H6: A restaurant’s decision to offer healthier foods will be negatively correlated with Return on Sales. H7: A restaurant’s decision to offer healthier foods will be negatively correlated with Gross Margin. H8: A restaurant’s decision to offer healthier foods will be negatively correlated with Liquidity. Methodology The method employed for investigating these questions and testing hypotheses included selecting a company that offers healthier menus than competing restaurants and one that offers conventional menus. Chipotle Mexican Grill was selected as the restaurant and “healthy” McDonalds was selected as its less healthy competitor. These two companies were then compared and contrasted to each other in multiple categories to examine the financial performance differences. Chipotle was selected as the restaurant for a variety of reasons. Chipotle’s “healthy” menu is composed of simple and sustainable ingredients. Its meats are marinated and cooked fresh everyday in front of customers and are never frozen or processed. In addition, the livestock purchased from suppliers are not injected with antibiotics or hormones and are fed a strict vegetarian diet. None of the items on Chipotle’s menu contain trans fat and several items are free of saturated fat. The majority of Chipotle’s produce acquired is raised organically and is free of pesticides. McDonald’s was chosen as the less healthy restaurant for a number of reasons. McDonald’s meat is frozen immediately after its suppliers process it and is transported in refrigerated trucks. Customers’ meals are cooked to order but most of the ingredients used are
H6: A restaurant’s decision to offer healthier foods will be negatively correlated with Return on Sales. H7: A restaurant’s decision to offer healthier foods will be negatively correlated with Gross Margin. H8: A restaurant’s decision to offer healthier foods will be negatively correlated with Liquidity. Methodology The method employed for investigating these questions and testing hypotheses included selecting a company that offers healthier menus than competing restaurants and one that offers conventional menus. Chipotle Mexican Grill was selected as the “healthy” restaurant and McDonalds was selected as its less healthy competitor. These two companies were then compared and contrasted to each other in multiple categories to examine the financial performance differences. Chipotle was selected as the “healthy” restaurant for a variety of reasons. Chipotle’s menu is composed of simple and sustainable ingredients. Its meats are marinated and cooked fresh everyday in front of customers and are never frozen or processed. In addition, the livestock purchased from suppliers are not injected with antibiotics or hormones and are fed a strict vegetarian diet. None of the items on Chipotle’s menu contain trans fat and several items are free of saturated fat. The majority of Chipotle’s produce acquired is raised organically and is free of pesticides. McDonald’s was chosen as the less healthy restaurant for a number of reasons. McDonald’s meat is frozen immediately after its suppliers process it and is transported in refrigerated trucks. Customers’ meals are cooked to order but most of the ingredients used are
Veneziano_Thesis.docx