Grubhub Launches Drone Food Delivery Service in New Jersey

Grubhub announced last Wednesday plans to kick off New Jersey’s first commercial drone delivery service for food. This will be a test program running for three months in Greenbrook Township, which is about an hour southwest of New York City.

The food delivery platform is teaming up with autonomous drone company Dexa to get meals straight from local Wonder Food Halls, operated by its parent company. These innovative facilities function as modern kitchens where staff put together and finalize dishes from various restaurant brands, making the ordering process more efficient.

According to the Chicago-based company, the drone deliveries should be quicker than conventional methods, and interestingly, there aren’t any extra costs apart from standard delivery and service fees.

Dexa’s CEO, Beth Flippo, noted, “This service is a glimpse into the future of how autonomous technology can help restaurants and retailers serve customers on a whole new level.”

Customers can place orders through the Grubhub app, choosing from 15 different restaurant options all prepared at a single location, with drone delivery available among other choices.

Once the order is ready, Dexa’s AI-operated drone DE-2020 will take off along a safe, approved route designed to reduce noise and other disturbances to local residents. At the destination, instead of landing, the drone will lower the order to the ground via a controlled tether system to ensure safety.

Grubhub emphasized that the drone crews are diligent about packaging and securing the food properly before each flight. Customers will also enjoy real-time GPS tracking of their meals and arrival notifications through the Grubhub platform.

After the three-month trial in Green Brook, Grubhub plans to assess the program’s performance and may expand the service to include additional nearby restaurants.