CAVA becomes a member of the U.S. Food Waste Pact

CAVA has officially become a participant in the U.S. Food Waste Pact, a collaborative effort led by ReFED and the World Wildlife Fund that seeks to minimize food waste across the supply chain. The restaurant chain joins 27 other organizations and food companies that have endorsed the pacts voluntary framework, which emphasizes the Target, Measure, Act approach to encourage industry-wide initiatives against food waste.

According to ReFED, nearly one-third of all food produced in the United States is never consumed or sold, with most of it ending up in landfills, incinerators, or sewer systems. In the quick-service sector alone, this surplus equates to over 4 billion meals annually, representing a value of close to $30 billion.

Jenny Roberts, CAVAs senior director of sourcing and sustainability, highlighted the companys dedication: Joining the U.S. Food Waste Pact strengthens our mission to deliver heart, health, and humanity through food. We are actively implementing programs to donate food and test waste management solutions, and this collaboration allows us to share knowledge with industry peers, enhance our efforts, and introduce new initiatives to reduce waste both in our restaurants and across the broader food system.

In 2024, CAVA contributed nearly 43,000 meals to local communities through its food donation program, which channels food prepared during employee training at new locations to nearby food banks. Additionally, CAVA has sponsored the ReFED Food Waste Solutions Summit, promoting discussion and collaboration among food system experts.

Jackie Suggitt, vice president of business initiatives and community engagement at ReFED, commented, We welcome CAVA to the U.S. Food Waste Pact. Their commitment to reducing waste and providing food to those in need will make them a strong participant in developing innovative solutions, inspiring others in the industry to tackle food waste.

Other notable participants include Chick-fil-A, Starbucks, Wawa, Kroger, Walmart, Aldi, Whole Foods Market, Del Monte, Lamb Weston, and the Food Industry Association. The pact aims to halve food waste by 2030.

Recent research from Purdue University indicates a rise in food insecurity in the United States, with roughly 14% of households experiencing food shortages in 2025, up from 12.5% in the previous year.

Author: Zoe Harrison