bart Simpson, and more Wild stories. Hosted by Max Branstetter (that’s me), Founder and Podcast Producer at MaxPodcasting.

How do you start a podcast?

Interested in starting a professional-sounding and professional-looking podcast for your brand, but don’t want to deal with the time commitment of all those behind-the-scenes details? I’ve got you covered. Email me at max@maxpodcasting.com to save time with your high-quality podcast and use it as a business-building tool.

Thanks for listening to Ted Xenohristos on the Wild Business Growth podcast. To hear more Wild stories like this one every Wednesday morning, follow the Wild Business Growth podcast and tell a friend about it. And get CAVA with them. Until next time, Let your business Run Wild…and Bring on the Bongos!!