Cava, Shake Shack among those vying to be next Chipotle, Barron’s says

As fast-food chains struggle with rising costs and increasingly frugal consumers, restaurants that offer diners fresh, high-quality food with the same convenience and speed have been a bright spot. Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG) is the standout of this group, Evie Liu writes in this week’s edition of Barron’s. Three others – burger joint Shake Shack (SHAK), salad specialist Sweetgreen (SG), and Cava Group (CAVA), which serves Mediterranean-style bowls and pitas – are expanding at a fast clip as they aim to replicate Chipotle’s long-term success, the author notes.