Chipotle Abandons Farmesa Fresh Eatery Spinoff After Kitchen United Closures

Chipotle Mexican Grill has decided to put an end to its Farmesa Fresh Eatery spinoff in light of recent events.

Closure of Santa Monica Location

After its partner, Kitchen United, closed its ghost kitchens, Chipotle made the difficult decision to abandon its Farmesa Fresh Eatery spinoff. This move comes a little over a year after the opening of its first Farmesa location at Kitchen United's Santa Monica branch.

The Farm-to-Table Approach

Farmesa's menu was centered around customizable bowls, aligning with its farm-to-table approach. The brand name itself is a blend of "farm" and "mesa" the Spanish word for table.

Future of Farmesa

Curt Garner, Chipotle's chief customer and technology officer, revealed that there are no plans to establish standalone Farmesa outlets. However, the brand will live on in Chipotle's innovation lab for the development of new menu items.

Chipotle's Primary Focus

Chipotle's CEO, Brian Niccol, emphasized the company's primary focus on its core brand, both domestically and internationally. He stated that the company is dedicated to its burgeoning international business.

Future Endeavors

Niccol hinted at the possibility of exploring opportunities outside of the Chipotle brand in the future, although it is not the current focus. He emphasized the company's concentration on enhancing restaurant efficiency and speed to drive sales.

Kitchen United's Transition

In November, Kitchen United announced its plans to close or sell all of its locations as it shifted its focus to software. This move came as the popularity of ghost kitchens surged during the pandemic but faced challenges as in-person dining resumed and capital became scarcer.