During a fourth-quarter conference call with analysts, SteveElls, founder, chairman and CEO, said the majority of the 2007openings would be in markets where Chipotle already operates."About 10% to 15% will be in new markets," he said, citingPhiladelphia, Jacksonville, FL, Salt Lake City and Birmingham,AL.

A new staffing structure has been initiated that puts restaurantmanagers in line for "careers," said Monty Moran, president andCOO. Called the "Restaurateur Program," it "has increased thenumber of managers who are being promoted from crew positions andshould improve the customer experience in our restaurants."

The program has been implemented at more than half of thechain's restaurants and will continue to roll out this year. Itputs managers in charge of crew training and offers incentive-basedbonuses. The result, Moran says, is less turnover and reduced costsof recruitment in addition to improved customer satisfaction.