Chipotle burritos will take flight with 1st autonomous aircraft delivery option
It's a bird, it's a plane -- it's a burrito.
For the first time ever, Chipotle customers in the greater Dallas, Texas, area can have their digital orders from Chipotle delivered via autonomous aircraft.
The partnership with Zipline, announced Thursday, is available to a small number of Zipline users in the Rowlett area at launch, who will have access to the Zipotle service.
"With Zipline, you tap a button, and minutes later food magically appears -- hot, fresh, and ultra fast," Keller Rinaudo Cliffton, CEO and co-founder of Zipline, said in a press release.
Broader service using the fleet of zero-emissions aircraft will launch in the coming weeks to allow for even more convenient delivery options, according to Chipotle.
The full Chipotle menu from tacos to burrito bowls is available for Zipotle delivery.
"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," said Curt Garner, Chipotle's president and chief strategy and technology officer. "Zipline's commitment to building an efficient, environmentally friendly delivery experience is synonymous with our mission to Cultivate a Better World."
How does the new Zipotle delivery work?
Customers who are in the Rowlett area of Dallas can download the Zipline app, and, where eligible, place their order for Chipotle.
Employees at the restaurant will place the order into a "Zipping Point," where the aircraft, called Zips, will autonomously pick up the order for delivery.
After flying to the customer's destination, the Zip will hover about 300 feet in the air before lowering to the ground. Zips automatically avoid obstacles and gently place the delivery at the guest's address.
The Chipotle location at 3109 Lakeview Pkwy in Rowlett is the first-ever location to offer Zipotle deliveries.
Zipotle will operate seven days a week from 12 to 8 p.m. CT at launch, with plans to expand to 10 p.m. CT.
