The Hustle Daily Show The “slop bowl” chains (Chipotle, Cava, Sweetgreen) are hurting bad
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Sep 9, 2025 Fast-casual chains like Chipotle and Sweetgreen face a crisis as prices soar and portions stagnate, leading to consumer backlash. A $19 burrito bowl and a $29 kale salad raise eyebrows over value perception. As dining preferences shift towards more satisfying meals, these businesses wrestle with survival. The impact of AI on youth employment and declining foot traffic adds to their woes. Meanwhile, Tesla is losing market share, and McDonald's is trying to revive interest with discount deals.
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Price-Value Mismatch Hurting Bowl Chains
- 'Slop bowl' chains face demand erosion because prices rose while portion and experience stayed flat.
- Customers compare $25–$30 bowls unfavorably to full-restaurant meals and deals at casual-dining chains.
Sales Drops Reveal Demand Weakness
- Same-store sales fell for Chipotle and Sweetgreen, signaling broader traffic weakness despite healthy food perception.
- The chains' assembly-line aesthetic and lack of experience make it harder to justify premium pricing.
Reporter Found $19–$29 Bowl Prices
- Business Insider shopped prices in LA suburbs and found bowls costing $19–$29 with chips and drinks pushing totals higher.
- Mark and John used that example to explain why customers balk at paying those sums for quick-serve bowls.