What is one of the main goals of the Cooking to Needs Tool?

The primary goal of the Cooking to Needs Tool is to effectively plan for unexpected demand. This tool is essential for kitchen management, as it helps ensure that food preparation aligns with the anticipated volume of customer orders, particularly during busy times or events. By accurately forecasting and adjusting cooking quantities based on real-time data, kitchen managers can minimize food waste while still meeting customer expectations. This proactive approach allows teams to serve fresh food without running out, ensuring a smooth operation and a better dining experience for customers.

While increasing inventory levels might seem beneficial, it could lead to excess food and waste without a clear link to demand. Running out of food would negatively impact customer satisfaction and hurt business, and focusing solely on frozen items would limit menu variety and freshness, both of which are key values at Chipotle. Thus, planning for unexpected demand is central to maintaining operational efficiency and customer service.