Chipotle brings robots to make your burritos faster

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Chipotle’s kitchen operations are set for a technological revolution under new CEO Scott Boatwright, who has expressed his vision to modernize their food preparation processes through automation.

Boatwright revealed to Yahoo Finance his mission to transform Chipotle’s kitchen operations, noting that their current setup has remained unchanged for three decades.

Chipotle $CMG has been testing out automation in its restaurants 👀
pic.twitter.com/OvXYL04QEL

— Evan (@StockMKTNewz) May 18, 2024

The automation initiative aligns with Chipotle’s ambitious expansion plans, as the company aims to nearly double its presence from 3,600 to 7,000 locations.

In collaboration with foodservice automation company Hyphen, Chipotle has developed a digital makeline system that automates the preparation of burrito bowls and salads. The system, currently undergoing trials in Southern California locations, uses a conveyor belt mechanism that automatically portions ingredients.

According to Boatwright, the automated system will primarily handle online orders, which constitute 65 percent of their bowl and salad orders. The efficiency of Hyphen’s Makeline is notable, with bowl preparation times ranging from 30 to 60 seconds, allowing staff to focus on burrito preparation and in-store customer service.

Here's a look at Chipotle's "Autocado"—the robot they're finally rolling out at a location in California

It can cut, core, and peel an avocado in roughly 26 seconds pic.twitter.com/QR65ZEJ2OS

— Morning Brew ☕️ (@MorningBrew) September 16, 2024

The company’s automation efforts extend beyond the makeline. They recently began testing Autocado, a robotic system designed to handle avocado preparation for guacamole. Additionally, the chain is implementing automated produce slicers to maintain consistency in ingredient preparation.

Addressing recent customer concerns about portion sizes and price increases, Boatwright explained, “We think about value very differently [than competitors] at Chipotle.”

“I think about it as an equation, as benefit over price,” he added. “As price moves up, benefit has to improve at the same pace to keep value the same for the consumer.”