Chipotle Mexican Grills -- Building Supplier Relationships

On July 28, I did a post about Chipotle Mexican Grills and their unique way of recognizing one of their employees.  They told Houram Iskandani’s amazing story on one of their soda cups.

Well, they’re at it again.  This time, they’re recognizing one of their vendors.  I think this is pretty cool – sending out some kudos to a supplier – especially when that supplier is a couple who operate a family farm.  Read on to hear what it says on the Chipotle cup…

People We’re Pleased to Know – Part 2

We like Iowans.  Something in the soil perhaps!  Anyway, a couple of the nicest people on the plant, Paul and Phyllis Willis, have a farm in the northern part of the Hawkeye State.

Guests at the Willises’ are welcomed like long lost friends and are fed homegrown heirloom tomatoes and Phyllis’ famous pork fritters.

The Willises raise pigs on their farm.  They don’t do it the way big corporations do, cramming thousands of pigs under one roof in restrictive pens.  The Willises raise pigs naturally – outdoors or in deeply bedded pens so pigs can roam and socialize.  The pigs eat an all-vegetarian diet (no animal byproducts), and they are never given antibiotics or growth promoting hormones.  We buy this wonderfully tasty pork from them, and other family farmers, for our carnitas.

The Willises’ commitment to sustainable agriculture is all-encompassing.  Paul has return part of his rolling land from crops to Iowa prairie, with native grasses, wildflowers and nearly vanished “prairie potholes”: small, naturally forming ponds that serve as migration stops for many birds.  He calls this place his dream farm.  And that says it all.

Pretty cool story, huh?  “Yes”, you say, “but why are you writing about it here?”  I’m writing about it to make a common sense point about one of the secrets in my book 4 Secrets of High Performing Organizations.

The last secret is “build strong, long lasting, mutually beneficial relationships with important constituencies outside of your organization”.  Suppliers are an important outside constituency.  Next to customers, suppliers are probably most important outside constituency of any business.

Chipotle, as they do in most things, has gotten very creative in their relationship building with their suppliers.  How many pig farmers get to have their story told (and a great story it is) on soda cups in restaurants in New York, Miami, Washington DC, Denver and other major metropolitan centers all across America?  I haven’t done a study, but I would be pretty willing to bet that the answer is zero – except for Paul and Phyllis Willis (I love that name, Phyllis Willis).  My hunch is that the Willises value their relationship with Chipotle – and that it goes well beyond the typical supplier-customer relationship.

What are you doing to build relationships with your customers, suppliers, government regulators and the communities in which you do business?  If you’re not actively building these relationships, rest assured that they are getting ground down slowly.  So take a page from Chipotle’s book and start building strong, long lasting, mutually beneficial relationships with the people with whom you do business.

That’s it for today.  Thanks for reading.  Log on to my website www.BudBilanich.com for more leadership common sense.  Check out my other blog www.CareerSuperStar.com for common sense advice on becoming the life and career star you are meant to be.

I’ll see you around the web, and at Alex’s Lemonade Stand.

Bud

PS: Speaking of Alex’s Lemonade Stand – my fundraising page is still open.  Please go to www.FirstGiving.com/TheCommonSenseGuy to read Alex’s inspiring story and to donate if you can.

Comments

[Maria Palma]

Hi Bud,

I've eaten at Chipotle on a number of occasions and their food is absolutely yummy! Not to mention I like the service.

I couldn't agree more - that relationships are key to business!

By the way, I wanted to also welcome you to the KnowMoreMedia.com family! I write over at CustomersAreAlways.com...

[Bud Bilanich]

Maria:
Thanks for your kind words about my post -- and thanks for your welcome. I enjoy writing the CareerSuperStar.com blog for KMM. I'll be sure to check out your blog.
All the best,
Bud

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