Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s… a burrito.
Chipotle announced it will be partnering with Zipline, a drone delivery company, to start delivering orders by drone to certain customers.
The new delivery option, dubbed “Zipotle,” will use the company’s fleet of quiet, zero-emissions aircraft to make deliveries to customers in an effort to save time and keep orders fresh, the press release said.
For now, the drone delivery option is only available in the greater Dallas area, which has emerged as the drone delivery capital of America.
“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’s commitment to building an efficient, environmentally friendly delivery experience is synonymous with our mission to cultivate a better world.”
To get Zipotle, eligible guests in the Rowlett, Texas, area can download the Zipline app on their phone and place their Chipotle order.
Employees will put the order into a “Zipping Point,” which allows the drones to autonomously pick up the order going out for delivery.
The drone then flies to its destination, hovering about 300 feet in the air while the Zip lowers to the ground. The Zip will automatically avoid obstacles and place the order at the guest’s address “gently and precisely.”
“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.
“Starting today, families in the Dallas area can have food delivered by Zipotle and served for lunch or dinner. What once felt like science fiction is soon going to become totally normal.”
Zipotle will initially carry orders that weigh up to 5.5 pounds and will increase to 8 pounds over time.
The Chipotle location at 3109 Lakeview Parkway, Rowlett, Texas, will be the first store to offer Zipotle deliveries. The new service will operate seven days a week from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. CT to start and will eventually expand to 10 p.m. CT.
Read the full article here
