Chipotle Partners With Zipline to Launch Drone-Powered Food Delivery

Chipotle has teamed up with Zipline, a leading drone delivery company, to start a new food delivery service called Zipotle.

This service uses drones, called Zips, to bring Chipotle orders right to customers' homes—fast and fresh.

According to CBS News, Chipotle has officially kicked off its drone delivery service in Rowlett, a suburb of Dallas. The rollout is starting small, with only a limited number of customers able to place orders this way.

However, the company says more neighborhoods will be added soon as it works to expand the program in the coming weeks.

All of Chipotle's menu items are available for drone delivery in this area.

Here's how it works: Customers place orders through the Zipline app, available on Apple and Android devices.

Once an order is ready, a Chipotle staff member prepares the meal and sets it at a designated "Zipping Point." From there, a Zip drone takes over, carrying the food directly to the customer's doorstep.

When the drone arrives, it hovers about 300 feet above the ground and gently lowers the food for a safe delivery.

Curt Garner, Chipotle's president and chief strategy officer, 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."

Chipotle Drone Delivery Launches with Freshness Promise

The company noted that Zipotle is designed to speed up deliveries while ensuring meals arrive hot and fresh.

Zipline's CEO and co-founder, Keller Rinaudo Cliffton, called the new service "magical," saying, "With Zipline, you tap a button, and minutes later food magically appears — hot, fresh, and ultra-fast." He also said that drone delivery, which once seemed like science fiction, will soon become normal.

Right now, the drones can handle deliveries weighing up to 5.5 pounds, but the company is already working on boosting that limit to 8 pounds in the near future.

The drone delivery comes with a $2.99 fee and a 15% service charge, though the added cost won't exceed $6, CNBC said.

For now, the service runs daily from noon until 8 p.m., but extended hours up to 10 p.m. are already in the works.

Chipotle's drone delivery is part of a larger effort to attract younger customers, who tend to use delivery services more and are curious about new technology.

Garner pointed out that drone delivery could be especially useful for younger customers who often live in apartments or shared housing.

Originally published on vcpost.com