Chipotle founder opening robot-powered, meat-free restaurants

Steve Ells, the founder and ex-CEO of the fast casual food giant Chipotle, is plotting a return to the industry early next year with a new startup that will serve meat-free sandwiches in restaurants powered by robots and skeleton crews.

Ells, 58, is scheduled to open a chain of restaurants called Kernel, with the first location expected to open in Manhattan and plans for at least a dozen more throughout New York over the next two years, according to The Wall Stree