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Animal Welfare at CAVA

At CAVA, we are committed to sourcing premium, fresh ingredients, and working with those in our supply chain who share our values related to animal welfare and sustainability.

We implement the following standards for animal welfare with our protein suppliers:

  • No rBST for dairy

  • No added hormones for beef and lamb (chicken, by law, cannot be raised with added hormones)

  • No antibiotics ever (NAE) for beef and chicken

Chicken Welfare at CAVA

From 2023-2024, we made meaningful progress across several key areas of broiler chicken welfare. Based on our survey of suppliers using the Better Chicken Commitment (BCC) criteria, our suppliers have reported to us that our chicken volume:

  • 100% meet the standard for litter that supports natural behaviors and well-being

  • 89% complies with enhanced lighting schedules

  • 45% meets the stocking density benchmark

  • 45% receives enrichments that promote natural behavior

  • 35% utilizes controlled atmosphere stunning (CAS)

Additionally, 10% of our volume meets GAP Step 2 standards.

Our goal is to make continued, measurable progress—supporting suppliers in their transition and sharing updates as we go.

Beef Welfare at CAVA

In 2024, 99.9% of our beef supply was sourced from Australia. All Australian beef served at CAVA followed the Australian Animal Welfare Certification System (AAWCS) Standards. Our Australian suppliers have reported to us that our beef volume meets the following:

  • 100% have outdoor and pasture access for all their life

  • 100% uses no antibiotics or added growth hormones ever

  • 100% adheres to humane stunning

Lamb Welfare at CAVA

In 2024, our lamb sourced from Australia followed the Australian Animal Welfare Certification System (AAWCS) standards . The US produced supply was guided by the American Sheep Industry (ASI) standards. Our suppliers have reported to us that our lamb volume meets the following:

  • 100% raised with outdoor access all their life

  • 76% have pasture access all their life

  • 100% uses no added growth hormones

  • 100% adheres to humane stunning

Our lamb suppliers report they participate in a variety of regenerative practices, depending on their geographic area (examples include rotational grazing, 7 pillars of sustainability USDA regenerative program, and other practices to conserve water, reduce carbon, and maintain biodiversity).

As with all of our sourcing, we're committed to transparency and continuous progress, collaborating with our suppliers, and consulting with animal welfare experts to keep raising the bar.