Chipotle Mexican Grill has developed a cutting-edge robot that automates the process of cutting, coring, and peeling avocados for its famous guacamole. This innovation comes as the restaurant industry faces a significant labor shortage.
Currently, it takes approximately 50 minutes to make a batch of Chipotle’s guacamole. However, the newly unveiled Autocado robot has the potential to cut the preparation time in half.
In collaboration with Vebu Labs, a California-based robotics startup, Chipotle created this collaborative robot, or cobot. In addition, Chipotle’s venture arm, Cultivate Next, is investing $50 million in Vebu.
Avocados sliced, cored and peeled by the Autocado robot created by Chipotle and Vebu Labs.
Source: Chipotle Mexican Grill
These announcements reflect the industry-wide trend of exploring robotics and automation as a response to the labor shortage and rising wages. For instance, Sweetgreen recently opened an automated assembly line in Naperville, Illinois, and Starbucks is investing in coffee-making equipment to reduce the workload for baristas. Fast-food chains like Carl’s Jr. are implementing artificial intelligence software for drive-thru orders.
How Chipotle’s Autocado Works
The Autocado simplifies the avocado preparation process for Chipotle employees. They load the device with a full case of ripe avocados, weighing up to 25 pounds. The Autocado then vertically orients the avocados, slices them in half, and removes their cores and skin. The collected fruit is then hand-mashed and mixed with other guacamole ingredients.
Nevertheless, Chipotle still values the human touch in making their guacamole. The company does not plan to test automated guacamole production at their restaurants.
During avocado preparation, employees can utilize the top of the Autocado as additional counter space for other tasks, without the need to monitor the machine closely.
The Autocado prototype is almost ready for manufacture, and Chipotle plans to conduct tests in their restaurants later this year. Vebu aims to enhance the Autocado’s capabilities with machine learning and sensors to evaluate avocado quality.
The introduction of the Autocado not only saves time and labor costs, but also reduces food waste. Implementing this robot across Chipotle’s 3,200+ locations could result in significant annual savings on avocados.
Despite these advantages, it is likely that guacamole will still come at an additional cost for customers. However, Chipotle believes it is worth it.
Moreover, Chipotle has been exploring other automation opportunities, including Chippy, an autonomous tortilla chip maker developed by Miso Robotics. The company is also considering the use of artificial intelligence to predict food preparation quantities.
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