Chipotle's New CEO Accelerates Kitchen Automation
Chipotle's new CEO, Scott Boatwright, is pushing for major kitchen automation as a means to expand the burrito chain to 7,000 locations globally, from its current 3,600. In an interview with Yahoo Finance's Opening Bid podcast, Boatwright discussed the need to modernize Chipotle's kitchens, which he claims have remained unchanged for 30 years. The automation, a departure from the approach under former CEO Brian Niccol, aims to elevate both operational efficiency and customer experience.
According to data from the IndexBox platform, Chipotle's concerted shift towards digital solutions is set against a market backdrop of increasing demand for quick-service chain innovations. This includes the introduction of a digital makeline with Hyphen, enabling automated ingredient dispensing along a conveyor belt. Currently in testing at Southern California locations, the setup supports the brand's goal to efficiently handle the 65% of bowl and salad orders made online, making them in 30 to 60 seconds.
Additionally, with corporate growth strategies targeting international expansions, including a deal with the Alshaya Group to enter the Middle Eastern market, the company eyes robust development both domestically and overseas.
Beyond kitchen automation, innovative tools like Autocado and produce slicers are being trialed, aiming to streamline preparation and deliver consistent food quality. Industry analysts and comparisons to Sweetgreen's Infinite Kitchen suggest these advancements could move restaurant margins significantly, potentially pushing them into the mid-30% range at units equipped with these technologies.
Despite facing a slight revenue miss in its latest quarterly results—posting $2.78 billion against an expected $2.82 billion—Chipotle saw its adjusted earnings per share rise by 17.4%. This aligned with Boatwright's vision of value, emphasizing an equation of benefit over price despite competitive market pressures.
1. INTRODUCTION
Making Data-Driven Decisions to Grow Your Business
- REPORT DESCRIPTION
- RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND THE AI PLATFORM
- DATA-DRIVEN DECISIONS FOR YOUR BUSINESS
- GLOSSARY AND SPECIFIC TERMS
2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
A Quick Overview of Market Performance
- KEY FINDINGS
- MARKET TRENDSThis Chapter is Available Only for the Professional EditionPRO
3. MARKET OVERVIEW
Understanding the Current State of The Market and its Prospects
- MARKET SIZE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
- MARKET STRUCTURE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
- TRADE BALANCE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
- PER CAPITA CONSUMPTION: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
- MARKET FORECAST TO 2035
4. MOST PROMISING PRODUCTS FOR DIVERSIFICATION
Finding New Products to Diversify Your Business
- TOP PRODUCTS TO DIVERSIFY YOUR BUSINESS
- BEST-SELLING PRODUCTS
- MOST CONSUMED PRODUCTS
- MOST TRADED PRODUCTS
- MOST PROFITABLE PRODUCTS FOR EXPORTS
5. MOST PROMISING SUPPLYING COUNTRIES
Choosing the Best Countries to Establish Your Sustainable Supply Chain
- TOP COUNTRIES TO SOURCE YOUR PRODUCT
- TOP PRODUCING COUNTRIES
- TOP EXPORTING COUNTRIES
- LOW-COST EXPORTING COUNTRIES
6. MOST PROMISING OVERSEAS MARKETS
Choosing the Best Countries to Boost Your Export
- TOP OVERSEAS MARKETS FOR EXPORTING YOUR PRODUCT
- TOP CONSUMING MARKETS
- UNSATURATED MARKETS
- TOP IMPORTING MARKETS
- MOST PROFITABLE MARKETS
7. PRODUCTION
The Latest Trends and Insights into The Industry
- PRODUCTION VOLUME AND VALUE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
8. IMPORTS
The Largest Import Supplying Countries
- IMPORTS: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
- IMPORTS BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024)
- IMPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024)
9. EXPORTS
The Largest Destinations for Exports
- EXPORTS: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
- EXPORTS BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024)
- EXPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024)
10. PROFILES OF MAJOR PRODUCERS
The Largest Producers on The Market and Their Profiles
LIST OF TABLES
- Key Findings In 2024
- Market Volume, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
- Market Value: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
- Per Capita Consumption: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
- Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
- Imports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
- Import Prices, By Country, 2012–2024
- Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
- Exports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
- Export Prices, By Country, 2012–2024
LIST OF FIGURES
- Market Volume, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
- Market Value: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
- Market Structure – Domestic Supply vs. Imports, in Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
- Market Structure – Domestic Supply vs. Imports, in Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
- Trade Balance, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
- Trade Balance, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
- Per Capita Consumption: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
- Market Volume Forecast to 2035
- Market Value Forecast to 2035
- Market Size and Growth, By Product
- Average Per Capita Consumption, By Product
- Exports and Growth, By Product
- Export Prices and Growth, By Product
- Production Volume and Growth
- Exports and Growth
- Export Prices and Growth
- Market Size and Growth
- Per Capita Consumption
- Imports and Growth
- Import Prices
- Production, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
- Production, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
- Imports, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
- Imports, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
- Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2024
- Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
- Imports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
- Import Prices, By Country, 2012–2024
- Exports, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
- Exports, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
- Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2024
- Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
- Exports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
- Export Prices, By Country, 2012–2024