Sweetgreen pushed forward with investments in technology and customer convenience this week, opening its first location with a fully automated kitchen and an accompanying drive-thru lane Tuesday in Costa Mesa, California.
The grand opening represents a new chapter of fast-food innovation for the California-based business with more than 260 locations nationwide, according to a Nov. 11 press release. The new restaurant marks the fast-casual brand’s first attempt to fuse its automated “Infinite Kitchen” initiative with a “Sweetlane” drive-up option for guests.
Sweetgreen first introduced Sweetlane in 2022 to expedite the pickup process for digital orders, which now constitute more than a third of total orders for the brand, according to the Nov. 11 release.
“We launched Sweetlane to meet our digital customers where they are: busy, mobile, and looking for better access to real food,” Chris Tarrant, Sweetgreen chief development officer, said in a statement. “As we expand the format across new markets, Costa Mesa represents an exciting next step in our journey to make healthy eating more convenient and accessible, without compromising on quality or experience.”
Sweetlane allows customers to place orders via the Sweetgreen app or through the restaurant’s website, according to the release. While the Infinite Kitchen model relies on automation for food preparation, staff will hand off orders at the drive-thru.
Although the Costa Mesa location pioneers Sweetgreen’s efforts toward efficiency and convenience, customers who favor a more traditional experience have nothing to fear. The nearly 2,300-square-foot restaurant still provides space for guests who prefer in-house dining and pickup.
Sweetgreen’s new location in Costa Mesa follows a recent effort to enhance the customer experience with technology. In a Nov. 10 release, the brand announced the launch of a macronutrient-tracking tool for health-conscious guests to view nutrition details for menu items, such as the amounts of protein, carbohydrates and fat in a meal.
