CHIPOTLE TEAMS UP WITH THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY TO FUEL BUCKEYE ATHLETES WITH REAL FOOD

Rhea-AI Summary

Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE: CMG) has announced a groundbreaking partnership with The Ohio State University for the 2024-25 school year. Approximately 1,000 scholarship and walk-on student athletes will receive a customized Chipotle card granting them one free entrée per week for 15 weeks during their respective athletic seasons.

The company has also launched a new ad titled "THE" featuring star football players and narrated by Buckeye legend Archie Griffin. Additionally, Chipotle's nonprofit, The Chipotle Cultivate Foundation, will introduce a full four-year scholarship for an in-state student attending OSU's College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.

This partnership aims to support all student athletes at OSU, not just star performers, with real food and fresh ingredients as part of Chipotle's Real Food for Real Athletes platform.

Positive

• Partnership with Ohio State University potentially increases brand visibility among college students
• Providing free meals to approximately 1,000 student athletes may boost local sales and customer loyalty
• New advertising campaign featuring star athletes could enhance brand recognition
• Introduction of a full four-year scholarship may improve corporate image and community relations

Negative

• Cost of providing free meals to 1,000 students for 15 weeks could impact short-term profitability
• Focusing on one university may limit broader market reach and potential partnerships with other institutions

• For the 2024-25 school year, every scholarship and walk-on student athlete at The Ohio State University will receive a customized card granting them free Chipotle for the entirety of their respective athletic seasons
• Chipotle has launched the second installment of an ad titled "THE" that features star football players TreVeyon Henderson, Denzel Burke, and Jeremiah Smith and is narrated by Buckeye legend Archie Griffin
• The company's nonprofit, The Chipotle Cultivate Foundation, will introduce a new scholarship for a student enrolled in OSU's College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., Aug. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE: CMG) today announced a first-of-its-kind partnership with all student athletes at The Ohio State University that will grant them access to free Chipotle for their respective athletic seasons. For the 2024-25 school year, every scholarship and walk-on student athlete at The Ohio State University, approximately 1,000 in total, will receive a customized Chipotle card granting them one free entrée per week for 15 weeks.

Columbus Loves Chipotle 
The passion for Chipotle among OSU athletes is fervent. Ohio State is among the top five four-year universities that consume the most Chipotle.

"With so many Buckeyes routinely visiting our High Street restaurant on campus and our strong connection to the Columbus community with a Restaurant Support Center in the Arena District, we wanted to pursue a partnership that would increase access to real food for all student athletes at OSU," said Chris Brandt, Chief Brand Officer at Chipotle. "Typically, only a few star athletes secure NIL deals and brand partnerships, but we wanted to reward all Buckeyes with real ingredients to support their pursuit of academic and athletic excellence." 

Chipotle's Real Food for Real Athletes platform focuses on supporting athletes across all levels by providing proper nutrition through real food and fresh ingredients.

"We are thrilled for this continued partnership with Chipotle," said Ohio State's Assistant Athletic Director of NIL, Logan Hittle. "This collaboration highlights our commitment to helping student-athletes thrive both on and off the playing surface while partnering with a brand that shares our passion for excellence and authenticity."

Emphasizing "THE" in The Ohio State University 
Chipotle's new ad featuring star running back TreVeyon Henderson, cornerback Denzel Burke, and wide receiver Jeremiah Smith is narrated by Buckeye legend Archie Griffin and showcases the football traditions that make the Ohio State Football one of "THE" most storied programs in the country. The ad can be seen in its entirety here: https://youtu.be/qH1OHTYUgCo.

Last year, Chipotle unveiled its first version of "THE" ad featuring Henderson and other prominent Buckeye football players: https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cxa2xMvriH5/.

In 2022, Chipotle teamed up with Henderson and Ohio State's entire offensive line for its first-ever college football NIL campaign. The players were featured in a video, also narrated by Archie Griffin, that showcased Henderson's journey from Hopewell, Virginia to the bright lights of the Horseshoe: https://www.instagram.com/p/Ch_BigtPnLA/?hl=en. 

Ohio State and Chipotle worked closely to develop this partnership with athletics multimedia rights holder Ohio State Sports Properties, the locally based team of Learfield—the media and technology company powering college athletics.

Harvesting Real Opportunity at OSU
To further support students and continue the company's advocacy for the future of farming and sustainably sourced ingredients, the Chipotle Cultivate Foundation is introducing a full four-year scholarship for an in-state student attending The Ohio State University's College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. The scholarship will cover the full cost of attendance for a student pursuing a degree in agricultural-related studies. Students must be in good academic standing to be eligible for the scholarship.

ABOUT CHIPOTLE
Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE: CMG) is cultivating a better world by serving responsibly sourced, classically-cooked, real food with wholesome ingredients without artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. There are over 3,500 restaurants as of June 30, 2024, in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Kuwait and it is the only restaurant company of its size that owns and operates all its restaurants in North America and Europe. Chipotle is ranked on the Fortune 500 and is recognized on Fortune's Most Admired Companies 2024 list and Time Magazine's Most Influential Companies. With over 120,000 employees passionate about providing a great guest experience, Chipotle is a longtime leader and innovator in the food industry. Chipotle is committed to making its food more accessible to everyone while continuing to be a brand with a demonstrated purpose as it leads the way in digital, technology and sustainable business practices. For more information or to place an order online, visit WWW.CHIPOTLE.COM.

 

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SOURCE Chipotle Mexican Grill

FAQ

What is Chipotle's new partnership with Ohio State University for the 2024-25 school year?

Chipotle (CMG) will provide all scholarship and walk-on student athletes at Ohio State University with a customized card granting them one free entrée per week for 15 weeks during their respective athletic seasons.

How many Ohio State University athletes will benefit from Chipotle's free meal program?

Approximately 1,000 scholarship and walk-on student athletes at Ohio State University will benefit from Chipotle's free meal program for the 2024-25 school year.

What new scholarship is Chipotle introducing at Ohio State University?

The Chipotle Cultivate Foundation is introducing a full four-year scholarship for an in-state student attending Ohio State University's College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.

Which Ohio State football players are featured in Chipotle's new ad campaign?

Chipotle's new ad campaign titled 'THE' features Ohio State football players TreVeyon Henderson, Denzel Burke, and Jeremiah Smith, and is narrated by Buckeye legend Archie Griffin.