Skip to content
MarketScale
Demo
‹ Back to Industries

Food & Beverage

Chipotle Seeks to Hire 15,000 Workers Amid Tech Layoffs

(Bloomberg) — Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. is adding 15,000 jobs across its North American locations — a sign that demand for restaurant food is robust despite high inflation and economic uncertainty. The burrito chain’s hiring push is meant to ensure its more than 3,000 US restaurants are fully staffed for the company’s busiest season, which…

This story was produced through MarketScale. See how Food & Beverage teams put it to work with Customer Stories & Case Studies.

Share
Chipotle Seeks to Hire 15,000 Workers Amid Tech Layoffs

(Bloomberg) — Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. is adding 15,000 jobs across its North American locations — a sign that demand for restaurant food is robust despite high inflation and economic uncertainty.

The burrito chain’s hiring push is meant to ensure its more than 3,000 US restaurants are fully staffed for the company’s busiest season, which stretches from March to May, Chipotle said Thursday. The company has more than 100,000 US restaurant workers.

It’s getting easier to keep hourly staff, with December being one of the company’s best months in years for retention rates, said Scott Boatwright, the chain’s chief restaurant officer. He added that it’s easier to hire entry-level workers now that retail demand is softening and tech companies such as Amazon.com Inc. are laying off workers.

“That workforce is now migrating back into leisure and hospitality,” Boatwright said in an interview. “We’re seeing an increase in applicant flow across the country.”

The company has performed well during the pandemic, with revenue gaining 26% in 2021 and about 15% in the first three quarters of 2022. (It reports fourth-quarter results next month.) A larger workforce may help expansion efforts; Chipotle says it can more than double its footprint in the long term to 7,000 locations in North America.

Chipotle shares rose 1.3% at 10:27 a.m. in New York. The stock has gained 14% so far this year, compared with a 5.3% increase for the S&P 500 Index.

Chipotle and its peers have raised wages in recent years to attract workers amid a labor crunch, and the chain has said its average wage was more than $16 an hour. The latest US jobs report showed that employers’ competition for workers remains high. Employment gains were led by the leisure and hospitality industries, which includes restaurants.

Efforts to expand workforces in the restaurant and retail sectors contrast with the tech industry, where companies are cutting thousands of positions, citing economic uncertainty and a possible US recession. Chipotle can weather a downturn, Boatwright said.

(Updates with executives comments starting in third paragraph and adds shares)

Article by Leslie Patton.

© 2023 Bloomberg L.P.

New to MarketScale?

MarketScale is the platform Food & Beverage companies use to turn their own experts into content like this. Want the short overview?

Free workspace

You just read one expert. Imagine publishing your whole team.

This article was produced through MarketScale. Create a free workspace and turn your own team's expertise into articles, video, and social posts. No credit card, no demo required.

NPS +73 · 1,000+ creators · 38+ countries

What you get, free

Your own MarketScale Studio workspace
One video edit a month, on us
AI writing, editing, and publishing tools
In-platform coaching to learn the system

More Food & Beverage Insights

FDA slows synthetic-dye phase-out as 160 food and ag groups press for USMCA renewal

FDA slows synthetic-dye phase-out as 160 food and ag groups press for USMCA renewal

The FDA has revised its timeline for phasing out petroleum-based synthetic food dyes, slowing a process it announced in April 2025 with a target end date of 2027. Separately, nearly 160 food and agriculture organizations have signed a coordinated letter urging USMCA renewal before the agreement's July 1 review deadline. Additional regulatory fronts — including a California ultra-processed food labeling bill, a bipartisan FDA import-destruction measure, and a USDA domestic fertilizer push — are compounding compliance demands across the food and agriculture sector.

  • 01FDA has revised its synthetic dye phase-out schedule, slowing a voluntary removal program originally targeting six petroleum-based color additives by end of 2027.
  • 02Nearly 160 food and agriculture groups have urged USMCA renewal before the July 1 joint review deadline, warning that inaction could disrupt cross-border supply chains.
  • 03California's AB 2244 and a bipartisan federal bill targeting unsafe food imports are adding new compliance layers for food manufacturers and retailers.

Jun 17, 2026

FDA slows synthetic-dye phase-out as 160 food and ag groups push to renew USMCA

FDA slows synthetic-dye phase-out as 160 food and ag groups push to renew USMCA

The FDA's April 2025 voluntary initiative to phase out petroleum-based synthetic dyes from the U.S. food supply has generated a wave of corporate commitments, with major brands targeting 2026–2027 deadlines. However, Consumer Reports found that many large food companies have yet to pledge any changes, even where natural alternatives are already used abroad. Meanwhile, broader regulatory shifts — including a USDA reorganization affecting food assistance programs and new legislative proposals on food labeling and import safety — are reshaping the operating environment for food and beverage manufacturers.

  • 01The FDA is working with industry to eliminate six certified petroleum-based color additives from the U.S. food supply by the end of 2027, after revoking authorization for Red No. 3 earlier in 2025.
  • 02A March 2026 Consumer Reports survey found 72 percent of U.S. adults are at least somewhat concerned about synthetic dyes, and 66 percent say companies should be required to phase them out — yet many major brands have made no commitments.
  • 03Separate regulatory pressures are mounting: California advanced a non-ultra-processed food labeling bill, Congress moved bipartisan legislation to let the FDA destroy unsafe food imports, and the USDA reorganized its food nutrition administration amid leadership changes.

Jun 17, 2026

The Produce Distribution Industry Needs Flexibility, Empathy, and a New Generation of Talent

The Produce Distribution Industry Needs Flexibility, Empathy, and a New Generation of Talent

Produce distributors are facing tightening margins and supply chain pressures that demand more flexible operations and empathetic leadership. AJ Krow argues that attracting and retaining a new generation of talent is critical to the industry's long-term survival. Modernizing workplace culture and rethinking traditional distribution practices are central to meeting these challenges.

  • 01Produce distributors must adapt operations to withstand tightening margins and supply chain volatility.
  • 02Empathetic leadership and flexible workplace culture are essential to attracting younger talent to the industry.
  • 03A generational shift in the workforce requires the produce distribution sector to rethink recruiting and retention strategies.

May 1, 2025

Explore More Food & Beverage Insights

Read more expert perspectives from across Food & Beverage.

Browse Food & Beverage Hub

For Food & Beverage teams

See how Food & Beverage teams use MarketScale →

Customer Stories & Case Studies

Explore Channels

Industry news, analysis, and expert perspectives

Professional AV›Engineering & Construction›Education Technology›Healthcare›Energy›Software & Technology›Retail›Business Services›Industrial IoT›Sports & Entertainment›Transportation›Sciences›Building Management›Food & Beverage›Architecture & Design›Hospitality›
Keep exploring

More from Food & Beverage

Food & Beverage hubMore expert Food & Beverage coverage.Explore →Customer Stories & Case StudiesTurn supply-chain wins into proof.Explore →AMAG Studio DayOne production, 20–30 clips.Explore →State of B2B MarketingWhat is working in B2B marketing now.Explore →