[1/2] The logo of Chipotle is seen on one of their restaurants in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., February 7, 2022. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File PhotoJuly 26 (Reuters) - Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG.N) missed Wall Street estimates for quarterly sales on Wednesday as a pause in months-long price hikes hurt its top line, sending the company's shares down nearly 9% in extended trading. California-based Chipotle also projected current-quarter comparable sales to grow in the low- to mid-single-digit range, while analysts on average expected a 6.01% increase. Like other restaurants, Chipotle has hiked menu prices to offset the impact of higher input costs of everything from beef to potatoes. Chipotle was not seeing any weakness in the lower-income consumer despite high inflation, CEO Brian Niccol said in a post-earnings call.

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Persons: Andrew Kelly, Chipotle, Brian Niccol, Scott Boatwright, Peter Saleh, Sante Faustini, Deborah Sophia, Devika Organizations: REUTERS, Intelligence, Science, Thomson Locations: Manhattan , New York City, U.S, California, Bengaluru, Kailyn Rhone, New York