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On with Kara Swisher

Can Chipotle Founder Steve Ells Strike "Fast-Casual" Gold Again?

On with Kara Swisher

New York Magazine

News Commentary, News, Society & Culture

4.22.2K Ratings

🗓️ 6 May 2024

⏱️ 52 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Thirty-one years after founding Chipotle, Steve Ells is back with what he hopes will be another fast-casual dining revolution: the highly-automated, plant-based food chain, Kernel. Ells says that streamlining and automation will allow him to pay workers well above minimum wage and give them more benefits – all while reducing labor costs. But don’t call it a robot restaurant! Kara and Ells discuss the mechanics and philosophy underpinning Kernel’s concept and the downstream effects of integrating tech into our food. Questions? Comments? Email us at [email protected] or find Kara on Threads/Instagram @karaswisher Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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splunk.com slash resilience. It's on. on. Hi, I'm. Hi everyone from New York magazine in the Vox Media Podcast Network this is on with

1:25.8

Kara Swisher and I'm Kara Swisher. Today I'm talking to Steve Elles. The

1:30.6

Chipotle founder isn't a household name, but he probably should be.

1:34.4

A classically trained chef, Elles opened the first Chipotle in Denver in 1993

1:39.6

and helped popularize the fast casual diningousal dining craze.

1:43.0

Go to almost any American city at lunchtime

1:45.0

and you'll find office workers picking their preferred proteins and toppings

...

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