Chipotle Pilots New Line of Robots in California After $20 per Hour Wage

Chipotle Mexican Grill announced it is piloting an automatic avocado peeler and pit remover at one California location, and an automatic bowl and salad machine at another as higher minimum wages increase relative yields from automation.

Earlier this year, Chipotle raised its prices up to 7% in California to account for the state’s new $20 per hour minimum wage for fast food employers.

“These robotic devices could help us build a stronger operational engine that delivers a great experience for our team members and our guests while maintaining Chipotle’s high culinary standards,” said Curt Garner, Chief Customer and Technology Officer at Chipotle in a statement. “Optimizing our use of these systems and incorporating crew and customer feedback are the next steps in the stage-gate process before determining their broader pilot plans.”

Chipotle says it invested $100 million across the two companies making specialized robots for its stores; given Chipotle says it takes staff 26 seconds to pit and peel each of the 129.5 million avocados it uses each year, an estimated two avocados per pound would mean the Autocado machine could save almost 1.9 million staff-hours per year, or just over 238,000 days of workers’ labor — that’s over $37 million per year at $20 per hour.

While estimates for savings from the Makeline automatic bowl and salad maker were not shared, it’s likely savings are in the same ballpark. Robots do not go on strike, break, or vacation, and do not need to be hired, fired, or trained. […]

— Read More: justthenews.com