Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (CMG - Free Report) has partnered with Hyphen, a foodservice platform, to test an automated digital makeline. The new system, created by Hyphen, utilizes intelligent automation to assemble bowls and salads. This innovative, collaborative robot (cobotic) technology is being tested at the Chipotle Cultivate Center in Irvine, California.
About 65% of CMG's digital orders are bowls or salads, making the cobotic digital makeline crucial. It allows employees to focus on the front makeline, providing exceptional service and increasing digital order capacity during peak periods. This innovation also improves order accuracy, enhancing the guest experience.
The automated system assembles bowls and salads by moving the entrées through the bottom makeline, where ingredients are dispensed automatically for the order. Simultaneously, a Chipotle team member can use the top makeline to prepare burritos, tacos, quesadillas, and kid's meals for the same digital order.
The strategic move highlights the company’s commitment to leveraging robotics. This approach aims to unleash the potential of its workforce, ensuring exceptional dining experiences. The goal is to make the automated digital makeline a central feature in all CMG restaurants' digital kitchens.
Focus on Digitalization
Chipotle is focusing on expanding its digital program to drive growth. The initiative involves robotics collaboration, allowing the company to focus on other restaurant culinary tasks without sacrificing the item's quality and deliciousness. Digital sales contributed 38% to sales during second-quarter 2023.
CMG invested in Hyphen through its $50 million venture fund, Cultivate Next. This fund supports aligned companies, aiding CMG's mission to Cultivate a Better World and fueling its growth plans. CMG seeks innovations in farming, supply chain, robotics, and alternative proteins. It has also invested in Vebu, a product development company, leading to the Autocado, a cobotic prototype for avocado processing, enhancing menu items like guacamole.
Shares of Chipotle have gained 32.9% this year compared with the industry’s 3.6% fall. The company benefits from its strong comparable restaurant sales growth, digital efforts, Chipotlane add-ons and menu innovation. This and strength in digital sales, rise in menu prices, new restaurant openings and higher restaurant-level operating margin have driven the company’s performance.
Zacks Rank & Other Key Picks
Chipotle currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
Some other top-ranked stocks from the Zacks Retail-Wholesale sector are:
Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (ANF - Free Report) flaunts a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). It has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 724.8%, on average. Shares of ANF have surged 242.7% in the past year. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ANF’s 2024 sales and earnings per share (EPS) implies increases of 10% and 1,644%, respectively, from the year-ago period’s levels.
Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc. (ARCO - Free Report) currently carries a Zacks Rank #1. It has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 35%, on average. The stock has gained 13.4% in the past year.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Arcos Dorados’ 2023 sales and EPS suggests a rise of 19.2% and 13%, respectively, from the year-ago period’s levels.
Yum! Brands, Inc. (YUM - Free Report) sports a Zacks Rank #2. It has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 2%, on average. Shares of YUM have gained 9% in the past year.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for YUM’s 2023 sales and EPS indicates a 5.9% and a 15.1% growth, respectively, from the year-ago period’s levels.
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Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (CMG - Free Report) has partnered with Hyphen, a foodservice platform, to test an automated digital makeline. The new system, created by Hyphen, utilizes intelligent automation to assemble bowls and salads. This innovative, collaborative robot (cobotic) technology is being tested at the Chipotle Cultivate Center in Irvine, California.
About 65% of CMG's digital orders are bowls or salads, making the cobotic digital makeline crucial. It allows employees to focus on the front makeline, providing exceptional service and increasing digital order capacity during peak periods. This innovation also improves order accuracy, enhancing the guest experience.
The automated system assembles bowls and salads by moving the entrées through the bottom makeline, where ingredients are dispensed automatically for the order. Simultaneously, a Chipotle team member can use the top makeline to prepare burritos, tacos, quesadillas, and kid's meals for the same digital order.
The strategic move highlights the company’s commitment to leveraging robotics. This approach aims to unleash the potential of its workforce, ensuring exceptional dining experiences. The goal is to make the automated digital makeline a central feature in all CMG restaurants' digital kitchens.
Focus on Digitalization
Chipotle is focusing on expanding its digital program to drive growth. The initiative involves robotics collaboration, allowing the company to focus on other restaurant culinary tasks without sacrificing the item's quality and deliciousness. Digital sales contributed 38% to sales during second-quarter 2023.
CMG invested in Hyphen through its $50 million venture fund, Cultivate Next. This fund supports aligned companies, aiding CMG's mission to Cultivate a Better World and fueling its growth plans. CMG seeks innovations in farming, supply chain, robotics, and alternative proteins. It has also invested in Vebu, a product development company, leading to the Autocado, a cobotic prototype for avocado processing, enhancing menu items like guacamole.
Shares of Chipotle have gained 32.9% this year compared with the industry’s 3.6% fall. The company benefits from its strong comparable restaurant sales growth, digital efforts, Chipotlane add-ons and menu innovation. This and strength in digital sales, rise in menu prices, new restaurant openings and higher restaurant-level operating margin have driven the company’s performance.
Zacks Rank & Other Key Picks
Chipotle currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
Some other top-ranked stocks from the Zacks Retail-Wholesale sector are:
Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (ANF - Free Report) flaunts a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). It has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 724.8%, on average. Shares of ANF have surged 242.7% in the past year. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ANF’s 2024 sales and earnings per share (EPS) implies increases of 10% and 1,644%, respectively, from the year-ago period’s levels.
Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc. (ARCO - Free Report) currently carries a Zacks Rank #1. It has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 35%, on average. The stock has gained 13.4% in the past year.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Arcos Dorados’ 2023 sales and EPS suggests a rise of 19.2% and 13%, respectively, from the year-ago period’s levels.
Yum! Brands, Inc. (YUM - Free Report) sports a Zacks Rank #2. It has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 2%, on average. Shares of YUM have gained 9% in the past year.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for YUM’s 2023 sales and EPS indicates a 5.9% and a 15.1% growth, respectively, from the year-ago period’s levels.
4 Oil Stocks with Massive Upsides
Global demand for oil is through the roof... and oil producers are struggling to keep up. So even though oil prices are well off their recent highs, you can expect big profits from the companies that supply the world with "black gold."
Zacks Investment Research has just released an urgent special report to help you bank on this trend.
In Oil Market on Fire, you'll discover 4 unexpected oil and gas stocks positioned for big gains in the coming weeks and months. You don't want to miss these recommendations.
Download your free report now to see them.
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