I'm the COO of Chipotle. I visit a dozen locations every week and sample food all day long.

Tech Insider : Business, Economy, Sports
Jason Kidd
Jason Kidd, COO of Chipotle, in front of one of the chain's locations in Newport Beach, California.

Marissa Leshnov for BI

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Jason Kidd, the chief operating officer at Chipotle, based in Newport Beach, California. It's been edited for length and clarity.

Chipotle's COO uses team dinners to spot potential leaders. These are the 4 qualities he looks for.

Tech Insider : Business, Economy
Jason Kidd standing at Chipotle
Jason Kidd is the chief operating officer at Chipotle.

Chipotle

Chipotle's CEO says customers can just ask for extra food. I put it to the test.

Tech Insider : Business, Economy, Politics
The author stands in front of a Chipotle storefront.
I tested Chipotle's portion sizes after its CEO said customers should "just ask" for more food.

Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert

Chipotle is targeting the top of the K-shaped economy

Tech Insider : Business, Economy, Politics
The Chipotle Mexican Grill logo appears on a smartphone in front of a stock graph.

illustration by Cheng Xin/Getty Images

Chipotle's new PAC signals a change in how the company engages in politics

Tech Insider : Business, Politics
The Chipotle logo appears displayed on a cell phone laying on top of a pile of money.
Chipotle quietly filed FEC paperwork to form a political action committee.

Illustration by Igor Golovniov/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Starbucks made a lot of changes in 2025. Some were great — but one was terrible.

Tech Insider : Business, Environment
Starbucks drink with whipped cream
A fancy Starbucks coffee drink with whipped cream

Lauren DeCicca/Getty Images

Major food chains are reinventing themselves. We ranked their efforts to see who's winning the Great Restaurant Reset.

Tech Insider : Business
Two large billboards displaying a Pizza Hut and Cracker Barrel logos
Brands including Chili's, Starbucks, and Cracker Barrel have undergone revitalization efforts this year.

Getty Images; Tyler Le/BI

Where people are — and are not — eating right now

Tech Insider : Business
Florida, Orlando, Chili's Grill & Bar, restaurant entrance.
Florida, Orlando, Chili's Grill & Bar, restaurant entrance.

Jeffrey Greenberg/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Cash-squeezed Gen Zers and millennials are bringing down America's favorite slop bowl chains

Tech Insider : Business, Environment
A customer selects dip and spread for his bowl at Cava.
Chipotle, Cava, and Sweetgreen said younger customers are frequenting their stores less.

Dixie D. Vereen/For The Washington Post via Getty Images

From hot honey to chimichurri: Inside Chipotle's push to reinvent its menu

Tech Insider : Business
A close up of the Chipotle logo.
Chipotle has revamped its menu with a new protein and two new sauces following Q2 — one of its worst quarters since 2020.

Brandon Bell/Getty Images

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