Following COVID-19: How the virus is affecting the fast casual industry

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

FastCasual is doing its best to track how restaurants are handling the crisis and will update this story as we gather more information.

Fazoli's wins 2020 Excellence in Food Safety Award

Chipotle and Five Guys took home honorable mention for their efforts.

Chipotle launches TikTok hack menu

May 19, 2020

Chipotle Mexican Grill has created a Complete Customization Chipotle app feature to users to make any ingredient light, standard or extra. Guests at home or…

Sweetgreen named FastCasual's top brand of 2020

Sweetgreen, a 104-unit salad chain, topped the 2020 list of Fast Casual Top 100 Movers & Shakers, and Fazoli's took home the Excellence in Food Safety Award.

Chipotle expands partnership with Uber Eats to Canada

May 14, 2020

Chipotle Mexican Grill has expanded it's recently announced partnership with Uber Eats to Canada, coming less than two months after launching a national…

Chipotle hosting virtual prom afterparty

May 7, 2020

Chipotle Mexican Grill is hosting a Virtual Prom Afterparty with brand super-fan and digital star, David Dobrik at 9:45 p.m. Eastern time, on May 16.

Chipotle paying $25M to settle federal food-safety case

April 22, 2020

Editor's note: Updated with comments from Chipotle at 9:42 EST.

Chipotle beats COVID-19 odds as Q1 digital sales soar

April 21, 2020

Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. beat the odds during the first quarter, as the burrito chain withstood the COVID-19 outbreak by closing dining areas and surging…

Chipotle's Challenger Series going virtual

March 26, 2020

Chipotle Mexican Grill has launched the 2020 Chipotle Challenger Series featuring online qualifying and finale competitions throughout 2020. To promote the…

Chipotle, Uber Eats partner to enhance delivery options

March 20, 2020

Chipotle Mexican Grill has added Uber Eats as a delivery partner.

Restaurants cutting delivery fees to promote social distancing

As restaurants across the United States shutter dine-in locations and switch to carry-out and delivery-only options, many fast casuals are discounting or…

Chipotle partners with Zoom to promote social distancing

March 16, 2020

While people all over the U.S. practice social distancing in an effort to help contain the spread of the coronavirus, Chipotle is hoping to deliver some…

Chipotle offering free delivery through March

March 13, 2020

Chipotle Mexican Grill is offering free delivery now through March 31. All orders are customized via Chipotle's Delivery Kitchen, which has a dedicated…

Ells steps down as Chipotle revamps board

March 6, 2020

Brian Niccol, Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc.'s CEO, is now also chairman of the board of directors for the fast casual brand.

Chipotle increases paid parental leave

March 5, 2020

Chipotle Mexican Grill has increased paid parental leave and is also testing unlimited paid time off for its executive team, support staff and team directors…

Four Corners Property Trust acquires 2 South Carolina Chick-fil-A, Chipotle locations

March 4, 2020

Real estate investment trust Four Corners Property Trust has acquired a Chick-Fil-A outlet, as well as a Chipotle location in South Carolina, for a combined…

Moe's throwing queso shade at Chipotle - again

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

February 28, 2020

While McDonald's and Wendy's are engaged in a breakfast battle, Moe's Southwest Grill is throwing shade at Chipotle, which launched a new queso offering this…

Chipotle intros queso blanco

February 26, 2020

Chipotle Mexican Grill has announced its Queso Blanco menu item, which will be available across the U.S. on Feb. 27. This recipe features aged Monterey Jack…

Chipotle goes all in for hockey

February 18, 2020

Chipotle Mexican Grill is treating hockey fans to freebies Friday with its "Wear Your Hockey Jersey" program. Fans dressed in their fave hockey jerseys can…

Chipotle goes 'Gauc Mode'

February 12, 2020

We've heard of beast mode, but Chipotle is taking it to "Guac Mode," giving free guac to its more than 8.5 million Chipotle Rewards members. To celebrate the…