Chipotle X Strava | Introducing ‘The City Challenge’ to kick off 2025

6-1-2025

Chipotle Mexican Grill recently announced that its partnership with Strava, the app for active people with more than 135 million users in more than 190 countries, is back and bigger than ever in 2025. Chipotle is launching its first-ever international Chipotle X Strava challenge for participants to compete to win free Lifestyle Bowls for a year, plus free Chipotle for their city(2). New in 2025, the initiative extends beyond the U.S., connecting and motivating Chipotle’s running community across 25 cities in North America and Europe, including New York City, London, Paris, Toronto and more.

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Autocado | A cobotic solution to guacamole prep at Chipotle

14-7-2023

Chipotle Mexican Grill recently announced Autocado, an avocado processing cobotic prototype that cuts, cores, and peels avocados before they are hand mashed to create the restaurant’s famous guacamole. The prototype, developed in collaboration with Vebu, is currently being tested at the Chipotle Cultivate Center in Irvine, California. The device could ultimately reduce guacamole prep time by 50%, allowing Chipotle employees to focus on serving guests and providing great hospitality.

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Chipotle pilots new all-electric restaurant design alongside sustainable campaign

17-4-2023

Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE: CMG) recently announced a new all-electric restaurant design that works to maximize energy efficiency in its equipment and systems and utilizes 100% renewable energy from wind power and solar through the purchase of certified renewable energy credits. The company recently opened restaurants with the new features in Gloucester, Virginia and Jacksonville, Florida, with a third location opening later this summer in Castle Rock, Colorado [1]. The new restaurant design pilot will help Chipotle progress toward its science-based targets, established in alignment with ‘Science Based Targets initiative’ (SBTi), to reduce direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions 50% by 2030 compared to a 2019 baseline.

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Chipotle tests Plant-Based Chorizo

20-8-2021

Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE: CMG) recently announced its latest menu innovation, Plant-Based Chorizo, is in test in Denver and Indianapolis. Plant-Based Chorizo is the brand’s first new plant-based protein option since the debut of Sofritas® in 2014.

Chipotle developed its chorizo alternative internally, passing companies like Beyond Meat and Impossible, which have several deals with other fast food-chains for meat alternatives on their menus. Let’s see if the plant-based Chorizo will become available in all their restaurants.

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Gold foil-wrapped burritos at Chipotle to celebrate American athletes competing in Tokyo

23-7-2021

Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE: CMG) announced this week it will be serving gold foil-wrapped burritos for a limited time at participating locations in-restaurant and through digital orders starting today, July 23. The limited-edition gold foil will celebrate American athletes competing in Tokyo and rally fans to cheer on first place finishes over the next three weeks. This is the first time Chipotle has introduced gold foil nationwide since it celebrated its 18th anniversary and debuted gold foil-wrapped burritos in 2011.

Do you celebrate your athletes also competing in the same Olympic Games? Five years ago, in 2016, we made a list of ten original celebrations with an Olympic theme from Brasil, check out this article for inspiration. And check out the way Chipotle made a pre-announcement on their social media channels!   

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Chipotle sustainable video clip

13-7-2012

Mexican restaurant Chipotle collaborated with country music legend Willie Nelson and film-maker Johnny Kelly to create an animated video. In the clip they emphasize the importance of developing a sustainable food system. It’s a clear positioning strategy by the restaurant, that has a very complete website as well.

Trends we spotted | Week 47

26-11-2024

At horecatrends.com we spot many national and international trends on a daily basis. We pick the most interesting ones to write about, the other trends we use in our weekly column ‘Trends we spotted this week’. With this week links to articles about:

• Spotted on Instagram: A Snowglobe Christmas Cocktail! A G&T with edible white glitter and edible crocs and frozen Rudolph cream on hot chocolate!
• Holiday season inspiration from Australia, Outback Steakhouse launched Steakmas, with a ‘Koala on the Walla’.
• Chipotle Mexican Grill recently announced it is bringing back three of its best-selling merchandise in their ‘All I want is Chipotle’
• Restaurant Spetters in Breskens has been named ‘Restaurant of the Year’ by restaurant association JRE-Nederland.
• KULT Kefir is an innovative Belgian brand which sells an organic, healthy drink based on water kefir. You can order it at different restaurants and bars and it’s now also available in supermarkets in the Netherlands.
• Youtuber Kaj Gorgels and culinary influencer Colin Knopper are opening burger restaurant Drippy’s in Rotterdam in cooperation with the CEO of the restaurant chain ‘De Beren’.
• McDonald’s will launch their McValue platform in US Restaurants next year!

