Photograph by Marlena Raines
Nicolas Jammet, Nathaniel Ru, and Jonathan Neman met as freshmen at Georgetown University’s business school. They quickly became friends and bonded over their entrepreneurship. Between them, they agreed that there was a lack of healthy and affordable food options near campus. In 2007, a few months after they graduated, they founded Sweetgreen together, a small salad restaurant serving local, healthy, and delicious food. Their business took off rapidly, and they soon opened a second location.
By 2014, seven years after the opening of the original place, they brought in fifty million dollars in revenue, twice the amount of the previous year. As of today, they have 72 locations, in cities all over the US, including one here in Berkeley.
The business’ take-off made it clear that the founders were not the only people with a desire for more easily available, local, and healthy food. In April of 2016, Sweetgreen opened its new location in Berkeley. The restaurant quickly became a popular spot. Maia Rodriguez-Choi, Berkeley High School (BHS) senior and employee at Sweetgreen’s Berkeley location believes the business has been successful because of its “Berkeley-ness.” Rodriguez-Choi said, “The aesthetic and ambiance of the store really fits well with Berkeley.”
The restaurant chain’s popularity is not only due to their food, but also because of their business model. The restaurant chain aims to be environmentally sustainable, using all reusable dishes or compostable items. As a response to the northern California wildfires, Sweetgreen donated one hundred percent of their profits to the Red Cross for fire relief. This proves that the company cares about the environment and the world around them, and not just about making a profit.
Each restaurant has an open kitchen, so the customer can see exactly what goes into their food as it is made. Another value that is important to the restaurant chain is eating locally. Sweetgreen tries to make sure the ingredients on its menu are as locally sourced as possible. Its menu also changes with the seasons to include seasonal fruits and vegetables.
Sweetgreen believes in building relationships through food, connecting with the farmers they work with. The employees also work to bond with all customers who come in to eat. The environment at Sweetgreen can be a fast experience for someone who wants a salad on the go, or it can be a sit down meal.“I love how it is a family friendly restaurant while still being a healthy lunch or dinner option,” said Adrienne Mermin, BHS freshman.
This restaurant gives a new name to the fast food business and a step in the right direction for fast food. The food is much healthier than typical fast food. Sweetgreen also shows their values, concerning the environment and health, in public ways. People enjoy their food more if they know the restaurant they are eating at shares their values.