Chipotle is testing a new machine called the Autocado, developed in partnership with Vebu, to aid in the creation of their famous guacamole. The Autocado efficiently cuts, cores, and peels avocados, simplifying the process for Chipotle employees.
Curt Garner, Chief Customer and Technology Officer at Chipotle expressed their commitment to exploring collaborative robotics to enhance efficiency and reduce employee workload. While the Autocado handles the labor-intensive avocado preparation, the actual mashing and hand-preparation of the guacamole will continue to be done by Chipotle staff, ensuring the same culinary experience.
With approximately 2,000 locations, Chipotle is projected to use an impressive 4.5 million cases of avocados this year. The introduction of the Autocado is aimed at maximizing the yield of avocados and lowering food production costs.
This isn’t Chipotle’s first venture into robotics. Last year, they introduced Chippy, an AI-powered robot responsible for making their tortilla chips. Chippy expertly cooks corn masa flour, water, and sunflower oil, seasoning the chips with salt and fresh lime juice. Chipotle’s commitment to maintaining its traditional technique ensures customers consistently enjoy flavorful chips.
The Autocado and Chippy exemplify Chipotle’s dedication to innovation in the restaurant industry, streamlining processes while maintaining the quality and taste their customers expect. Hopefully, this won’t have the same tragic ending as the Pizza making robot startup that we’ve talked about before.
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