Chipotle's Carne Asada is Back on the Menu

Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE: CMG) today announced it is bringing back Carne Asada to restaurants across the U.S. for a limited time. The premium steak option will also return to the menu in Canada and make its debut in France, where it will become Chipotle's first new protein introduced in the European market.

Chipotle's Carne Asada is grilled fresh in small batches, seasoned with a blend of signature spices, hand cut into tender slices, and is finished with fresh squeezed lime and hand-chopped cilantro. The protein is officially approved for the Whole30® program and is compliant with Keto and Paleo diets...

Chipotle Reports Second Quarter 2020 Results 

Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. reported financial results for its second quarter ended June 30, 2020.

Second quarter highlights, which incorporate the impact of COVID-19, year over year:

• Revenue decreased 4.8% to $1.4 billion
• Comparable restaurant sales declined 9.8%
• Digital sales grew 216.3% and accounted for 60.7% of sales for the quarter
• Restaurant level operating margin was 12.2%, a decrease of 8.7%
• Diluted earnings per share was $0.29, net of a $0.11 after-tax impact from expenses related to restaurant asset impairment and closure costs, as well as...

Chipotle Continues Accelerated Growth with 100th Chipotlane and 10,000 New Jobs

Chipotle Mexican Grill announced that it will be celebrating the opening of its 100th Chipotlane, the brand's drive-thru digital order pick-up lane, later this month. The milestone restaurant is in the greater Columbus, Ohio area, where the concept was first introduced in 2018. The new restaurant, located at 7162 Longhorn Dr. in Sunbury, Ohio, will feature the brand's open design, eco-friendly materials, and premium placement for digital pick-up shelves.

Of Chipotle's 19 new restaurants that opened during the first quarter of 2020, 11 featured a Chipotlane, giving the concept a presence in 32 states. Chipotlanes are expected to be included in more than 60% of new Chipotle restaurants. Despite stay-at-home orders in recent months, Chipotle successfully navigated the first quarter with digital sales growing more than...

Chipotle to Test New Cilantro-Lime Cauliflower Rice in Select Markets

Chipotle Mexican Grill announced it will test Cilantro-Lime Cauliflower Rice at 55 restaurants in Denver and throughout Wisconsin starting July 15. Chipotle's latest plant-based option is made with real, grilled cauliflower, seasoned with fresh-chopped cilantro, lime juice and salt, prepared fresh in-restaurant every day. As many brands look to limit menu offerings amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Chipotle is continuing to explore menu innovations that align with its Food with Integrity standards.

"To date, one out of three new menu item requests from Chipotle customers is for Cauliflower Rice," said Chris Brandt, Chief Marketing Officer. "We've answered the call from fans and created a better-for-you option that puts a delicious twist on our classic white rice recipe by using the same fresh cilantro and lime ingredients and...

Chipotle Announces Partnership with Grubhub to Expand Delivery Footprint

Chipotle Mexican Grill announced that it is partnering with Grubhub, the nation's leading pickup and delivery marketplace with the largest network of restaurant partners, to expand its delivery footprint in the U.S. Chipotle and Grubhub have established a fully-integrated partnership to provide efficient operations and a seamless diner experience, ensuring food arrives as fresh and fast as possible. Available now, customers can order from Chipotle locations through the Grubhub app or Grubhub.com.

Digital orders from Chipotle are customized via the brand's Digital Kitchens, which are comprised of a dedicated ingredient station and operated by a special team in nearly all Chipotle locations. Chipotle deliveries also feature a tamper evident packaging seal to help ensure food is untouched during delivery. Grubhub users will also...

Chipotle Expands Digital Platform with Canadian App Launch and U.S. Ordering Enhancements

Chipotle Mexican Grill announced a series of innovations to its digital platform to increase access and convenience for guests, including the introduction of the Chipotle app in Canada. Now guests in Canada can order their favorite Chipotle meals via Chipotle.ca or the Chipotle app, as well as through DoorDash and Uber Eats.

"Investing in our digital ecosystem in Canada will enhance the guest experience and position us well for future growth," said Anat Davidzon, Managing Director – Canada, Chipotle.

Chipotle is also introducing a series of enhancements to its mobile ordering capabilities including Pepper, its Concierge Bot on Facebook Messenger. Beginning June 22, customers can...

Chipotle Introduces New Lifestyle Bowls 

Chipotle Mexican Grill announced five new Lifestyle Bowls inspired by wellness experts and the Chipotle Together Wellness Live-Streams to help fans get back on track with their health and fitness goals.

Chipotle partnered with YouGov to better understand how consumers food behavior and patterns have shifted during this unprecedented time of social distancing. The brands' joint study found over a third of Americans surveyed (35%) are struggling to maintain healthy lifestyles, and over four in ten (44%) aren't maintaining...

Chipotle Announces First Quarter 2020 Results 

Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. reported financial results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2020.

First quarter highlights, year over year:

• Revenue increased 7.8% to $1.4 billion
• Comparable restaurant sales increased 3.3% with a 1.4% decrease in transactions including a 1.3% leap day benefit
• Through the end of February, comparable restaurant sales increased 14.4% with 10.7% transactions growth including a 2.1% leap day benefit and a restaurant level operating margin of 21.8%
• Comparable restaurant sales during the month of March were negatively impacted by the impact of COVID-19, resulting in a decline of...

Restaurants in America Offer Contactless Delivery Similar to China's Model

During the wake of the coronavirus outbreak in China, the country began taking extraordinary steps to prevent the spread of the virus by introducing contactless delivery services to keep customers and employees safe. As part of the process, customers order remotely via mobile phones or computers, and workers seal the meals in bags and place them in a pre-determined location without any human contact.

