How I Built This with Guy Raz
When a robot cooks your lunch with Steve Ells of Chipotle and Kernel
Nov 9, 2023
Steve Ells, the visionary founder of Chipotle and Kernel, discusses his journey from revolutionizing fast casual dining to launching a highly automated vegan restaurant concept. He shares insights on how climate change informs his new venture and his belief that robots can enhance the dining experience for everyone. Ells explores the balance between technology and human touch in restaurants, the rise of plant-based options, and the importance of innovation and leadership in reshaping the food industry.
42:16
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Quick takeaways
- Steve Ells, the founder of Chipotle, is now focusing on a new vegan restaurant concept called Colonel that aims to address environmental issues, animal welfare concerns, and health benefits associated with plant-based diets.
- Colonel's innovative hub and spoke model centralizes food preparation at a nearby facility, reducing the number of employees needed per location while offering better training, higher wages, and improved benefits for its staff.
Deep dives
The Colonel: A New Concept in Travel and Dining Experience
Lufthansa Allegrass introduces a revamped travel experience on long-haul flights, offering passengers more choice and freedom. With rethought travel classes, such as business class seats catering to different needs and privacy preferences, Lufthansa Allegrass aims to provide a new era of personalized travel. Additionally, their innovative venture, Colonel, plans to open vegan small-scale automated restaurants in New York City. Using a hub and spoke model, Colonel centralizes food preparation at a nearby facility and delivers it to restaurants regularly. With only three employees per location, Colonel envisions offering better working conditions, higher wages, and improved long-term career prospects for its staff.
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