It's about time Chipotle hired a new agency.

As a former light user I have been following the Chipotle story closely.  I loved their introductory ad and began eating there after seeing it on the Grammy's.  But their second ad "Scarecrow" made me never want to eat again.

Then came the health scares.  I haven't been back since.  But I am fascinated by the fact that heavy users have not returned to the fold either.  Clearly freebies didn't do the trick.  Nor the video they brought out last summer, which seemed to be completely tone deaf and more than a little confusing and boring. 

So now they are going to start fresh with Venables Bell & Partners.  (Coffee, 2017)  Sounds like a good idea to me.  But I think they have their work cut out for them.  My classes have wondered whether it is even possible for a restaurant chain to carry fresh local sourced food, and have suggested closing stores until they can get it right.  Yikes.

Here's the previous blog with all the links and a comment...

7/8/16

Does Chipotle's new video make you want to eat there again?

After a series of food contamination incidents that began last summer and extended through this March, Chipotle's same store sales for 1st Q were down 30% and its stock was down 35%.

In May they started offering freebies after realizing that their heavy users weren't coming back.  Here's the blog I wrote then...

http://pjlehrer.blogspot.com/2016/05/if-giving-away-burritos-doesnt-bring.html

I haven't heard if it's working, but this week they released a new four minute video that they are hoping will help.  Development of the video began 18 months ago, before the problems started.  It goes back to the brand's initial positioning and message -- the superiority of Chipotle's fresh natural ingredients over typical fast food. (Lukovitz, 2016)

If you haven't seen it yet, you can check it out here...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKleQ1MXMCs

I have mixed feelings about Chipotle's past video efforts.  I voted their introductory ad, which aired on the 2012 Grammy's best ad of the year.  It's a great example of superior storytelling and since it persuaded even me to give them a try, it's no surprise that sales increased by 23% in the first half of that year. 

Here's the blog and video...

http://pjlehrer.blogspot.com/2012_12_01_archive.html

But, I thought their Scarecrow video, released in 2013, was an epic fail since it reminded me of Soylent Green and made me never want to eat again. 

Here's that blog and video (the link to the video still works) ...

http://pjlehrer.blogspot.com/2013/09/if-you-ask-me-chipotles-new-ad-is.html

So, what do you think?  Does the new video work?  Is it successfully conveying the brand positioning?  If you stopped eating at Chipotle, will it make you want to start again?  If not, what will?

Lukovitz, K. (2016, July 6)  Chipotle Releases New Video; Faces New PR Challenge.  mediapost.com.  Retrieved June 7, 2016, from http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/279709/chipotle-releases-new-video-faces-new-pr-challeng.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=headline&utm_campaign=94424

Coffee, P. (2017, January 19)  Chipotle Picks Venables Bell & Partners, MullenLowe Mediahub To Help Turn Its Brand Around. adweek.com.  Retrieved January 19, 2017, from http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising-branding/chipotle-picks-venables-bell-partners-mullenlowe-mediahub-help-turn-its-brand-around-175645