Chipotle Kitchen is opening the primary Farmesa Fresh Eatery at United’s upcoming Santa Monica location.
Source: Chipotle Mexican Grill
Chipotle Mexican Grill Partner Kitchen United has abandoned the Farmisa Fresh Eatery spin-off after closing its Ghost Kitchen.
A yr ago, Chipotle announced the opening of its first Farmisa location at Kitchen United’s Santa Monica location. The spin-off’s menu focuses on custom bowls. Its brand name is a portmanteau of “farm” and “mesa,” the Spanish word for table, in an try and communicate its farm-to-table approach.
But the Santa Monica Ghost Kitchen closed in February because its parent company struggled financially.
Chipotle’s Chief Customer and Technology Officer Kurt Garner told CNBC on Wednesday that the corporate has no plans to open a freestanding version of Pharmaceu. However, the brand stays in the corporate’s innovation lab for brand spanking new menu items, he said.
CEO Brian Nicol said on the corporate’s earnings call Wednesday that Chipotle’s primary focus is now by itself brand, through its growing international business within the U.S. and beyond.
“Obviously, if the opportunity presents itself where it makes sense for us to do something outside of the brand, so I’d like to say never, but right now that’s not a focus for us,” he told analysts. “
Instead, the corporate is specializing in improving the efficiency and speed of its restaurants to extend sales. Chipotle’s first-quarter revenue and earnings topped Wall Street estimates on Wednesday.
In November, Kitchen United announced plans to shut or sell all of its locations because it moves into the software. Ghost kitchens, also often known as cloud or dark kitchens, allow restaurants to arrange food for delivery only.
The format grew in popularity throughout the pandemic as foodies looked for tactics to make food delivery more profitable. But once customers began returning to in-person dining and capital became costlier, many ghost kitchen startups like Kitchen United found themselves in trouble.
In March, SBE founder Sam Nazarian bought the remaining Kitchen United locations and mental property for an undisclosed sum to form a brand new company, Everyone’s Eats.
Credit : www.cnbc.com