It’s been a
busy week for Chipotle.
Following the announcement earlier this week that the company was hiring Fernando Machado as chief brand officer, the brand reported its first 2026 Q1 earnings,
highlighted by a 7.4% increase in total revenue to $3.1 billion. Chipotle noted that Q1 marked a “return to positive transactions” for the brand, as comparable restaurant sales increased
0.5% over the same period last year.
“Our first quarter exceeded expectations as we advanced our Recipe for Growth strategy, delivering tangible progress across operations, digital, menu
innovation, people and development,” said Chipotle CEO Scott Boatwright.
In addition to Machado, who starts his tenure as chief brand officer on June 1, the brand has brought on Arlie
Sisson in the newly created role of chief digital officer, reporting to Chief Strategy and Technology Officer Curt Garner.
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Also this week Chipotle announced it will reward up to 200,000
teachers and healthcare workers with free entrée e-gift cards, as part of its annual Teacher Appreciation Week and National Nurses Week celebrations. Totaling as much as $2 million in free
food, the brand commemorates Teacher Appreciation Week from May 4 through May 8 and National Nurses Week from May 6 through May 12.
Up to 100,000 healthcare workers and 100,000 teachers will
be randomly selected to receive free entrée gift cards, which they can sign up to win, through May 12.
Chipotle is also giving customers the ability to round their purchase up to
the nearest dollar through Chipotle's Round-Up for Real Change feature on the Chipotle app or Chipotle.com, with proceeds benefiting the American Nurses Foundation. Later in the year the chain will
change the round-up program to help the Kids In Need Foundation, which provides school supplies and resources to create equitable learning spaces.
The chain announced the return of its
Chipotle Honey Chicken earlier this week with a humorous social video, seen here, staring “Twilight” heartthrob Taylor Lautner.