Chipotle unveils quesadilla, but for digital customers only

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Chipotle (CMG) is out with its long-awaited menu item, the Hand-Crafted Quesadilla.

But there's a catch: Diners can only order it online, a symbol of how fast food giants are pulling out all the stops to drive customer loyalty with a combination of cheap eats and app-based deals.

Chipotle's digital-only menu item debuts on Thursday (March 11th), and marks the first customizable entrée Chipotle will add to its menu since it introduced a salad option 17 years ago.

The quesadilla is filled with Monterey Jack Cheese, with the option to choose between chicken, steak, carnitas, Barbacoa, Sofritas, or fajita Veggies — in addition to three salsas or a choice of sides like tomato salsa, sour cream, or guacamole "for a little extra."

The quesadilla introduction "brings so many new possibilities to our menu, and fans will love exploring fresh flavor combinations through its sides and salsa options," Chipotle said in a release.

Chipotle's Hand-Crafted Quesadilla is folded and pressed using a new custom oven in Chipotle’s Digital Kitchen, which melts the cheese perfectly and enables restaurants to make Quesadillas more quickly and conveniently. The menu item is cut into triangular pieces and served in 100% compostable packaging that allows guests to pick three salsas or sides, including fresh tomato salsa, sour cream, or hand-mashed guac for a little extra.
Chipotle's Hand-Crafted Quesadilla (Courtesy: Chipotle) (Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc.)

The new menu item was first tested over the summer of 2020 in digital-only pilots in Cleveland and Indianapolis . From March 11th to March 21, Chipotle will offer a $0 delivery fee when guests order a quesadilla on the Chipotle app, or Chipotle.com.

This is just the latest innovation from Chipotle, last week the company unveiled a collaboration with e.l.f. Beauty (ELF).

On Tuesday, shares of Chipotle closed more than 7% higher, at 1,430.12 a share. From a year ago, shares of the stock are up nearly 85%.

Brooke DiPalma is a producer and reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter at @BrookeDiPalma

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