Sweetgreen Taps Unleashed Brands Exec as Chief Development Officer
Event summary
- Ryan Slemons appointed Chief Development Officer at Sweetgreen, effective May 4, 2026.
- Slemons brings nearly two decades of experience in real estate and store development from roles at Unleashed Brands, GameStop, Amazon, and Starbucks.
- He will oversee real estate, design, construction, facilities, and portfolio management for Sweetgreen's over 285 locations.
- Sweetgreen aims to evolve its physical expansion and restaurant formats under Slemons' leadership.
The big picture
Sweetgreen's appointment of Ryan Slemons as Chief Development Officer underscores its focus on scaling through strategic real estate and design innovation. The move comes as the company seeks to differentiate itself in a competitive fast-casual market by enhancing both operational efficiency and customer experience. With over 285 locations, Sweetgreen is positioning itself for further growth by leveraging Slemons' expertise in high-volume retail environments.
What we're watching
- Expansion Strategy
- How Sweetgreen's physical expansion will be shaped by Slemons' experience in diverse retail environments.
- Operational Efficiency
- Whether Slemons can streamline Sweetgreen's design and construction processes to support rapid growth.
- Customer Experience
- The impact of Slemons' customer-focused approach on Sweetgreen's in-restaurant experience and brand loyalty.