NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., August 5, 2021 — Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE: CMG) announced today the third class of ventures for the Chipotle Aluminaries Project, an industry-leading accelerator program designed to support growth-stage ventures across the nation that focus on building sustainable, equitable, and efficient food systems. Sponsored by the Chipotle Cultivate Foundation in partnership with Uncharted, both nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations, the program will give eight new ventures the opportunity to receive the tools necessary to scale their solutions and maximize their impact.
Each venture will receive six months of mentorship and direct coaching from world-renowned industry leaders, including Grammy-winning musician and farmer Jason Mraz, who is a longstanding avocado supplier for Chipotle restaurants. Participants will also get access to Chipotle ‘fuel’ in the form of free burritos for a whole year as well as catering for the duration of the program.
“These new ventures are helping to address issues that are greatly affecting the food system, and we’re dedicated to giving them the tools and resources necessary to drive real change,” said Laurie Schalow, Chief Corporate Affairs and Food Safety Officer, Chipotle.
With a challenging past year amidst a global pandemic, all eight selected ventures offer an essential product or service that helps make responsibly sourced and sustainable food more accessible. The selected ventures include:
- Advocates for Urban Agriculture: Advocates for Urban Agriculture is a coalition of urban farms, community and school gardens, individuals, and businesses working to support and expand sustainable agriculture in the Chicago region.
- Babylon Micro-Farms: Babylon Micro-Farms is building the world's largest fully distributed vertical farm. Their remote management platform eliminates barriers to entry allowing foodservice operations to grow their product on-site using modular vertical farms. Babylon is based Richmond, VA and has customers across the U.S.
- Black Farmers’ Market: The Black Farmers’ Market, based in North Carolina, is building self-sustaining markets that provide access to fresh foods from Black farmers directly to customers while changing misconceptions about healthy eating and creating economic opportunities for Black entrepreneurs within the food system.
- East Denver Food Hub: East Denver Food Hub is a social enterprise committed to feeding communities and building a regenerative, resilient, and accessible regional food ecosystem that champions values-aligned farmers and BIPOC producers.
- Foodshed.io: Foodshed.io, based in Livingston, Montana, is a local food marketing and logistics platform that makes it easy for independent farms to sell into major retailers and institutions nationwide. The company is building a local and regenerative agricultural system by working together with stakeholders across the country.
- Symbrosia: Symbrosia, based in Kailua Kona, Hawaii, is a CleanTech startup that aims to reduce livestock methane emissions with a novel seaweed feed supplement.
- Ubees: By combining traditional beekeeping expertise with innovative science and technology, the New York City-based Ubees works to reduce bee mortality rates and help sustain pollination at the industrial scale.
- Vence: Vence, based in San Diego, is a livestock management system founded to improve the affordability and availability of sustainable animal protein.
Chipotle’s Ongoing Commitment to Farming
Since 2019, Chipotle has pledged to help reinvigorate the fading farming industry for future generations. Chipotle gives back to the farming community by locally sourcing as well as offering education, scholarships, grants, and guaranteed three-year contracts to young farmers nationwide. Chipotle and the Chipotle Cultivate Foundation have committed $5 million over the next five years to support the next generation of farmers.
ABOUT CHIPOTLE
Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE: CMG) is cultivating a better world by serving responsibly sourced, classically-cooked, real food with wholesome ingredients without artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. Chipotle had over 2,850 restaurants as of June 30, 2021, in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France and Germany and is the only restaurant company of its size that owns and operates all its restaurants. Chipotle is ranked on the Fortune 500 and is recognized on the 2021 lists for Forbes' America's Best Employers and Fortune's Most Admired Companies. With nearly 102,000 employees passionate about providing a great guest experience, Chipotle is a longtime leader and innovator in the food industry. Chipotle is committed to making its food more accessible to everyone while continuing to be a brand with a demonstrated purpose as it leads the way in digital, technology and sustainable business practices. For more information or to place an order online, visit WWW.CHIPOTLE.COM.
ABOUT THE CHIPOTLE CULTIVATE FOUNDATION
Chipotle Mexican Grill established the Chipotle Cultivate Foundation in 2011 to extend its commitment to making real food accessible for all. Since its inception, the foundation has contributed more than $5 million to like-minded organizations committed to cultivating a better world through food. For more information, visit WWW.CHIPOTLECULTIVATEFOUNDATION.ORG.
ABOUT UNCHARTED
Uncharted is a social impact accelerator that builds coordinated movements of people to tackle problems from all angles. They partner with corporations, foundations, and governments to launch initiatives that connect those working on the same problem and help them go to scale. To date, Uncharted has helped social entrepreneurs raise $315 million, create impact in 96 countries, and benefit 55 million lives. For more information, visit WWW.UNCHARTED.ORG.