Chipotle Mexican Grill

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Automation and robotics are finally creating solutions for the complexities of doorstep deliveries.

Last-mile Delivery Automation

Nuro, co-founded by two ex-Google self-driving engineers, develops autonomous driving software dubbed “Nuro Driver” for automakers and mobility providers, including ride-hailing and delivery companies. Nuro claims its autonomous driving system prioritizes safety through an AI architecture that generates actions with a backup traditional robotics system for real-time validation, ensuring compliance with road rules and vehicle limits.Nuro's business model involves two parallel approaches: 1) offering a full Level 4 autonomous driving product for goods delivery and passenger mobility services (i.e., fully autonomous vehicles limited to specific locations and/or conditions), and 2) working with OEMs to build automated driving products for consumer vehicles, ranging from Level 2 to Level 4 driving systems (i.e., Level 2 vehicles can control speed and steering, but a safety driver must maintain full vigilance).The company was founded as a developer of autonomous last-mile delivery vehicles but pivoted to licensing autonomous driving technology&nbsp;<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/33481">in September 2024.</a> It began demonstrating the technology in California and Texas&nbsp;<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/36207">in November 2024.</a>Key customers and partnershipsNuro’s product partners include 1) NVIDIA to obtain NVIDIA DRIVE Thor automotive-grade compute and networking hardware to power Nuro Driver <a href="https://linnk.ai/insight/technology/nuro-partners-with-nvidia-drive-thor-for-autonomous-driving-system-ODiAXNc1/">(March 2024)</a> and 2) chip designer Arm Holding for evidenced-based technological enhancements (<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/26886">February 2024).</a>

A new wave of meat, fish, and poultry alternatives are driving this hyper-growth industry into the mainstream

Plant-based Meat

Meati Foods (formerly Emergy Food) is a Boulder-based startup that develops plant-based meat alternatives using a unique strain of mycelium (MushroomRoot), which claims to accurately imitate meat texture and sustainable production methods. In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/22464">October 2023 </a>, the company received a patent for a composition of matter containing Neurospora crassa (mycelium), granting the company exclusivity over Neurospora crassa-based product innovations till 2039. Meati’s portfolio includes classic cutlets, crispy cutlets, <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/10572">classic steaks </a>, and <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/14211">Carne Asada steaks </a>, available at retail outlets, foodservice venues, and through the company website.In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/15986">January 2023 </a>, the company unveiled its 100,000 sq ft “Mega Ranch'' which handles end-to-end functions for its Eat Meati range of products. According to the company, this facility can produce at a rate of tens of millions of pounds per year by late 2023, putting it on par and even above some of the US’s largest animal-based ranches in terms of scale.Key customers and partnershipsIn <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/20067">July 2023 </a>, the company partnered with Dot Foods, the US’s largest food distributor to increase its retail distribution by tapping into Dot Foods' network of 5,200 distributors. Following this, Meati <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/20103">partnered </a>with PIPA, an AI company, to better understand and improve the health benefits of its plant-based meats. The collaboration aimed to utilize AI to accelerate research and gain insights into the health benefits of Meati's products made from mycelium. During the same month, Meati <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/20489">partnered </a>with Whole Foods Market for the national distribution of its plant-based cutlets and steaks, which were made available at 500 Whole Foods outlets across 46 states.

Helping restaurants become more safe, more profitable, and more interesting.

Restaurant Industry Robotics

Hyphen, (formerly known as Ono Food Company) has developed an automated food assembly robot, that can also be fitted into a van for mobility. The company came out of stealth in August 2021 and launched its “Makeline” food assembly robot. Hyphen mainly targets fast casual restaurants that make meals for pick-up and delivery. The company claims that the robot can produce over 350 meals per hour (with zero defects) and can be integrated with the existing makeline of a restaurant, without specific plumbing or drainage needs. It offers the robot under several modules including, "Mixing Module" (dispenses ingrediants for salads and bowls), "Beverage Module"&nbsp; (dispenses beverages), "Lid and Label Module" (secures lids and labels with customer's information), "Portion Cup Fill Module" (fills dressings and sauces into portion cups), "Tray Denesting Module" (dispenses bowls or plates) etc.Moreover, it also offers a “KitchenOS”, which assists with other restaurant functions such as creating recipes, fulfilling multiple orders, and informing the cooks on what food to prepare, among others.Hyphen is offered at an initial cost of USD 10,000 (as of August 2021 and also charges users on a pay-per-use basis. The company had signed deals with eight partners as of August 2021, seven fast casual restaurants, and one co-packer for a grocer. Reportedly, the company secured “hundreds of pre-orders” in 2021. It plans to fulfill the orders over the 2022–2023 and open the system for new reservations late 2022 for 2024 deployments.Key customers and partnershipsIn<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/22369">&nbsp;September 2023</a>, Hyphen partnered with Chipotle Mexican Grill to launch its robotic burrito bowl-making assembly line, Makeline, at Chipotle locations. Hyphen also partnered with Chipotle in&nbsp;<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/34497">September 2024</a>, to develop "Augmented Makeline," an automated system for assembling bowls and salads.&nbsp;

