Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc.: Supply Chain in Crisis

In late 2015, Chipotle Mexican Grill experienced a large-scale food safety crisis. The company’s restaurants were identified as the source of an E. Coli outbreak that affected 14 states and led to more than 20 hospitalizations. Known for its Food With Integrity initiative, and having experienced a decade of explosive growth, the company’s survival was threatened by the design of its own supply chain. Customers were frightened, and the issue attracted the attention of investors, regulators, and the national news media; Chipotle had to respond.