DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As college students make their way back to school for another year, Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE: CMG) is making it easier for students to find the food they love, allowing more time for study and less to search for burritos. Through a new partnership with Tapingo, a leading mobile commerce app that saves college students time by providing food pickup and delivery, Chipotle will be available for delivery through Tapingo at 40 college campuses nationwide this fall, and at more than 100 campuses by spring 2016.

The partnership with Tapingo expands Chipotle’s existing delivery program. The company also has nationwide delivery partnerships with Postmates, a delivery service that operates in several key Chipotle markets, and with OrderUp, which provides delivery service in several smaller Chipotle markets.

“Chipotle has been popular with students going back to our very first restaurant near the University of Denver, and we are always looking for ways to better engage with them,” said Mark Crumpacker, chief creative and development officer at Chipotle. “Tapingo, which has been well received by students where its services are available, knows how to connect with these younger customers. That shared acceptance among younger customers made them a great choice for us to expand delivery aimed specifically at students.”

Tapingo has a rapidly growing user base, the large majority of whom are Millennials and Gen Zs. Chipotle resonates well with a similar audience. A recent survey by investment firm William Blair called Chipotle the “most favored restaurant” by younger consumers. Morgan Stanley notes that Millennials are more likely to dine out on a weekly basis than older consumers and states that “taste, value, and quality” drive their restaurant decision-making. “On those metrics, Chipotle wins,” the firm says.

“Tapingo has become the buy button for students and we are excited to expand into surrounding areas,” said Daniel Almog, chief executive officer at Tapingo. “Our network of students is hungry for Chipotle, and we’re excited to deliver it quickly and at a very reasonable delivery cost.”

Since its founding in 2012, Tapingo has leveraged mobile technology to create a more convenient and enjoyable experience for students to purchase a variety of products or services. With the average student transacting daily, using Tapingo has become habitual for college students. Users can order with a tap and then have their order delivered in a timely and efficient manner. Using the Club Tapingo feature, the average user pays $2.99, with no additional service fee. Tapingo also provides timely delivery, with an average of only 25 minutes between order placement and receipt.

Chipotle delivery is currently available through Tapingo at the following campuses:

Arizona State University

California State University Chico

Louisiana State University

University of Arizona

University of Southern California

Northern Arizona University

Delivery will expand to include the following campuses later this fall.

California State University - Fullerton

California State University Northridge

Carnegie Melon University

Case Western Reserve University

Cleveland State University

College of the Holy Cross

Columbia University

Eastern Michigan University

Emory University

Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia State University

Johns Hopkins University

Loyola Marymount University

Loyola University Maryland

Michigan State University

New York University

North Carolina State University

Ohio State University

Pennsylvania State University

Rutgers University

San Jose State University

Santa Clara University

Towson University

Trinity College

University of Arkansas

University of California Los Angeles

University of Georgia

University of Louisville

University of Maryland

University of Miami

University of Michigan

University of Oklahoma

University of Oregon Eugene

University of Pittsburgh

University of the Pacific

University of Utah

Plans for additional rollouts or availability can be found on Tapingo.com/Chipotle.

ABOUT CHIPOTLE

Steve Ells, founder, chairman and co-CEO, started Chipotle with the idea that food served fast did not have to be a typical fast-food experience. Today, Chipotle continues to offer a focused menu of burritos, tacos, burrito bowls (a burrito without the tortilla) and salads made from fresh, high-quality raw ingredients, prepared using classic cooking methods and served in a distinctive atmosphere. Through our vision of Food With Integrity, Chipotle is seeking better food from using ingredients that are not only fresh, but that — where possible — are sustainably grown and raised responsibly with respect for the animals, the land and the farmers who produce the food. In order to achieve this vision, we focus on building a special people culture that is centered on creating teams of top performers empowered to achieve high standards. This people culture not only leads to a better dining experience for our customers, it also allows us to develop future leaders from within. Chipotle opened with a single restaurant in 1993 and operates more than 1,850 restaurants, including 17 Chipotle restaurants outside the U.S. and 11 ShopHouse Southeast Asian Kitchen restaurants, and is an investor in an entity that owns and operates three Pizzeria Locale restaurants. For more information, visit Chipotle.com.

ABOUT TAPINGO

Since its founding in 2012, Tapingo has leveraged mobile technology to solve a key problem for students: lack of time. Whether confronted with long lines while racing between classes, needing a midnight boost during late-night study sessions, or faced with a lack of options when living off campus, students are increasingly in need of a new solution to meet their needs. With just a few taps, users can browse menus, order and pay, then schedule pickup or have their order delivered. Tapingo provides a streamlined buying process that benefits both the students and the campuses, while driving habitual purchase and eliminating operational inefficiencies. Today, Tapingo processes tens of thousands of transactions per day, and the average user utilizes the service more than five times per week. Serving 46 markets from Alaska to Miami, Tapingo is the ideal commerce solution for the on-the-go on-demand generation. Stop waiting at www.Tapingo.com.