Chapter 1
The Denver origin and the assembly line
Chapter 2
Sourcing with integrity and the minimalist vibe
Chapter 3
The E. coli crisis and the massive food safety overhaul
Chapter 4
Redefining Mexican food and the fast-casual legacy
YOUR GOAL
Master of How a tiny Denver burrito shop changed fast food
Ch 2 · Sourcing with integrity and the minimalist vibe
renato Chipotle Sourcing and Design
Fifty-three fresh ingredients, birch wood and steel, keeping it real.
renato To maintain quality, restaurants receive fresh raw ingredients multiple times a week to prepare guacamole, chop cilantro, and
renato A worker prepares burritos behind a counter of unpainted metal and birch plywood.
Fun Fact
No freezers here: Chipotle restaurants do not have freezers, microwaves, or can openers, relying entirely on fresh shipments and daily kitchen prep.
Glossary
minimalism (noun)
A style or design characterized by extreme spareness, simplicity, and a lack of ornamentation. Founder Steve Ells used cheap plywood and stainless steel to design Chipotle's first Denver restaurant.
A style or design characterized by extreme spareness, simplicity, and a lack of ornamentation. Founder Steve Ells used cheap plywood and stainless steel to design Chipotle's first Denver restaurant.
Quiz
Which ranching collective did Chipotle partner with in 2001 to source naturally raised pork?
Quiz
What fast-food giant bought a majority stake in Chipotle in 1999 and helped it expand?
Quiz
What is the name of Chipotle's official sourcing philosophy introduced in the early 2000s?
Quiz
What menu addition did McDonald's try to force Chipotle to adopt, which Steve Ells resisted?