# Inside the Routine of Brett Schulman: The CEO Behind Cava’s Rapid Expansion

- Link: https://viralbrief.top/inside-the-routine-of-brett-schulman-the-ceo-behind-cavas-rapid-expansion/
- Published: 2026-11-04T11:05:19+00:00
- Author: Olamide

## A Path to Leadership

Brett Schulman, the 54-year-old co-founder and CEO of the Mediterranean restaurant
chain Cava, did not start his career in the culinary world. After interning at a
law firm during college, Schulman realized the legal profession was not for him.
He spent a decade in corporate finance before pivoting to entrepreneurship, where
he assisted his wife in building a natural snack food company called Snikiddy. The
couple spent two years bootstrapping the business without a salary.

In 2009, a professional connection introduced Schulman to Ted Xenohristos, who operated
a restaurant called Cava Mezze. After helping the business achieve profitability,
Schulman joined founders Xenohristos, Ike Grigoropoulos, and Dimitri Moshovitis 
as their fourth partner. The team spent a year adapting the full-service restaurant
model into a fast-casual, walk-the-line format. The first Cava location opened in
January 2011, and the company has since grown to over 500 locations.

## The Discipline of a CEO

Schulman emphasizes that his role has required constant reinvention as the company
transitioned from a startup to a public enterprise. He credits his ability to manage
these shifting demands to structured time management, noting that he is known among
his colleagues and family for being “obsessively punctual.” For Schulman, strict
adherence to a schedule is a matter of respect for his team and the organization.

His day typically begins at 6:30 a.m. with a review of the previous night’s sales
reports. He maintains a home gym to save time, working out for 45 minutes while 
catching up on market news via CNBC. Before heading to his Washington, D.C. office,
he prioritizes family time, including a morning coffee ritual where he prepares 
oat milk lattes—a hobby he says has helped him improve his latte art.

## Office Life and Operational Involvement

Schulman arrives at the office by 8:15 a.m. to review industry news and prepare 
for a day of meetings. While Cava maintains a hybrid work policy, Schulman prefers
to be in the office when he is not traveling. His calendar is carefully managed 
by an executive coordinator, with time blocked out for recurring business needs 
like earnings planning, board meetings, and quarterly town halls.

Despite the demands of running a public company, Schulman insists on maintaining
a direct connection to the restaurant floor. He makes it a point to work a shift
in a Cava location every quarter. During the workday, he frequently walks to a nearby
Cava to eat, often sampling new menu items to ensure quality control. His current
order reflects the brand’s variety, featuring a mix of power greens, harissa honey
chicken, steak, and various Mediterranean-inspired toppings.

## Balancing Work and Personal Life

Schulman typically leaves the office between 5:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. to return home
for dinner with his family. He notes that his wife is a skilled cook, and they enjoy
preparing a wide range of cuisines at home. Evenings are reserved for family time,
which includes walking the dog and watching television. Before retiring between 
10:30 p.m. and 11:00 p.m., he reviews documents for the following day to ensure 
his meetings remain efficient.

For Schulman, maintaining seven to seven-and-a-half hours of sleep is a non-negotiable
requirement for staying fresh. His personal interests outside of the office include
trail running, golf, and occasionally binge-watching streaming series, such as “
The Bear,” with his family.

**Source:** [businessinsider.com](https://www.businessinsider.com/day-in-the-life-of-ceo-cava-brett-schulman-2026-11)

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  TL;DR (AI Generated)

Brett Schulman transitioned from corporate finance and entrepreneurship to become
the co-founder and CEO of the fast-casual restaurant chain Cava.

Known for his strict punctuality and structured time management, he oversees the
company's massive growth while maintaining a disciplined daily routine.

Despite his demanding schedule as a public company leader, Schulman stays connected
to operations by regularly working shifts and sampling menu items in Cava locations.

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