Despitehanding out free burritoslast month as part of its ongoingcomeback drive , Chipotle revealed this week that its recovery from the rash of disastrousfood - borne illness crisesis consider longer than expected , with declining sales pushing the company to prefigure its first - ever quarterly loss . But on Wednesday , executives at the beleaguered burrito chain say they ’re considering big plan to lure customer back to its eating place : more innocent intellectual nourishment .
While speak at a league with investors , executives at the company enjoin they ’re looking at plans to increase the number of free burrito giveaways and other advancement , such as bargain - one - get - one - devoid hand , consort to areportby Reuters . Specifically , Chipotle said it plans to send21 million coupons for freebies to US customersin the chain armor and even more offers via mobile devices . So far , the company has sent as many as 7 million voucher and say 67 % of people who received thefree burrito coupon last monthredeemed it . That ’s a lot of free burritos .
" Free burritos work , " Chief Financial Officer Jack Hartung said at the conference , per the account . " They bring people into the restaurant . “The potential for ramping up these promotions comes after aregulatory filingfrom Chipotle on Tuesday revealed both proceed declines in salesandhigher monetary value dues to extensive new food for thought guard operation and marketing campaigns , according to areportby theChicago Tribune . While sale were slightly up from their worst levels back in January , Chipotle say declines at its established restaurants average out 26.1 % in February and took another hit this month after its Billerica , MA outpost wasforced to come together due to a Norovirus scare , even thoughno customers became illafter eating there . Chipotle broth closed around $ 500 per share on Wednesday .
Laura Murray/Thrillist
On top of its efforts to boost sale , Chipotle is continuing its new intellectual nourishment safety strategy withthe hiring of a food for thought safety czar . On Tuesday , the troupe discover Jim Marsden , a former prof in Kansas State University ’s Animal Science and Industry Department , as Executive Director of Food Safety at Chipotle . In the filing , Chipotle said Marsden will spearhead its plan to establish the strand " as a leader in food safety . " The new hire comes Clarence Shepard Day Jr. after a separate regulatory filing revealed Chipotle ’s top two executive come across theircompensation edit by nearly halflast year .
While it remains to be seen whether more free burritos will gain back enough customers and find their trust , a free burrito is a loose burrito , kinfolk .
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