Of the company's 200 new restaurants in 2021, 70% will have Chipotlanes. During Q2 itself, 45 of its 56 new restaurants included a Chipotlane, and the company’s Q2 digital sales increased 10.5% versus last year, accounting for 48.5% of all sales. Chipotle launched its first Digital Kitchen last year, offering pickup and delivery exclusively—the prototype has no dining room or front service line.
Food delivery apps like Uber Eats, DoorDash, and SkipTheDishes—a Winnipeg-based homegrown competitor to the US-based services—had already established a foothold before the pandemic. The greater need for delivery last year elevated their influence in food service, even though the fees they charge have raised concerns in the restaurant industry and for regulators.
Ipsos tracking of the food service sector includes delivery (including the food delivery apps and delivery run by FSRs and QSRs, like pizza delivery), takeout, drive-thru, and dine-in.
US digital sales of food and beverages from restaurants soared 123.8% last year, per eMarketer estimates. This massive increase was the result of more consumers using delivery services like DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub amid lockdowns and restaurant closures.