With its affordable menu, fresh produce, and appetite-stimulating burritos, Mexican chain Chipotle can’t get any better. Or can it? Yesterday, the casual eatery announced that it has appointed Bill Niman, founder of sustainable farm Niman Ranch, as its sustainable agriculture advisor.
The fast food company, which has purchased naturally raised pork from Niman Ranch since 2001, hopes that the Niman appointment will allow Chipotle to “help carry our message of making food from sustainable sources available and affordable so everyone can eat better.” 
When he started Niman Ranch in 1971, Bill Niman blazed the trail for the sustainable farming movement in the United States. He took up farming with a focus on slow food principles of high-quality animal feed, natural, antibiotic- and hormone-free farming, and ethical animal care.
Are you surprised to learn of this news? Do you think that the pioneer, with his specialized focus on local agriculture, will be able to make an impact on the chain, which has more than 800 stores?
Church
Fossil
Hugo Boss
I don't think Chipotle is still owned by McDonalds.
1I was about to say (or type) the same thing, ake!
2McD's invested in the company in the late 1990's then divested from the company in 2006.
3Good catch. That's correct — McDonald's sold its interest in Chipotle.
4cool! I hope more places are influenced by this
5well this is good news for the chain i think - and i'm assuming that we'll keep hearing good things from them. they seem to be expanding at a nice rate since there's a brand new one in my mom's town in NJ - and i think that this is just a good step in the right direction. if you have someone as an adviser that has a vested interest, then hopefully things will be kept on the up and up (although now that i think about it, it could create a conflict of interest when it comes to cost if the ranch finds themselves in a pickle)
6My favorite dish in the whole world is the Niman Ranch filet mignon at my Four Seasons Cafe, Trio. I think this is very interesting. I had written off chipoltle , but maybe I should take a second look.
7I like Chipotle. The closest one to me was about an hour drive but just recently they opened two within a 2 mile radius of my house. Of course, I havent been to either of them
8Post New Comment
Please share your opinion with our community, but make sure it is on topic and follows our Community Rules. We moderate comments and prohibit personal attacks, threats, spam, lewd images, or the promotion of your personal website.