Chipotle Founder Is Opening Robot Restaurants With Meat-Free Food

Steve Ells, Chipotle’s founder and ex-CEO, is set to launch a new venture named Kernel in early 2024. Ells plans to open the first new meat-free robot restaurant location in Manhattan, followed by around a dozen more across New York in the subsequent two years.

This venture has been in the works since at least this past summer, and “Kernel asserts that its automated kitchens will limit the size of its stores to roughly 800 square feet each, or roughly a third the size of locations operated by Sweetgreen and Shake Shack.”

Kernel restaurants will operate with a team of only three staff members and an undisclosed amount of robots, focusing on a plant-based menu including meat-free burgers, faux chicken sandwiches, salads, and acai bowls, among others.

Kernel aims to make each eatery as efficient as possible and reduce waste by ultimately using fewer resources overall.

Robot Restaurant Details and Business Model

Kernel’s business model can be compared to competitors like Dig and Little Beet. Arlene Spiegel, an expert who advises restaurant, retail, and food businesses based in New York, explained that Kernel will do a lot of its food preparation elsewhere. After that, the food will be sent to the Kernel stores “for final assembly and sale to customers.” Spiegel compared Kernel’s plan to use a lot of automated machines in its operation to “a makeshift factory, almost like the Willy Wonka of takeout foods.”

In more detail, Spiegel stated that all the food given out at the store will have controlled portions, and the process will be fully automated. This means machines will be doing a lot of the work. The system is also set up to work well with all ordering platforms, making it quick and easy for customers to pick up their orders or have them delivered.

To differentiate itself and provide an experiential experience, Kernel’s stores will have an additional special feature. Customers will have the opportunity to see how the automated kitchen prepares their food. Sarah Rosenberg, a spokesperson for Kernel, confirmed that this is part of the plan. So, when customers come to a Kernel store, they won’t just be buying food — they’ll also get to see how these machines are creating their meals.

Ells has personally invested $10 million to kick-start the venture and raised an additional $36 million from willing investors. Stephen Goldstein, an experienced food delivery industry executive, will serve as the company’s first president, according to Fox Business.