Chipotle Mexican Grill is currently conducting tests to determine if automation can be used to prepare customers’ burrito bowls and salads.
This is the second time that the popular burrito chain has publicly announced its experimentation with automation at its innovation center. The first attempt, known as Chippy, is a robot designed to make tortilla chips. Chippy successfully completed initial testing and has been in use at a California restaurant for the past year.
Various restaurants, including Sweetgreen and Starbucks, have been investing in automation as a means to reduce labor costs and improve order consistency and speed. However, the implementation of robotics and artificial intelligence software can be costly, so it may take several years before these technologies become financially beneficial for restaurants.
Nevertheless, many restaurant operators have high expectations for the future of automation in the industry. Sweetgreen, for example, opened its first automated location in May and CEO Jonathan Neman anticipates that all future restaurants in the chain will be automated within five years.
The recent test announced by Chipotle on Tuesday is part of a larger…
2023-10-03 12:57:47
Article from www.cnbc.com
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