sweetgreen controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2023
CEO comments on Gaza-related campus protests
Jonathan Neman said he wanted to know the names of students involved in university protests and petitions related to the Gaza war so that sweetgreen would not inadvertently hire people whose views he considered anti-Israel. The comments generated criticism about political viewpoints, employment screening, and corporate speech.
2021
Sweetgreen CEO apologizes to employees over COVID-19 and obesity comments
Company response
In 2021, Sweetgreen CEO Jonathan Neman apologized to employees at a company town hall over comments he made in a LinkedIn post that connected US COVID-19 deaths to obesity. According to the source, he said he regretted his choice of words but stood by the post's intent. The apology addressed employees directly and concerned the wording of the post rather than its underlying message.
Company response
Apology — Sweetgreen
The CEO of salad chain Sweetgreen reportedly apologized to employees at a company town hall on Tuesday over comments he made in a Linkedin post connecting US COVID-19 deaths to obesity.
Source excerpt
The CEO of salad chain Sweetgreen reportedly apologized to employees at a company town hall on Tuesday over comments he made in a Linkedin post connecting US COVID-19 deaths to obesity.
Neman apologized to Sweetgreen employees at the town hall for "putting the brand at risk" and for making their "jobs harder in an already very stressful time."