El Pollo Loco Launches First of Its Kind “Air Loco” Drone Delivery
El Pollo Loco (Nasdaq: LOCO) is set to pilot drone delivery starting June 24, 2021, becoming the first national restaurant chain to do so. Partnering with Flytrex, this initiative aims to enhance customer experience and digital delivery capabilities. The pilot will provide select Loco Rewards members in Southern California with drone-delivered meals, ensuring high-quality and hot food. Additionally, the company is launching a summer promotion for free delivery on orders over $20, leveraging its new Thermo-to-Go™ packaging to maintain food temperature.
- First national restaurant chain to pilot drone delivery.
- Record-breaking 250% increase in delivery performance in 2020.
- Partnership with innovative drone startup Flytrex.
- Launch of summer free delivery promotion to attract customers.
- None.
Pilot test launches as company kicks off summer Free Delivery promotion
COSTA MESA, Calif., June 17, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Starting June 24, El Pollo Loco, Inc. (“El Pollo Loco” or “Company) (Nasdaq: LOCO), the nation’s leading fire-grilled chicken restaurant chain, will become the first national restaurant company to test door-to-backyard drone delivery. The test-and-learn pilot of its drone delivery service is the continuation of the company’s digital evolution and focus on customer experience.
“We’re highly encouraged by the evolution of our digital flywheel and continued enhancement of the strategies we put in place last year,” President and Chief Executive Officer, Bernard Acoca said. “We look forward to further growth on the heels of our record-breaking
El Pollo Loco is launching the pilot with Tel Aviv-based drone startup Flytrex, which manufactures and operates automated drones that cruise at 32 mph without traffic or other impediments and use a wire release mechanism to gently lower food orders from 80 feet.
“El Pollo Loco continues to explore new and innovative delivery services that offer our customers added quality and convenience, and the Air Loco drone delivery pilot program is our latest effort to unlock fresh options for getting our fire-grilled chicken to hungry customers everywhere — piping hot and in perfect condition,” El Pollo Loco Vice President of Digital Andy Rebhun said. “We want to offer drone food deliveries that are fast, convenient and safe. The insights gleaned during this test-and-learn pilot will play a crucial role in helping us shape this exciting new service ahead of its rollout.”
The Air Loco drone is also outfitted with a fastened delivery box that keeps orders intact, which means customers will receive hot fire-grilled chicken and fresh L.A. Mex food packed in El Pollo Loco’s new Thermo-to-Go™ packaging, in a fraction of the time it would take for a conventional delivery to arrive. During the pilot, a select number of El Pollo Loco’s loyal Loco Rewards members in Southern California will be surprised with one of the first fire-grilled flights, and will have the Air Loco drone gently lower their food order from from high above their home.
In addition, starting June 24, all customers can enjoy free delivery on El Pollo Loco’s current platform. This special, limited-time promotion aims to demonstrate the effectiveness of El Pollo Loco’s new Thermo-To-Go packaging, which keeps food hotter for longer. To take advantage of the free delivery offer, customers simply need to place an order of
About El Pollo Loco
El Pollo Loco (Nasdaq:LOCO) is the nation’s leading fire-grilled chicken restaurant with a mission to bring people together around food, family, and culture in the communities it serves. El Pollo Loco is renowned for its handcrafted L.A. Mex food, an innovative blend of traditional Mexican cuisine and better-for-you eating, that Los Angeles is known for. Since 1980, El Pollo Loco has successfully opened and maintained more than 480 company-owned and franchised restaurants in Arizona, California, Nevada, Texas, Utah, and Louisiana while remaining true to its Mexican-American heritage. El Pollo Loco continues to grow and evolve, nourishing connections to tradition, culture, and one another through fire-grilled goodness that makes us feel like familia. For more information, visit us at ElPolloLoco.com.
Like: www.facebook.com/ElPolloLoco
Follow on Twitter: @ElPolloLoco
Follow on Instagram: @ElPolloLoco
Follow on TikTok: @ElPolloLoco
Subscribe: www.youtube.com/OfficialElPolloLoco
Join Loco Rewards: www.elpolloloco.com/rewards
Join our Team: www.elpolloloco.com/careers
About Flytrex
Flytrex is ushering in a new era of on-demand delivery. Flytrex provides a direct-to-consumer autonomous drone delivery service that lets retailers and quick-service restaurants (QSRs) cater to a wider customer base with faster, safer and cheaper on-demand deliveries than ever before.
From setting new drone safety standards to helping advance regulations to meeting the ever-evolving needs of retailers and consumers alike, Flytrex is bringing about a future of simpler, quicker, and greener autonomous airborne delivery. Headquartered in Tel Aviv, the Flytrex team has 50+ years aerospace and defense experience
MEDIA CONTACT:
Rosie Herzog
Edible
213-878-7867 | EPLMedia@Edible-Inc.com
A photo accompanying this announcement can be found at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/81b7e2a7-8adf-4c43-b9e1-48ff8b18195e
FAQ
What is El Pollo Loco planning for June 24, 2021?
How has El Pollo Loco's delivery performance changed recently?
What is the purpose of the free delivery promotion by El Pollo Loco?
Who is partnering with El Pollo Loco for the drone delivery service?
What specific benefits does the Air Loco drone delivery promise?
