As you should know by now, Chipotle is offering 32 free screenings of Food, Inc. at theaters across the country. “But wait!” you may exclaim, “isn’t Chipotle owned by McDonald’s?” And, with boiling blood and a rising voice you may continue, “…and isn’t McDonald’s food exactly the type of food you’ll never want to eat again after seeing Food, Inc.?”
Well, put simply, no. McDonald’s does not own Chipotle. As the helpful timeline in this article shows, McDonald’s became a minority stakeholder in Chipotle in 1998, and the majority stakeholder of Chipotle in 2001. However, as of October 2006, McDonald’s is completely divested of all share in Chipotle.
As a matter of interest, McDonald’s didn’t invest in Chipotle until after the company already had several locations and an established business plan. Further, Chipotle’s business practices and sales models stayed quite distinct from McDonald’s during the investment period. In fact, while McDonald’s was investing in Chipotle, the chain began to use free-range pork (they now use only free-range chicken and pork, and 50% of their beef is free-range) and recently, they pledged to use at least some local produce in their stores, when possible.
So, go catch a free screening of Food, Inc. at a theater near you, and don’t feel guilty about eating a Chipotle burrito afterward.
CATEGORIES: Environment, Global Health
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- Worldchanging
Chipotle is indeed an ironic sponsor of screenings of Food, Inc. but not just ’cause of the McDonald’s connection. Check out this open letter to Chipotle demanding that it authentically address the human rights crisis faced by Florida farmworkers, signed by director Robert Kenner and co-producer/narrator Eric Schlosser, among other notable food activists: http://www.ciw-online.org/letter_to_Chipotle.html
Maybe if Chipotle likes Food Inc so much, it should listen to what its creators are explicitly demanding of the company.
Chipotle also buys beef from Harris Ranch, which has a controversial California feedlot with 100,000 cattle on 800 acres.
Thanks for your comments. Chipotle is not a chain without flaws, but the company has certainly made a commitment to pursuing a sustainable menu and conscientious business practices. This commitment is especially impressive in comparison to the practices of many of fast food chains.
Robert, I believe Steve Ells and Chipotle’s management were aware of the letter you linked to, and nonetheless are continuing with free screenings of Food, Inc. around the country, even after criticism from the film’s creators. I think this decision highlights Chipotle’s commitment to the message and ideals espoused in Food, Inc., and suggests a continued desire on Steve Ells behalf to make “food with integrity”.
Dear Mr. Kenner:
The film was excellent. I have long been very conscious about food in terms of health and environmental impacts. I do have one issue with the film: the sequence with the family that could only afford fast-food burgers and fries. The same day I watched the film, my dinner entree was a lentil salad mixed with chopped green pepper, onion and red cabbage and dressed with an olive oil vinagrette. That entree was delicious, healthy and filling. It cost somewhere in the neighborhood of a dollar and twenty cents(a convservative estimate). Thus, four dollars and eighty cents for a family of four. Add a glass of milk per person and some watermelon or an apple apiece and you still should not go over twelve dollars for the family - about what they spent on junk w/ virtually zero nutritional value. My proposed meal would be balanced, healthy and tasty: no added sugar or salt either. Or how about scrambled eggs with diced vegetables and a little hot salsa to add flavor? It is possible to obtain healthy food in the supermarket (where I bought the ingredients for my entree) and spend no more than what you would on junk. The consumer just needs to get the knowledge and think about it. It’s not that hard. And the junk, as you know, has hidden costs in terms of one’s long-term health. So it is in fact very expensive. I do wish you had added some material in this vein. Now what I mentioned was not organic so there is that issue. But what the family in the film consumed was far worse than just not being organic. Otherwise, you did a splendid job of alerting the US public to what is going on with our agricutlture.
All the best,
Geoffrey
Even though Chipotle is not perfect, I’m really proud of the fact that at leasst one fast food restaurant chain is actually standing for the right food! They are making changes and that is a great thing that other fast food places are not making. I love chipotle and I eat there all the time.
I applaud Chipotle’s help in getting this important information to the public, and they are definitely a company moving in the right direction. With that said, I would very much appreciate it if Chipotle would find a way to make their own food not just organic - but healthier. I would ask that Chipotle offer meat products with lower salt and fat content.
That’s fantastic I love Chipotle and I’m very proud of their efforts, as long as they continue to improve. Also super stoked they are no longer connected to the Arches.
Yeah!!!
Good to know…I like Chipotle but had problems thinking it was linked to McDonalds.