Autonomous and connected technologies shaping the future of the auto industry

Auto Tech

Nuro, co-founded by two ex-Google self-driving engineers, develops autonomous driving software dubbed “Nuro Driver” for automakers and mobility providers, including ride-hailing and delivery companies. Nuro claims its autonomous driving system prioritizes safety through an AI architecture that generates actions with a backup traditional robotics system for real-time validation, ensuring compliance with road rules and vehicle limits.Nuro's business model involves two parallel approaches: 1) offering a full Level 4 autonomous driving product for goods delivery and passenger mobility services (i.e., fully autonomous vehicles limited to specific locations and/or conditions), and 2) working with OEMs to build automated driving products for consumer vehicles, ranging from Level 2 to Level 4 driving systems (i.e., Level 2 vehicles can control speed and steering, but a safety driver must maintain full vigilance). In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/33592">September 2024</a>, Nuro announced an expansion of its business model to license Nuro Driver, to automotive OEMs and mobility providers.The company was founded as a developer of autonomous last-mile delivery vehicles but pivoted to licensing autonomous driving technology&nbsp;<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/33481">in September 2024.</a> It began demonstrating the technology in California and Texas&nbsp;<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/36208">in November 2024.</a>Key customers and partnershipsNuro’s product partners include 1) NVIDIA to obtain NVIDIA DRIVE Thor automotive-grade compute and networking hardware to power Nuro Driver <a href="https://linnk.ai/insight/technology/nuro-partners-with-nvidia-drive-thor-for-autonomous-driving-system-ODiAXNc1/">(March 2024)</a> and 2) chip designer Arm Holding for evidenced-based technological enhancements (<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/26886">February 2024).</a>

Meati Foods is a consumer goods company that provides fungi-based meat alternatives to everyone. It focuses on using proprietary, clean technologies to provide nutrient-dense, plant-based meat alternatives that everyone can enjoy and feel good about eating every day. Meati Foods was founded in 2016 and is headquartered in Boulder, United States.

Hyphen automates culinary operations for the restaurant and foodservice industry.

Nuro is a technology company that develops a self-driving vehicle for local goods transportation. They transform local commerce through autonomous delivery. Their service helps merchants deliver goods to customers.

Everytable sells nutritious food through grab-and-go locations. The company's mission is to transform the food system to make fresh, nutritious food accessible to everyone, everywhere.

Elix is a social impact incubator for teen entrepreneurs promoting a positive teen driven change. Elix's Cohort 1 Venture Group was produced over six successful social enterprises including Savvy, Eco Wash Network, Cozy, Smart Paint, and Noviaris.

Chipotle Mexican Grill is a chain of restaurants in the US, UK, Canada, and France specializing in burritos and tacos. The company uses raw ingredients, classic cooking methods, and distinctive interior design--features that are more frequently found in the world of fine dining. Chipotle Mexican Grill was established in 1993 and is headquartered in Denver, Colorado, United States.

<div> Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE: CMG) is a US fast-casual restaurant chain specializing in Mexican cuisine. The company operated 3,437 restaurants across the US, Canada, and Europe as of December 2023. It has been listed on the New York Stock Exchange since 2006.&nbsp; Chipotle, which aggregates its operations into a single segment, recorded a revenue of USD 9.9 billion in 2023. The revenue was generated via food and beverage sales across its restaurants (~99% of revenue in 2023) as well as delivery services (~1%).&nbsp; The US is Chipotle&rsquo;s largest market, where it owns and operates 3,371 restaurants as of December 2023. The remaining 66 restaurants are based internationally. The company aims to open 7,000 locations in North America in the long run. </div>

Shareholders that lost money on Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc.(CMG) Urged to Join Class Action - Contact The Gross Law Firm to Learn More

Chipotle Cultivate Foundation

Refers to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that deliver packages. Drones are already in commercial use in many other industries (such as photography, construction, and agriculture). The use of drones for goods delivery has emerged with the gradual advancement of battery and connectivity technologies.

Refers to autonomous vehicles that use pedestrian walkways and travel a little faster than average walking speed (generally 3-6 miles an hour). These vehicles can usually carry up to around 20 lb. and use a camera, radar, and sensors to move autonomously. 

This is a sub-branch of self-driving cars and represents autonomous vehicles that can move along public roads. The technology used is similar to self-driving cars. ADVs have a higher load capacity and travel at a faster speed than vehicles like droids.

Suppliers of plant ingredients such as legumes, mycelia, and other proteins for the production of plant-based meat, fish, poultry, and pork products; suppliers of technology related to the production of plant-based meat

Producers of plant-based pork alternatives using plant proteins such as pea, soy, wheat, etc. Some startups also use unique ingredients such as mushroom mycelium (whole-cut bacon) and jack fruits (pulled pork) to produce pork alternatives. Products are manufactured mostly in sausage or pulled (pork) form

Producers of plant-based chicken, turkey, and duck alternatives using plant proteins such as peas, soy, wheat, etc. Products are manufactured mostly in nuggets or shredded form

Producers of plant-based seafood alternatives using plant proteins such as peas, soy, chickpeas, etc. Some startups use more unique ingredients such as algae, konjac (a Japanese yam root), tomatoes, and eggplants. Products are manufactured mostly in shredded form or as cuts (for sushi)

Producers of plant-based beef alternatives using plant proteins such as peas, soy, wheat, mung beans, etc. Products are manufactured mostly in a burger patty, sausage, meatball, or minced form

INCUMBENTS_PRESENT

PROMINENT_CATEGORY

<div>
 Fast-casual restaurant chain Chipotle has collaborated with Vebu and Hyphen to create two robotic food preparation systems. The "Autocado," developed by Vebu, is designed to peel, cut and core avocados for guacamole production. Hyphen, on the other hand, developed the "Augmented Makeline," a system that automates the assembly of bowls and salads. These systems are currently being trialed in California stores with the goal of improving operational efficiency and reallocating staff to different tasks.
 The investment in Vebu and Hyphen by Chipotle was made via its USD 100 million venture fund, indicating the chain's interest in incorporating automation into its food preparation procedures.
</div>

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