Hardware Podcasts

Chipotle: Steve Ells (2017)

How I Built This · 4 Jan 2021 · 46m

What this episode covers

Chipotle founder Steve Ells explains how he used burrito sales to fund a high-end restaurant, pivoting when the Denver location became unexpectedly profitable. He details the company's early design philosophy, sourcing of ingredients like Nyman Ranch pork, and the transformative investment from McDonald's that enabled rapid scaling. Ells also discusses the 2015 E. coli crisis, the implementation of rigorous food safety protocols like blanching avocados, and his journey from chef to CEO.

Most relevant to

founders before launch, companies scaling up and large enterprises

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Chipotle, McDonald's, Nyman Ranch, Stars restaurant, U.S. Bank, Rocky Mountain News, Taco Bell
Also
Jeremiah Tower, Culinary Institute of America, Bill St. John, Al Baldocki, The Art of Eating

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