Chipotle puts robots on trial in the kitchen to address labor shortage

Chipotle Mexican Grill is now testing robots to man the tortilla chips-making in its restaurants' kitchen. The company thought of this as one way to combat the labor shortage that it is facing today.

Chipotle has teamed up with Miso Robotics to create the type of machine it needs in the kitchen. With its partnership with the casual dining chain, the robotics automation firm's chief executive officer, Michael Bell, said that "automation is the solution to the labor shortage in the United States today." The chief also confirmed that robots would soon be making the tortilla chips at Chipotle outlets in the country.

"The restaurant industry had a labor gap before the pandemic and the pandemic just accelerated this big gap between the number of jobs and the available labor," Fox Business quoted Bell as saying in a statement. "It is not as easy as it may look but the very specific way they (tortilla chip-making robots) are made is - technology now can follow and do exactly the same way that a human does."

The Miso Robotics chief went on to say that he knows Chipotle has very high culinary standards, so its method on how it makes its chips is superb. For this, Bell said that they are happy to accept the challenge of creating the tortilla-making robot that goes well with Chipotle's high standards, and they are proud of the results.

It was last month when Chipotle first announced about its testing for a robot that makes its tortillas. The trial was carried out at the restaurant's innovation hub in Irvine, California, and before this year ends, Chipotle is looking to formally debut the robot called "Chippy" in its stores in some U.S. states.

"When Chipotle challenged us to see if our technology could meet the brand's high standards for culinary quality, we couldn't wait to flex our engineering and design muscles," Miso Robotics chief said in a previous press release. "This partnership will allow us to move into new territory to help improve back-of-house functions and assist team members with their day-to-day responsibilities."