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On a recent trip to California we discovered that the west coast Chipotle locations offer a tofu option for their burritos, and feature vegan sofritas.
Chipotle is expanding the area where the vegan option is being offered and could possibly go nationwide at all 1,450 Chipotle locations.
The sofritas are made with organic tofu and also contain roasted poblanos, chipotle chilis and spices.
Chipotle reports that nearly one out of three people who ordered the vegan sofrita aren't vegans but are cutting down on meat for ethical or health reasons.
Also reported by Chipotle 47% of Americans eat at least one vegetarian meal a week, and half of Americans are consuming more fruits and vegetables than they did five years ago.
I hope this does well and goes nationwide. I'm not a vegetarian, but I can appreciate having a good veggie option when I'm just not in the mood for meat, which is often.
Chipotle already had an option for vegans (or anybody wanting a meatless option), namely, their veggie burrito or bowl which they give you free guacamole with. It doesn't seem that the sofritas option adds much value and from what I can tell it doesn't seem to be selling that well.
The veggie burrito relies on black beans for substance, while the vegan sofritas has braised tofu, a rather unique option in fast-food circles. I think the idea that vegans and vegetarians "already had an option" is (probably accidentally) dismissive, as if vegans and vegetarians are lesser customers, undeserving of having a choice.
Where are you getting the information about how well the sofritas are selling? The only indication I can find is the fact that they just this past week expanded the areas where they're offering them. That sounds like a rather emphatic indication that they're selling well.
We have a chain Mexican food restaurant in our area called Moe's (very much like Chipotle) ...they offer grilled tofu on all their menu options and they are gluten free savy as well. They also have a variety of amazing fresh salsas. We have a Chipotle being built near us.
The veggie burrito relies on black beans for substance, while the vegan sofritas has braised tofu, a rather unique option in fast-food circles. I think the idea that vegans and vegetarians "already had an option" is (probably accidentally) dismissive, as if vegans and vegetarians are lesser customers, undeserving of having a choice.
The Sofritas just adds another ingredient that vegans can order, I wouldn't call tofu a "unique option" though you're not going to find it in a burger place. Vegetarians customers aren't "lesser" in the sense you seem to referring to, but they are "lesser" in the sense that they make up a small fraction of society. As such offering vegetarian options, let alone numerous vegetarian options, is often uneconomical.
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Originally Posted by bUU
Where are you getting the information about how well the sofritas are selling? The only indication I can find is the fact that they just this past week expanded the areas where they're offering them.
Just personal observation, I eat at Chipotle for lunch all the time and I've yet to see anybody order the sofritas.
The Sofritas just adds another ingredient that vegans can order, I wouldn't call tofu a "unique option" though you're not going to find it in a burger place.
The sofritas isn't just tofu. It's braised, marinaded tofu. It not only wouldn't be found at a burger place, it is also unique in consideration of the vast majority of fast-food competitors, including Subway, KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, etc.
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Originally Posted by user_id
As such offering vegetarian options, let alone numerous vegetarian options, is often uneconomical.
There is a cost for customer-facing operations to be seen to be strictly profit-driven.
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Originally Posted by user_id
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Where are you getting the information about how well the sofritas are selling?
Just personal observation, I eat at Chipotle for lunch all the time and I've yet to see anybody order the sofritas.
Okay so just personal observation. Thanks for clarifying.
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