Mediterranean fast-casual chain CAVA needed a communications partner to support its forthcoming IPO, while simultaneously preparing to execute a robust, national PR program to support the company’s aggressive growth plans — opening 1,000 restaurants by 2032. The criteria: ID the right target outlets, map the most impactful storylines to the right reporters, organize IPO day, provide on-the-ground support and fully prep the executive team. Inkhouse did it all in less than four weeks.
Inkhouse used CAVA’s IPO as an opportunity to introduce the brand, its category-defining food and its executives to a national audience. IPO day presented an opportunity to build new relationships across consumer, business and select tech/innovation press. We leaned heavily into the company’s roots and how it has driven the Mediterranean food category forward in the U.S. with the goal of communicating the large white-space opportunity around the growing popularity of the cuisine.
Our matrixed approach (mapping out desired storylines / supporting messages / which angle we’d use for key reporters) ensured maximum impact and message pull-through. Prior to the IPO, we offered embargoed interviews with the CAVA leadership team; media training and extensive, thoughtfully crafted messaging ensured consistency throughout coverage. Post-IPO, our program now focuses primarily on earned media relations reaching consumer and business press to support the company’s growth in new markets, new menu offerings, business acumen and general brand awareness.
The IPO moment highlighted our tightly-controlled messages targeted to key business and investor press and was a tremendous success resulting in:
- More 230 pieces of coverage, with 98% message pull-through
- The stock nearly doubling in the days after its listing
Inkhouse has already started developing meaningful media relationships for CAVA’s executives, continuing the momentum into its Q2 2023 earnings and securing top-tier media interviews with WSJ, CNBC (Broadcast), FOX Business (Broadcast), Bloomberg (Broadcast), Bloomberg Online and Barron’s. With a small internal communications team, CAVA relies on us to not only develop and execute earned media campaigns, but serve as a true thought partner that its executives trust.
