Good morning. As automation gains momentum in the food service industry, Mediterranean restaurant chain Cava—known for fan favorites like pita chips—is making its first major investment in the space.

Cava has invested $5 million in Hyphen—a foodservice platform that automates culinary operations such as meal production at assembly stations—and committed an additional $5 million, subject to terms. The $25 million funding round was also backed by Chipotle’s Cultivate Next venture fund, which previously invested $15 million in July 2024.

“We believe that technology should enhance the human experience, not replace it, and Hyphen’s equipment does just that,” Cava CFO Tricia Tolivar told me. After months of evaluating Hyphen and similar concepts, the company is confident this partnership is a

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