Chipotle founder Steve Ells on Kernel - his new robot-powered, plant-forward fast-food game changer

Steve Ells created a new standard for fast casual dining when he launched Chipotle 31 years ago. He’s looking to transform the sector once again with his latest venture Kernel — a plant-forward restaurant powered largely by robots. LinkedIn editor in chief Dan Roth talks to Ells about the novel hub and spoke system he’s deploying to streamline food prep and reduce human error and turnover. Ells discusses changing key elements of the business early on, including adding non-vegan options to the menu and reworking the layout to be more hospitable in response to customer feedback, and adapting production processes based on employee feedback. Ells also shares his top advice for those looking to mirror his entrepreneurial success.

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