A GRADUATION TRADITION THAT WORKS ANYWHERE: THE CHIPOTLE GIFT CARD FOR GRADS

According to “The Real College Guide,” graduating seniors at the College of William and Mary all have the opportunity to ring the bell at the country’s oldest active academic structure, the Christopher Wren Building. Connecticut College grads are given an Eastern White Pine sapling, the tree from their college seal, along with their diploma. And University of New Hampshire grads don eco-friendly gowns made from recycled plastic water bottles. Traditions abound at graduation ceremonies, but only Chipotle offers one that grads across the country can enjoy: A $30 gift card for the graduate in your life and a free burrito, order of tacos, salad or bowl at any Chipotle for the gift-giver.

Students have always been among Chipotle’s most loyal customers, so a Chipotle gift card is sure to please. Recipients can use their gift to purchase their usual – whether that’s a chicken burrito made with naturally raised chicken marinated in Chipotle’s signature adobo rub and grilled to perfection, or a veggie bowl with house-made guacamole – or to try something new, like an order of crispy caritas tacos with slowly braised naturally raised pork.

“While Chipotle makes all of its food with premium quality ingredients from more sustainable sources, it’s still affordable and accessible,” said Mark Crumpacker, chief marketing officer of Chipotle. “A gift card for your favorite graduate and a freebie for you makes it even more affordable for everyone.”

With more than 1,225 locations nationwide, grads will have no trouble finding a place to redeem their gift.

The graduation gift card promotion is valid between May 1 and June 30, 2012 at Chipotle locations in the U.S. and Canada. Receipts may only be redeemed for a free entrée during a customer’s next visit, not on the same visit as when the gift card is purchased. In order to be eligible for a free menu item, customers must redeem their receipt indicating a gift card purchase no later than June 30. This promotion does not apply to gift cards purchased online. For more information please visit a Chipotle restaurant or chipotle.com.

About Chipotle
Steve Ells, founder, chairman and co-CEO, started Chipotle with the idea that food served fast did not have to be a typical fast food experience. Today, Chipotle continues to offer a focused menu of burritos, tacos, burrito bowls (a burrito without the tortilla) and salads made from fresh, high-quality raw ingredients, prepared using classic cooking methods and served in a distinctive atmosphere. Through our vision of Food With Integrity, Chipotle is seeking better food from using ingredients that are not only fresh, but that—where possible—are sustainably grown and naturally raised with respect for the animals, the land, and the farmers who produce the food. A similarly focused people culture, with an emphasis on identifying and empowering top performing employees, enables us to develop future leaders from within. Chipotle opened with a single restaurant in 1993 and currently operates more than 1,225 restaurants.