Sweetgreen is expanding its tech-centric Infinite Kitchen model and is expected to add 25 more by the end of the year, reported QSR Magazine. The Infinite Kitchens use automated conveyor belts to build meals—a conveyor belt runs under ingredient dispensers that drop customized mixes of fresh ingredients into bowls. An Infinite Kitchen can fulfill roughly 500 orders per hour, said Sweetgreen.

“By the end of 2024, there were 12 Infinite Kitchens—six of which opened in Q4 (10 launched over the year, including three retrofits). Sweetgreen said the goal for 2025 would be to dedicate half of development, or 40 total locations, to Infinite Kitchens,” bringing the total from 12 to 33, wrote the outlet. There are also some retrofits in the pipeline, and two New York City stores are expected to relocate and layer on the system.

Sweetgreen conducted a guest survey in January that showed 90% of customers had a positive overall experience at Infinite Kitchens, including food and ingredient quality, per QSR Magazine.

More Infinite Kitchens should “deepen the fast casual’s competitive moat,” said William Blair analyst Sharon Zackfia. Although recent investments in supply chain, brand, and tech have already created differentiation, she added, this will elevate Sweetgreen into another tier.

Zackfia said Infinite Kitchen locations have at least an 800-basis-point margin advantage versus traditional sites (700 from labor and 100 from cost of goods sold).

QSR Magazine wrote the stores to date have delivered at least 7 percentage points in labor savings and a point in improved COGS compared to stores of similar age and volume. They’re also driving higher native digital sales due to throughput gains and repeatable performance, leading to better guest experience scores.

Reportedly about 10% of Sweetgreen’s base should have Infinite Kitchens by the start of 2026. Near-term, growth will be weighted to the second half of the year, the brand said, with some 75% of new openings including them. Zackfia added management views 75% as the floor for Infinite Kitchens as a percentage of new builds in 2026 and beyond.