Some reports stated that these contactless delivery options also come with a card that provides the name and temperature of the person who made the food, as well as the person who delivered it. Quick service chains taking these precautions in China include McDonald's, Starbucks, and...

Chipotle Announces Partnership with Uber Eats to Expand Delivery Service 

Chipotle Mexican Grill and Uber Eats have announced a national delivery partnership. For the first time, consumers can get the Chipotle delivered through the Uber Eats app and ubereats.com. This month, the Delivery Fee will be waived on any Chipotle order of $10 or more on the Uber Eats app and ubereats.com.

Given recent world events, Chipotle and Uber Eats are working together to make the delivery experience easier for guests. Uber Eats users can leave a note in the app for "no-contact" deliveries, which involve a driver leaving the food at the doorstep rather than an in-person exchange. Digital orders from Chipotle are customized via the brand's Delivery Kitchens, which are comprised of a dedicated ingredient station and operated by...

Chipotle Offers Free Delivery Through March

Chipotle Mexican Grill announced that it will offer Free Delivery starting March 15 through March 31 to make life easier for guests. Delivery orders are customized via Chipotle's Delivery Kitchen, which is comprised of a dedicated ingredient line operated by a special team. The Delivery Kitchen provides guests with the same great Chipotle experience whether they choose to dine in, order ahead and pick up, or have it delivered.

Chipotle has also introduced a new delivery tracker to provide step-by-step real-time updates, so you can follow your meal from the restaurant to your location. Prior to placing their orders, Chipotle customers can leave special instructions for delivery drivers in the Chipotle app and Chipotle.com to limit direct contact...

Chipotle Announces Changes to Its Board Composition

Chipotle Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2019 Results

Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. today reported financial results for its fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2019.

Fourth quarter highlights, year over year:

• Revenue increased 17.6% to $1.4 billion
• Comparable restaurant sales increased 13.4% with no net impact from loyalty deferral, and included 8.0% comparable restaurant transactions growth
• Digital sales grew 78.3% and accounted for 19.6% of sales
• Restaurant level operating margin was 19.2%, an increase of...

Chipotle Innovates Lifestyle Bowls

Chipotle Mexican Grill announced today that it's rolling out a Supergreens salad mix nationally this week. Made of hand-cut romaine, antioxidant-rich baby kale and crisp baby spinach, Supergreens will replace the existing romaine-only salad base. This is Chipotle's second new menu item added in the last four months, following the successful launch of Carne Asada in September 2019. Chipotle has also made its grilled, Adobo chicken Whole30 compliant by switching the oil in its marinade, keeping the same great taste, but providing guests with specific dietary goals more options.

Chipotle was the first in the fast-casual industry to offer preconfigured, diet driven Lifestyle Bowls last year, which aided its digital sales growth to hit a $1B milestone recently. Statistics have shown that less than 25% of people stay committed to their new year's resolutions after 30 days, and...

Chipotle Debuts New Restaurant Design to Support its $1 Billion Digital Business

Chipotle Mexican Grill announced today that it's testing a new restaurant design to better support its billion-dollar digital business. The evolved design will be trialed in four new restaurants of the following types: an urban store front, a standalone restaurant with a Chipotlane and an endcap unit with a Chipotlane, in Chicago, Cincinnati, and two locations in Phoenix.

Additionally, the new restaurant design will be trialed in two retrofits in Newport Beach and San Diego. As part of its stage gate process, Chipotle will assess the performance of each restaurant for transactions, guest feedback, and ability to incorporate future menu innovations, among other metrics, before...

Chipotle Extends Carne Asada Into Early 2020

Chipotle Mexican Grill announced that it will be extending its new menu addition, Carne Asada, through the end of the year and into the first quarter of 2020. Originally introduced as a limited time offer, this premium protein continues to exceed the brand's expectations and drive new customer acquisitions. Offering responsibly raised beef with no antibiotics or added hormones that meets its food with integrity standards can sometimes limit options for supply; however, Chipotle sourced additional premium cuts of steak to season with fresh squeezed lime and finish with hand-chopped cilantro and a blend of signature spices to satisfy customer cravings.

Known for its animal welfare standards, Chipotle understands the connection between how food is raised and prepared and how it tastes. It makes an extra effort to partner with farmers, ranchers, and...

Chipotle Announces Third Quarter 2019 Results

Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. reported financial results for its third quarter ended September 30, 2019.

Third quarter highlights, year over year:

• Revenue increased 14.6% to $1.4 billion
• Comparable restaurant sales increased 11.0%, net of 10 bps from loyalty deferral, and included nearly 7.5% of comparable restaurant transactions growth
• Digital sales grew 87.9% and accounted for 18.3% of sales for the quarter
• Restaurant level operating margin was 20.8%, an increase of 210 basis points
• Diluted earnings per share was $3.47, net of...

Chipotle Enhances Animal Welfare Standards in Canada and Europe 

Chipotle Mexican Grill announced that it's signing the European Chicken Commitment, a venture that will apply even higher animal welfare standards to its entire European supply chain by 2026. Priding itself on serving food with integrity, Chipotle was an early participant in the U.S., supporting the Better Chicken Commitment since 2017 and has now extended this U.S. Broiler commitment to its operations in Canada as well.

Chipotle is committed to cultivating a better world, which means sourcing responsibly raised ingredients. For over 25 years, Chipotle has been an industry leader in exceptional animal welfare standards in the fast-casual space. As a brand started by a classically trained chef with a passion for real food, Chipotle has pioneered...