Will latest news make Chipotle shareholders feel all better or sick?

If Chipotle didn't have bad luck, it might not have any luck at all. The chain is once again dealing with a health issue related to its restaurants with a report that a location was closed after it was learned employees may have contracted norovirus. The restaurant, which is located in Billerica, MA, was closed for one day as cleaning crews came in. Even though Chipotle handled the situation promptly, the appearance of a problem was enough for the company's stock to take a hit. Shares closed down 3.4 percent as details became public. "We do not know know if the employees are ill with norovirus and no customers' illnesses are connected to this restaurant," Chris Arnold, a Chipotle spokesperson, told CNN on Tuesday. "Any employees who reported feeling ill will be tested and held out of the restaurant until they fully recover." Chipotle saw its same-store sales fall 14.6 percent in the fourth quarter, the first decline since it went public, after multiple outbreaks of E.coli and norovirus sickened customers and force restaurant closures on both coasts. In the end, Chipotle was praised for its response to the most current situation. The closure of the restaurant was seen as evidence that it has learned lessons from its past. Doug Powell, publisher of barfblog.com, a food safety website, told Reuters that making the decision to close the restaurant indicated that new protocols put in place by Chipolte are working. The downside, he admitted, is some may just see it as "Ooh, they're barfing at Chipotle again."

• Chipotle restaurant in Massachusetts closed after norovirus concerns - CNN Wire/WGNtv.com
• Cleanup of Massachusetts Chipotle complete after norovirus scare - Reuters
• Will Chipotle recover from outbreaks and a criminal probe? - RetailWire

Source: chipotle.com