Chipotle Customers Take to TikTok to Demand Larger Portions
In a new trend sweeping social media, Chipotle customers are taking to TikTok to demand larger portions at the popular Mexican fast-casual chain. Influencers like Mr. Francis and Mr. Polenske have been posting videos of themselves walking into Chipotle locations, ordering bowls, and then walking out without paying if they feel they didn’t receive enough food.
“If the price goes up, the portions ideally should go up as well,” Mr. Francis said in one of his videos, which has garnered over 114,000 likes. Motivated by other TikTok videos, Mr. Francis decided to join in on what he called “the peaceful protest.”
While some see these videos as a way to stand up against corporate greed and injustice, others feel that they are unfairly targeting the hard-working counter workers at Chipotle, who are paid an average of $17 an hour. A thread on the Chipotle subreddit calling for customers to stop recording employees has sparked a heated debate with over 1,000 comments.
Chipotle spokeswoman Erin Wolford has discouraged the practice of filming employees without their consent, stating, “Filming does not result in larger portion sizes.” However, influencers like Mr. Polenske and Mr. Francis insist that their actions are meant to send a message to the corporate side of Chipotle.
In response to the videos, Chipotle CEO Brian Niccol has denied that the restaurant is serving smaller portions. In an interview with Fortune magazine, he stated, “It’s a wake-up call to the corporate side of Chipotle.” However, in a separate interview on CNBC’s “Mad Money,” he expressed disappointment in the filming trend, saying it “bums me out.”
As the debate rages on, it remains to be seen whether these TikTok videos will lead to any changes in portion sizes at Chipotle or if they will continue to be a source of controversy.