Enjoy reading!

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Trends we spotted | Week 34

27-8-2024

At horecatrends.com we spot many national and international trends on a daily basis. We pick the most interesting ones to write about, the other trends we use in our weekly column ‘Trends we spotted this week’. With this week links to articles about:

• French startup Gourmey seeks approval in 5 key markets for lab-grown foie gras.
• Kirishima Shuzo x Starbucks’ first collaboration facility to open spring 2026 in Japan. The facility is 100% generated by sweet potato-generated power!
• World-renowned chef Massimo Bottura debuted Torno Subito in Downtown Miami on August 21st.
• Last week Chipotle was calling all scholars to enter a Chipotle IQ test with more than 1 million in Bogos and free burritos. Great idea: an IQ test based on your brand as marketing tool?
• Hampton by Hilton unveils first‑ever Waffle Bosses for National Waffle Day.
• the CESAR brand teamed up with five of New York City’s most desirable pet-friendly eateries to invite pet parents and their dogs to enjoy a dining experience together during the first-ever CESAR Restaurant Weekend.
• The Vineyard Open Days in the Netherlands take place in September and more than 30 Dutch vineyards are participating.
• A couple of weeks ago we wrote an article about ‘The Cantinas’ by Taco Bell. This event took place August 17-18 2024, we spotted a great reel by Taylor King, a recap of the event!
• And a great suggestion: Eleven Madison Bark! 😉

Enjoy reading!

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New plant-based fastfood restaurant Kernel opened in New York City

12-4-2024

Kernel Foods is a hybrid hospitality and technology company that designed and built a novel operating system for restaurants. The company uses the system at its wholly owned brick-and-mortar restaurants in NYC. By reducing waste and friction, they usher in significant improvements in hospitality, food quality, employee satisfaction, and restaurant economics. Plant-based fastfood restaurant Kernel is an idea of Steve Ells, now CEO. He also built Chipotle Mexican Grill from a single restaurant to a global business.

We wrote about the announcement of this concept in our trends we spotted week 46 2023. One of those concepts highly on our list to visit if we go to NYC!  

3 minutes read

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Trends we spotted | Week 14

8-4-2024

At horecatrends.com we spot many national and international trends on a daily basis. We pick the most interesting ones to write about, the other trends we use in our weekly column ‘Trends we spotted this week’. With this week links to articles about:

• Utrecht Cocktail Week is taking place for the second time with 18 bars in Utrecht participating, from 10 to the 14^th of April!
• Quality Lodgings adds three hotels to portfolio: Boutique Hotel Texel, Hotel Restaurant de Echoput and Hotel Goldene Rose in Germany.
• Eric Vökel Riverfront Suites has opened in Amsterdam. Cozy mezzanine flats with spectacular views of the IJ river and a friendly atmosphere.
• Last weekend, Rynbende Spirits’ ‘Experimental Batch’ Vintage Gin was launched. Only 140 bottles so aficionados should be quick.
• The National Week Without Meat & Dairy in the Netherlands had 2.8 million participants, the largest number ever. And the concept continues to be rolled out across Europe.
• Via Instagram this week: Tiramisu Espresso Martini and the ‘Special Egg Coqtail’ at COQODAQ in New York City. Easter inspiration for 2025!
• The Wave a new oasis for sport and wellbeing opening soon in London. Think surfing, an ‘activity zone’, food and drink outlets, camping/glamping accommodation, yoga and a lakeside park.
• And a cool example of how to use a ‘National Day’ in your marketing strategy. Chipotle’s Burrito Vault.

Enjoy reading!

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