MW Why Chipotle is turning to AI as it steps up its seasonal hiring to 20,000

By Steve Gelsi

Fast-food giant is leaning on its 'Ava Cado' AI hiring program as it staffs up for its busiest time of the year

Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. said it's leaning on an artificial-intelligence program called Ava Cado to speed up its hiring process as it launches its largest-ever spring recruitment effort.

The AI program that Chipotle built has shortened the average time it takes a job seeker to fill out an application and has helped the restaurant chain increase its application-completion rate to 85% from 50%, the company said Wednesday.

This year's hiring target of 20,000 seasonal employees is the largest yet by the burrito maker, ahead of its hiring targets of 19,000 workers in 2024 and 15,000 in 2023.

Chipotle $(CMG)$ said it is hiring workers to make sure its more than 3,700 restaurants are fully staffed for what it calls Burrito Season, the restaurant chain's most active time.

Applicants will likely have a conversation with Ava Cado, a virtual, AI-generated team member.

"Ava Cado has made the hiring process more efficient for Chipotle's restaurant teams," the company said.

The average time it takes a candidate to complete their application and start work has been reduced to four days from 12 days as a result of using Ava Cado, Chipotle said.

The company is advertising its job openings in three TV commercials, featuring a general manager from Portland, Ore.; a certified training manager at a restaurant in Phoenix; and a general manager based in Texas.

Chipotle said it promoted 23,000 team members in 2024, with 85% of its restaurant-management positions filled from within the company. Five of Chipotle's 11 regional vice presidents started their careers as crew members.

Chipotle is also aiming to increase its restaurant footprint to 7,000.

The restaurant chain books the most business during the period that includes the college basketball season as well as the Cinco de Mayo holiday.

Chipotle's stock was down 2.1% on Wednesday. The stock has fallen 11.5% so far in 2025, while the S&P 500 SPX has gained about 4.3%.

Also read: Chipotle is off to a 'rough' start in 2025. Some analysts think it will get better.

-Steve Gelsi

This content was created by MarketWatch, which is operated by Dow Jones & Co. MarketWatch is published independently from Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal.

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

February 19, 2025 12:52 ET (17:52 GMT)

Copyright (c) 2025 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.