Inside Chipotle’s kitchen upgrade
Restaurant Business Online
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We’ve been hearing for some time about several cool robotic innovations being tested at Chipotle. But, at the same time, the company has been testing new kitchen equipment that may not be as sexy as robots. But it is expected to be hugely impactful to the fast-casual burrito chain’s growth.
Chipotle’s kitchens have operated mostly the same over the past three decades. But 2025 will be a year of change for the brand, as the modernization efforts emerge from the stage-gate process and start to roll out. Some are already being implemented in new restaurants.
This week, I wrote about four new pieces of equipment that are in or soon coming to Chipotle’s 3,700 units, including new produce slicers, a dual-sided plancha, a dual-vat fryer and a three-pan rice cooker. They may not be as futuristic as the robotic stuff, but they are things that the company expects will boost throughput and make the lives of team members a bit easier, freeing them to focus on hospitality.
--Lisa Jennings
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