Following former CEO Brian Niccol's September exit from Starbucks (SBUX, Financial), Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG, Financial) CEO Scott Boatwright reiterated aspirations to upgrade the chain's culinary operations as part of a larger development strategy, therefore implying a change in leadership priorities. Previously chief operations officer, Boatwright concentrated on automation and creativity to support operations and expansion goals. He said that the integration of robots and automation is vital for modern kitchen design.
In October 2023 Chipotle started testing a digital makeline in partnership with Hyphen, which uses a conveyor belt technology to automatically create burrito bowls and salads. Currently under trial at California locations, this approach reduced preparation time to 30–60 seconds and reoriented employees to concentrate on other orders. Also unveiled in September 2024 was "Autoco," a robot made to peel and core avocados. With 7,000 shops worldwide—up from Chipotle's present 3,600—automation is seen as necessary. Key emphasis also is international development with partnerships like one developed with Alshaya Group for Middle Eastern growth.
These developments have been fairly helpful since 65% of bowl and salad sales start from online buying. Reflecting investor confidence in Chipotle's operational improvements and development path, the stock has risen over 16% in the past three months and gained 43% year-to-date.
