Chipotle

Chipotle Mexican Grill was founded on July 13, 1993, by chef Steve Ells in Denver, Colorado, using an $85,000 loan to convert a former ice cream shop into a fast-casual burrito restaurant. Built on the principle of 'Food with Integrity' — emphasizing responsibly sourced ingredients and classic cooking techniques — the chain grew from a single Denver location to over 3,700 restaurants across the United States, Canada, and Europe. Chipotle is the largest fast-casual restaurant chain in the United States and generated $11.3 billion in revenue in 2024.