Exploring the launch of the vegan robot restaurant Colonel by Chipotle's founder, which reimagines labor, technology, and sustainability in the food industry. The chapter delves into the unique hub and spoke model of operations, detailing the seamless automation and human involvement balance in food preparation. It also discusses the potential of licensing the automated system, emphasizing the significance of tech investments and the shift towards plant-based diets for sustainability.
Thirty-one years after founding Chipotle, Steve Ells is back with what he hopes will be another fast-casual dining revolution: the highly-automated, plant-based food chain, Kernel. Ells says that streamlining and automation will allow him to pay workers well above minimum wage and give them more benefits – all while reducing labor costs. But don’t call it a robot restaurant! Kara and Ells discuss the mechanics and philosophy underpinning Kernel’s concept and the downstream effects of integrating tech into our food.
Questions? Comments? Email us at on@voxmedia.com or find Kara on Threads/Instagram @karaswisher
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices