Shares of Chipotle had their best day in more than four years. Despite the surge, the stock is still way off its all-time high of nearly $760. Jeff Bernstein, Senior Restaurant Analyst at Barclays, was with us to discuss whether the hiring of its new CEO will be enough to fuel a turnaround for Chipotle.
Chipotle tapped Taco Bell's CEO, Brian Niccols. Investors were on board with the move, sending shares soaring. Bernstein said it will take some time for consumers to jump on board. Chipotle is not a major media advertiser, so getting the new message across won't be immediate, the analyst adds.
During his time at Taco Bell, Mr. Niccol played a key role in bringing life back to the brand, bringing innovative food items to the menu. His marketing background helped get consumers excited about items such as Quesarito, Naked Chicken Chalupa and Nacho Fries. Bernstein said he expects to see some new product news at Chipotle, but acknowledges the assembly-line structure will keep them somewhat limited.
Nestlé has dismissed its CEO Laurent Freixe after an investigation into an undisclosed relationship with a direct subordinate. The company announced on Monday that the dismissal was effective immediately. An investigation found that Freixe violated Nestlé’s code of conduct. He had been CEO for a year. Philipp Navratil, a longtime Nestlé executive, will replace him. Chairman Paul Bulcke stated that the decision was necessary to uphold the company’s values and governance. Navratil began his career with Nestlé in 2001 and has held various roles, including CEO of Nestlé's Nespresso division since 2024.
Kraft Heinz is splitting into two companies a decade after they joined in a massive merger that created one of the biggest food companies on the planet. One of the companies will include brands such as Heinz, Philadelphia cream cheese and Kraft Mac & Cheese. The other will include brands like Oscar Mayer, Kraft Singles and Lunchables. When the company formed in 2015 it wanted to capitalize on its massive scale, but shifting tastes complicated those plans, with households seeking to introduce healthier options at the table. Kraft Heinz's net revenue has fallen every year since 2020.
