Chipotle has been below scrutiny by prospects who accuse the chain of skimping out on portion sizes.
A brand new pattern even emerged on social media, the place prospects will movie themselves ordering on the fast-casual chain to encourage Chipotle staff to offer them fuller bowls.
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Now, a gaggle of Wells Fargo analysts determined to settle the talk — by ordering 75 of the identical bowls at eight totally different NYC Chipotle places.
Unbelievable work by the Wells Fargo analyst who ordered the identical burrito bowl 75 instances at eight totally different Chipotles in NYC to show the portion dimension inconsistency ? pic.twitter.com/gUHPhgY7Pw
— Tanay Jaipuria (@tanayj) June 27, 2024
Led by analyst Zachary Fadem, the group of finance professionals ordered 75 bowls of white rice, black beans, hen, pico de gallo, cheese, and lettuce.
Shocking nobody, the outcomes confirmed that portion dimension and weight of the bowls different considerably.
The median weight of the bowls was 21.5 ounces. Some places provided the bowl at a hefty 27 ounces whereas one other solely got here in at 14 ounces — all from the identical menu and ready in the identical means.
“Consistency different broadly, w/ some places serving bowls that weigh ~33% greater than different places (on equal orders); and the heaviest digital/in-store bowls weighing 87%/47% extra vs the lightest,” Fadem reported. “Whereas throughput is bettering, order consistency stays a possibility.”
In Could, Chipotle CEO Brian Niccol denied that portion sizes had shrunk throughout an interview with Fortune.
“The parts haven’t shrunk,” Niccol mentioned assuredly. “We at all times wish to give individuals huge parts that get them excited concerning the meals.”
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Chipotle had a powerful Q1 2024, with complete income reaching $2.7 billion, a 14% improve from the identical time final 12 months. The chain additionally opened 47 new eating places within the quarter.
Chipotle didn’t instantly reply to Entrepreneur’s request for remark relating to portion dimension variability.
