LOS ANGELES—Sweetgreen has opened its first restaurant powered by automation. The pilot store, located in Naperville, Illinois, uses new technology called the Sweetgreen Infinite Kitchen, which is designed to enhance the customer experience and food quality, with a focus on fresh ingredients, fast service and friendly hospitality, according to Sweetgreen.
The new format allows for quicker pace, precise portioning and increased accuracy—while creating efficiencies that allow the team to focus on fresh prep and serving customers. Customers can watch the technology at work, from dispensing greens and dressing bowls and plates, to evenly dispersing ingredients and mixing salads.
“With the advancement of automation playing a large role across industries today, Sweetgreen is eager and excited to be an early adopter in the space, opening the first restaurant in its fleet powered by the Infinite Kitchen,” wrote Sweetgreen in a statement.
Since its acquisition of Spyce in 2021, Sweetgreen has spent the last year and a half adapting its technology to test alongside customers and team members, with the goal of designing a frictionless experience that connects more people to real food.
"We believe that automation will enable us to elevate the quality and integrity of our food while also providing a faster and more convenient experience for our customers and a better, more dynamic job for our team members," said Jonathan Neman, CEO and co-founder of Sweetgreen. “With the integration of the Sweetgreen Infinite Kitchen in our restaurants, we can unlock efficiencies that will enable us to grow more quickly as we scale.”
When visiting the Naperville Sweetgreen restaurant, customers can use self-service kiosks, place an order through the mobile app or order directly from the restaurant’s host. The new restaurant format also brings in a new Tasting Counter, digital screens and a merchandising strategy. Customers visiting the store will be able to shop exclusive merch with designs inspired by the new store joining the Naperville community.
Sweetgreen recently announced the launch of Sweetpass, its first loyalty program in two years. Developed as a two-tiered model, customers can choose which membership level works best for them for a personalized experience that rewards them with free food and more. The new program offers free and paid memberships to earn discounts on menu items and gain exclusive access to brand experiences, according to the company.