--- title: "Chipotle registers strongest same-store sales growth since late 2024" url: https://burnaze.com/article/8a7023d7-079c-4633-ad0e-1a0d6ed47cf7 source: "Nation's Restaurant News" original_url: https://www.nrn.com/fast-casual/chipotle-s-registers-strongest-comp-growth-since-late-2024 author: "Alicia Kelso" category: "Fast casual" industry: "Restaurants" segment: "Fast casual" topics: ["Finance & M&A"] published: 2026-07-29T22:22:56.000Z modified: 2026-10-31T13:18:32.356Z image: https://eu-images.contentstack.com/v3/assets/bltea7aee2fca050a19/blt8e8b5e696f020425/6a6a7eb28489c11aeedc1f9c/chipotle.jpg?width=720&quality=80&disable=upscale --- # Chipotle registers strongest same-store sales growth since late 2024 **TL;DR:** Chipotle reported a 2.2% same-store sales increase in its second quarter, driven by menu innovation and increased transaction counts. The results marked the chain's strongest quarter for same-store sales growth since late 2024. *By Alicia Kelso, originally published in Nation's Restaurant News on 2026-07-29. [Read the original](https://www.nrn.com/fast-casual/chipotle-s-registers-strongest-comp-growth-since-late-2024).* ## Story Investors seemed plenty content with Chipotle’s second quarter earnings results, pushing its stock up 7% in after-hours trading Wednesday following the release of the fast-casual Mexican chain’s 2.2% same-store sales increase, driven by a 1% increase in transactions and a 1.2% increase in average check. This marked its strongest quarter for the metric since late 2024. The results may have assuaged some uncertainties around the chain’s value positioning as the broader consumer set remains pressured, particularly amid increasing gas prices. During the company’s earnings call, CEO Scott Boatwright told analysts that the chain caught momentum from its honey chicken launch in April, as well as “culturally relevant marketing” that included offers such as a buy-one-get-one promotion coinciding with FIFA Men’s World Cup, and continued strength from its recently enhanced rewards program that includes personalization and gamification features. The quarterly results also indicate that some progress has been made toward Chipotle’s Recipe for Growth strategy, put into place in February following its first year of declines on record. The strategy includes driving operational and culinary excellence to deliver “exceptional value,” evolving the brand’s messaging and accelerating menu innovation, modernizing the business model with technology, expanding global reach, and cultivating the industry’s best talent. "Our positive results reflect the momentum we're building as our Recipe for Growth strategy continues to take shape," Boatwright said in a statement. "We're seeing encouraging progress because we're focused on the right growth drivers — bringing meaningful menu innovation to our guests, deepening engagement through Chipotle Rewards, elevating hospitality in every restaurant, and expanding opportunities to serve more group occasions.” Chipotle experienced material pressure last year from lower-income and younger cohorts specifically, but CFO Adam Rymer said those two bases have improved the most, signaling that the chain's limited-time offer strategy and sharpened rewards campaigns have resonated. Boatwright added that Chipotle experienced the highest year-over-year gains in wallet share since 2024 and has taken share each quarter so far this year across all age groups and income cohorts. That said, the chain did feel margin pressures during the quarter as food and labor costs remain elevated. Operating margin decreased to 15.7% from 18.2% during the same period a year ago, while restaurant-level operating margin was 25.2%, from 27.4%. Food, beverage, and packaging costs in Q2 were 29.7% of total revenue, an increase from 28.9% in the second quarter of 2025. The increase was driven by inflation, primarily from beef and freight, and higher protein and produce usage. Meanwhile, labor costs were 25.0% of total revenue, an increase from 24.7% in the second quarter of 2025, driven by higher employee compensation, including wage inflation and performance-based bonuses, and additional restaurant labor supporting operational execution, including hospitality initiatives. Also during the quarter, Chipotle opened 100 company-owned restaurants, of which 80 included a Chipotlane, and one international partner-operated restaurant. Chipotle raised its full-year same-store sales guidance to the low-single-digit range, from flat in April. The company expects 350 to 370 new restaurant openings, which includes 10 to 15 international partner-operated restaurants. Around 80% of new company-owned restaurants will have a Chipotlane. ## Entities - Nation's Restaurant News (publication) - Finance (sector) - menu innovation (topic) - Chipotle (company) - restaurant expansion (topic) - Alicia Kelso (person) - labor costs (topic) - same-store sales growth (topic) - Scott Boatwright (person) - Adam Rymer (person) - food inflation (topic) --- Originally reported by Alicia Kelso, Nation's Restaurant News (https://www.nrn.com/fast-casual/chipotle-s-registers-strongest-comp-growth-since-late-2024). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/8a7023d7-079c-4633-ad0e-1a0d6ed47cf7).