Sweetgreen raises $200 million, boosts valuation to $1 billion

Sweetgreen is known for drawing long
lines.
Hollis
Johnson

• Sweetgreen is
  reportedly raising $200 million in a new round of funding led
  by Fidelity Investments that would value the company at $1
  billion.
• The fast-casual salad chain has grown rapidly since it
  launched in 2007, opening stores around the US, and
  launching a mobile ordering platform.
• It has raised over
  $128 million in funding so far. 

Sweetgreen, the fast-casual salad chain that’s known for its
cult-like following and drawing long-lines during lunchtime
hours, is on track to be valued as a billion dollar company,

CNBC reported Friday. 

The company is reportedly raising $200 million in a round of
funding led by Fidelity Investments that would value the company
at $1 billion, sources familiar with the matter told
CNBC. 

Since the concept was launched in 2007 by Georgetown University
classmates, Nathaniel Ru, Nicolas Jammet, and Jonathan Neman, it
has expanded quickly, opening stores around the US and launching
a mobile ordering platform to reduce the long lunchtime lines.

As the company is private, it does not report sales numbers.
According to
Crunchbase, it has received $128.6 million in funding so far.

In a recent interview with Bloomberg, its founders
discussed plans to grow the store base to 100 by the end of the
year and expand its digital service. 

According to Neman, the company’s online ordering revenue
is increasing at a rate of 80% year over year.