Chipotle Expands Robot Chef Lineup to Boost Salad and Bowl Production

Chipotle Mexican Grill is once again revolutionizing the fast-casual dining experience by introducing a new automated production line for salads and burrito bowls. The restaurant chain is aiming to enhance efficiency and speed up the preparation process for digital orders. By utilizing this new system, online orders will be seamlessly directed to the automated production line, where an empty plate will be positioned under the ingredient dispensers. Each ingredient will be automatically portioned into the bowl, and the completed dish will emerge at the other end of the line, ready for pick up.

This innovative approach is expected to significantly increase capacity for digital orders during peak periods, as approximately 65% of all digital orders at Chipotle consist of bowls or salads. By streamlining the production process, the collaborative robot, or “cobotic,” will free up valuable time for employees to focus on delivering exceptional hospitality.

Chipotle’s commitment to technological advancements in the food-service industry is evident through its collaboration with Hyphen, a leading platform designed to automate restaurant processes. The company envisions the automated digital makeline becoming the centerpiece of all its restaurants’ digital kitchens.

Earlier this year, Chipotle introduced Autocado, a robot designed to automate guacamole production, and Chippy, a robotic tortilla-chip maker that fries and seasons chips with salt and lime. These innovations highlight Chipotle’s dedication to enhancing the overall dining experience while maintaining the quality and freshness of its ingredients.

While Chipotle stock experienced a slight decline in premarket trading, the company’s shares have seen a significant year-to-date gain of 35%. With its ongoing commitment to technological advancements and customer satisfaction, Chipotle continues to solidify its position as a leader in the fast-casual dining industry.

For more information, please contact Sabrina Escobar at sabrina.escobar@barrons.com.