Chipotle has lifted its temporary restriction on chicken for its US and Canadian employees, allowing them to once again choose chicken as a protein option for their work meals.
Last week, the chain requested its employees to opt for alternative protein options temporarily to preserve the company's chicken supply, a directive that applied to both corporate staff and restaurant employees.
However, Laurie Schalow, Chipotle's chief corporate affairs and food safety officer, announced on Thursday that the directive has been revoked, and employees are now free to select chicken for their meals as usual.
Schalow clarified that Chipotle is not facing chicken shortages in its restaurants, despite the previous temporary measure. The decision to temporarily limit chicken options for employee meals was made to ensure an adequate supply for guests due to strong sales.
Chipotle introduced its chicken al pastor in March 2023, which quickly gained popularity, accounting for 20 percent of all orders. Although it was removed from the menu in August, its reintroduction as a limited-time offer in March of this year drove strong traffic to Chipotle's stores.
In the first quarter of 2024, Chipotle reported a 14 percent increase in revenue to $2.7 billion, with same-store sales up 7 percent. CEO Brian Niccol attributed this success in part to the popularity of chicken al pastor, which attracted new customers and encouraged regulars to visit more frequently.
Chipotle's Chief Financial Officer, Jack Hartung, mentioned that the company plans to remove chicken al pastor from the menu again in the third quarter of this year.
