Title: The Main Competitors of Chipotle
Headings: The Main Competitors of Chipotle
The Main Competitors of Chipotle
Key Takeaways
Background on Chipotle
Qdoba Mexican Eats
Moe's Southwest Grill
Baja Fresh Mexican Grill
Rubio's Coastal Grill
Taco Bell
The Bottom Line

Content: Qdoba Mexican Eats, Moe's Southwest Grill, Baja Fresh Mexican Grill, and Rubio's Coastal Grill are Chipotle's main competitors. Although it is fast-food oriented rather than fast-casual, Taco Bell has also started to compete with Chipotle by improving the quality of its food. Background on Chipotle
Before diving into the details on its competitors, it helps to know more about Chipotle. Like other fast-casual restaurant chains, Chipotle tries to combine the convenience and low price of fast-food eateries with higher-quality dishes and a more appealing environment. Meals are typically somewhat pricier than at a fast-food restaurant. The food is also prepared on the spot using healthier ingredients, such as fresh vegetables, poultry, and meat products. As of 1998, five years after its establishment, Chipotle only ran 16 restaurants, all situated in Colorado. That same year, fast-food behemoth McDonald's Corporation ( MCD) became a major investor. By 2006, when McDonald's completed a divestiture from Chipotle, the Mexican-style dining chain had mushroomed to 500 locations. By 2019, the publicly traded Chipotle owned and operated over 2,600 restaurants.