Chipotle, the American-Mexican fast-food chain, has announced a collaboration with the global drone delivery company Zipline to conduct drone food delivery tests in the Dallas area of Texas starting from Thursday, August 21.
As reported by CNBC, customers in the Dallas metropolitan area can now opt for the “Zipotle” delivery service through the Zipline app as part of an early experience program. Zipline drones will take off from the Chipotle location in Rowlett, Texas, to deliver meals directly to customers’ doorsteps.
In the initial testing phase, Zipline is only open to a few selected users for a full Chipotle menu experience. The service area is expected to expand gradually after a few weeks. The nationwide expansion of this delivery service will be determined based on the results of these initial tests.
According to reports, the customers’ meals will be placed in a designated “Zipping Point” by Chipotle staff and then automatically picked up by drones for delivery. Once the drones arrive at the destination, they will hover at an altitude of approximately 300 feet before being landed by Zipline robots on the ground to complete the delivery.
Chipotle’s CEO and Chief Strategy and Technology Officer Curt Garner mentioned, “The advantage of drone food delivery is that we don’t need to set up dedicated drone stations at every restaurant. With the service range of drones, one community might only need one restaurant to cover the entire area. This significantly enhances the feasibility of expanding nationwide.”
Garner pointed out that young consumers will be the primary beneficiaries of this service, stating, “Young customers are already loyal fans of Chipotle, and they use delivery services more frequently than older customers. They are eager to try new things, especially many young people living in shared apartments find drone delivery very appealing.”
Currently, Chipotle and other fast-food businesses are experiencing a slowdown in business. Chipotle reported a 4% decrease in same-store sales this quarter primarily due to reduced foot traffic.
Zipline will use the second-generation “Platform 2” for deliveries, which features waterproofing and insulation capabilities to withstand rain, cold, and heat, while providing fast and quiet flights.
Currently, “Zipotle” can carry up to 5.5 pounds of delivery meals, with plans to increase it to 8 pounds in the future. Garner stated that the delivery fee is fixed at $2.99 plus a 15% service charge, not exceeding $6. The service operates seven days a week from 12 pm to 8 pm Central Time, with plans to extend it to 10 pm.
Zipline operates across four continents, completing a global delivery every 60 seconds, and serving over 5,000 hospitals and medical facilities. Their commercial autonomous flights have surpassed 100 million miles.
Zipline’s CEO Keller Rinaudo Cliffton mentioned, “This not only improves the product experience, is environmentally friendly, and cost-effective, but more importantly, it increases efficiency and reaches a broader population.”
Zipline has also announced plans to collaborate with another fast-food chain, Sweetgreen, for future drone delivery services.