Dive Brief:
- Chipotle has partnered with Zipline, an autonomous delivery company, to deliver digital orders to customers by air from a restaurant in greater Dallas, according to a Thursday press release.
- A handful of Zipline users can access “Zipotle” already, with a broader launch planned for the coming weeks. Chipotle’s full menu will be available for Zipotle delivery.
- Chipotle is among a growing list of restaurant companies piloting autonomous aerial delivery this year. GoTo Foods launched drone delivery with Wing in Texas from select Auntie Anne’s, Jamba, McAlister’s Deli and Schlotzsky’s earlier this month. Papa Johns partnered with DoorDash and Flytrex to offer drone delivery in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Dive Insight:
The addition of Zipotle aligns with the company’s ongoing strategy of using automation to improve the guest experience. The chain is already piloting automated makelines through a partnership with Hyphen and automated avocado processing machines from Vebu.
While the service will initially be available from Chipotle’s location in Rowlett, Texas, the chain has the potential for expansion. Chipotle will use its stage-gate process to test and learn about the service in Rowlett before deciding whether to roll out Zipotle elsewhere, a Chipotle spokesperson wrote in an email. Zipline operates drones in various areas in Texas, including Mesquitte, Waxahachie, Kaufman, Weatherford, Greenville, Terrell, Anna, Lewisville and Bedford, most of which have one or more Chipotle restaurants.
Guests place their orders using the Zipline app. Employees load the order into a drone at a Zipping Point, according to a promotional video. The drone flies to its destination and hovers about 300 feet in the air while a smaller device that holds the order, is lowered to the ground, avoiding obstacles along the way. Zipline deliveries have a $2.99 delivery fee and a service fee of 15% that is applied to the subtotal. The service fee is capped at $6, a spokesperson said.
“Zipotle is a quick and convenient source of delivery that lets guests enjoy our real food from places that are traditionally challenging to serve, including backyards and public parks,” Curt Garner, president, chief strategy and technology officer at Chipotle, said in a statement.
Zipline has flown over 100 million commercial miles and completed over 1.6 million commercial deliveries, according to the press release. Zipline also works with Flynn Group in Seattle, offering drone deliveries from select Panera Bread units. The drone company has also worked with as Sweetgreen, Wendy’s, Buffalo Wild Wings, Jet’s Pizza, Mendocino Farms and Walmart, per its website.
