Brand Watch: Chipotle
It’s been a month-long bellyache for QSR chain Chipotle, with patrons in Boston coming down with the highly contagious norovirus and over fifty people nationwide infected with a strain of E. Coli linked to the burrito and taco restaurant. The food-related illnesses forced the company to close over 40 locations.
Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc.’s Founder and CEO Steve Ells (pictured at top) appeared on NBC’s Today Show on December 10 to publically apologize. Ells announced that the company is launching new procedures that “are so above industry norms … we are going to be the safest place to eat.”
In response to Ells’ interview, the stock rose 5.7% the morning of December 10. CMG had posted a nearly 20% decline since October 31. Investors are hopeful that the company will recover and the brand that promises “food with integrity” will do just that.
How will the crisis affect Chipotle’s media strategy? Should we expect a heavier ad investment in 2016? We turned to our sources for all the need-to-know stats and figures.
- In 2014, the Denver-based chain spent over $16MM in measured media with the larger percentage going towards OOH.
- From 2013 to 2014, Chipotle more than doubled its national media spend, with an emphasis on legacy media.
- While some of Chipotle’s creative is handled in-house, GSD&M works on traditional advertising efforts while also managing its media buying and planning since May 2014.
Will Chipotle’s troubles leave media sellers hungry for more? Stay tuned!
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Image at top courtesy of Corbis. The opinions and points of view expressed in this commentary are exclusively the views of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaVillage/MyersBizNet management or associated bloggers.
