Case Study

CAVA

The Recipe for Success Requires Top Notch Ingredients

When CAVA, a fast-casual Mediterranean restaurant chain, began planning their first major production expansion, they evaluated locations throughout the Appalachian corridor, including North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. They knew what they needed: a new 57,000 sqft food processing and packaging facility, with proximity to the existing and future CAVA restaurant footprint, access to transportation corridors, workforce availability, competitive operating costs, and long-term growth potential.

Augusta County, Virginia served up these ingredients and more:

• Strategic location along the I-81 corridor, with efficient access to CAVA’s growing restaurant network throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast,
• Proximity to their Washington, D.C. headquarters, allowing for strong operational connectivity while expanding production capabilities, and
• Access to a skilled manufacturing workforce, particularly given the concentration of manufacturing and food production operations throughout the Shenandoah Valley region.

A Partnership that Made All the Difference

“At CAVA, Mediterranean hospitality is woven into our business at every turn, and throughout this process we felt that same spirit reflected back to us by Augusta County and the Commonwealth of Virginia,” says Chris Penny, Chief Manufacturing Officer at CAVA. “From our first conversations through construction and startup, we never felt like just another project—we felt like a true partner. The people here were invested in our success, and that made a lasting impression on our team.”

During site visits and planning meetings, representatives from permitting, utilities, workforce development, wastewater, and other key functions were consistently at the table, ready to answer questions and help move the project forward. The permitting and development process was straightforward and efficient, allowing CAVA to maintain momentum from project approval through construction and startup.

In addition to site development support, Virginia provided significant workforce development resources through the Virginia Talent Accelerator Program. The program supported recruitment, training, and onboarding efforts, including the development of customized training materials and workforce engagement initiatives, building a strong foundation for CAVA’s manufacturing team. Additionally, Governor Northam approved a $200,000 grant from the Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund to assist Augusta County with the project, along with an additional $300,000 from the Virginia Investment Performance Grant.

“From workforce development and training to the support we received throughout the project, we experienced a genuine commitment to helping people thrive.” says Penny. “Our mission is to bring heart, health, and humanity to food. As we explored where to expand our manufacturing operations, we were looking for partners who could emulate those same values and recognized that success starts with people. In Augusta County, we found a team who cared just as much about creating opportunities for individuals and strengthening the community as they did about attracting new business.”