Chipotle’s Autocado machine can cut, core and peel avocados in just 26 seconds|@hannahjohnston|Giphy
Chipotle Mexican Grill is stepping into the future of fast food by embracing automation. It is testing two machines, Autocado and the Augmented Makeline, at California locations to assist and speed up avocado prep and burrito bowl assembly.
The popular restaurant chain’s move reflects the broader fast-food industry’s push for efficiency at work through robots. McDonald’s recently introduced self-serve kiosks for cash-paying customers, and Sweetgreen is experimenting with automated salad-makers.
Chipotle’s goal is to serve more customers, increase accuracy and allow employees to focus on customer service while maintaining top-notch food quality without hiring additional staff.
Meet Autocado: The Guac-making robot
At the forefront of Chipotle’s shift is the Autocado, a new machine that can cut, core and peel avocados in just 26 seconds.
It reportedly speeds up guacamole prep by 50%, leaving workers more time for hand-mashing and other kitchen tasks.
Another tech marvel, the Augmented Makeline, dispenses precise ingredient portions for burrito bowls and salads, which make up 65% of Chipotle’s digital orders.
The new automated technologies aim to help Chipotle, which expects to use 5.2 million avocado cases this year. It plans to expand the technology based on feedback from workers and customers. The company partnered with tech firms Vebu and Hyphen to develop the robots.