Does McDonald's own Chipotle? (2024)

McDonald’s does not own Chipotle. McDonald's Corporation became a major investor in 1998, but McDonald's fully divested itself from Chipotle in 2006.

Chipotle is a chain of fast casual restaurants in the United States that make Mission burritos, tacos, and bowls in front of the customer. Chipotle operates restaurants in several countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, and France. Its name is derived from chipotle, the Nahuatl word for a smoked and dried jalapeño chili pepper.

Chipotle was among the first chain restaurants of the fast casual dining genre. Steve Ells started Chipotle in 1993. In 1998, McDonald's Corporation became a major investor and had 16 restaurants. When McDonald's finally fully divested itself from Chipotle in 2006, the chain had already grown to over 500 locations. Chipotle had a net income of $475.6 million and a staff of more than 45,000 employees in 2015, when it had more than 2,000 locations.

Chipotle announced in May 2018 that they would be relocating their corporate headquarters to Newport Beach, California, ending their relationship with Denver after 25 years.

How many Chipotle restaurants are there in the US?

As of November 28, 2022, there were 3,073 Chipotle stores in the US. California has the highest number of Chipotle locations in the United States, with 451 stores. This is about 15% of all Chipotle stores in the United States.

How many international Chipotle restaurants are there?

Currently, Chipotle has 44 international Chipotle stores, and four non-Chipotle stores. Chipotle's store count continued to increase throughout each passing quarter.

In 2018, there were 33 locations outside the United States with 19 locations in Canada such as Ottawa, Toronto, Markham, Vaughan, Mississauga, Oakville, and Vancouver; 6 locations in the United Kingdom in London, 6 in France with 1 in Lyon, and the rest in Paris, and 2 in Germany - Frankfurt.

According to an article in The Motley Fool, that number had grown to 17 locations outside the United States as of October 2014, with the majority in Canada and the UK. Additional locations were also in the process of being opened at that time. The pace of overseas expansion was below expectations. Many press reviewers felt that the food was too expensive for their area.

Who founded Chipotle?

Steve Ells is widely considered to be the founder of Chipotle. He went to the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York. Afterward, he became a line cook for Jeremiah Tower at Stars in San Francisco. In the Mission District, Ells observed the popularity of taquerías and San Francisco burritos. In 1993, Ells took what he learned in San Francisco and opened the first Chipotle Mexican Grill in Denver, Colorado, in a former Dolly Madison Ice Cream store at 1644 East Evans Avenue, near the University of Denver campus. He used this store to make the Chipotle Mexican Grill.

Ells and his father estimated that the store would need to sell 107 burritos per day to be profitable. After one month, the original restaurant was selling over 1,000 burritos a day. The second store was opened in 1995 using Chipotle's existing cash flow, and the third was opened with the help of an SBA loan. To fund additional growth, Ells' father invested $1.5 million. After this, Ells made a board of directors and a business plan, raising an additional $1.8 million for the company. When the first Chipotle restaurants saw success, Ells decided to focus on Chipotle Mexican Grill instead of using the funds to open a fine-dining restaurant.

FAQs

Q. When was Chipotle founded?

A. Chipotle was founded on July 13, 1993.

Q. Who founded Chipotle?

A. Chipotle was founded by Steve Elis.

Q. Does McDonald's own Chipotle?

A. No. McDonald's Corporation became a major investor in 1998, but McDonald's fully divested itself from Chipotle in 2006.

Q. Where is the Chipotle headquarters?

A. Chipotle’s headquarters is in Newport Beach, California.