Hypen automated kitchen solutions.
credit: hyphen
Chipotle said Thursday it is investing in two companies that have the potential to accelerate its growth — one that automates kitchen operations and another that makes plant-based versions of chicken and steak with mushrooms. .
Newport Beach, California-based company said that Cultivate Next, its $50 million venture fund, will invest in Hyphen and Meaty Foods.
Chipotle said in a release that Hyphen uses robotics to automate bowls and plates without the need for employees. Hyphen says its technology can cook more than 350 meals an hour.
comes between investment Staff shortage across the country And automation isn’t Chipotle’s first foray into investing. Last year, the company introduced the Nuro . had invested in, an automated distribution company, before creating its Cultivate Next Fund. and his year, the company piloted Chippy, an autonomous machine that cooks and seasons chipotle chips,
Meaty Foods, which received another Cultivate Next investment, uses mushroom root to make plant-based chicken and steak substitutes. With the help of Chipotle’s venture fund, the company said it had secured $150 million in its latest funding round.
Chipotle said in its release that plant-based options have been a priority for its menu in recent years.
The company did not specify how much it is investing in Hyphen or Meati. A representative for Chipotle did not immediately respond to a request for comment.