The future is here, and it’s a lot healthier than some might think. Foodservice delivery partner DoorDash announced it will be acquiring the robotics startup Chowbotics as it further explores the role of automation in the foodservice sector. With this acquisition, DoorDash will be welcoming a healthy and innovative way for consumers to access customizable meals 24/7.
“We’re working on solutions to help merchants grow in an ever-challenging and changing landscape, and with Chowbotics we hope to enhance that level of support,” DoorDash said in a blog post after announcing that it has installed the robots across hundreds of new locations including grocery stores, universities, and hospitals.
California-based Chowbotics was founded in 2014 and is the creator of the Fresh Food Robot. This innovative and leading technology creates customizable salads, grain and poke bowls, parfaits, cereals, and snacks all within a 3’X3’ space. There is tremendous complexity in accurately dispensing a wide variety of natural ingredients that exhibit an ever-changing range of physical properties (e.g., weight, size, shape, and consistency), and Chowbotics tackles this through sophisticated robotics. According to The Wall Street Journal, Chowbotics’ signature robot, Sally, can create meals ranging from brisket bowls to salads and yogurt bowls.
While the companies did not reveal the terms of the deal, Chowbotics was valued at $46 million the last time it raised money in 2018. Using the startup company’s technology, DoorDash is exploring how it can help restaurants expand both their menus and locations, as Sally gives them the opportunity to set up in new places without the need for more employees. In addition to aiding its expansion, the overall automating of food production could save restaurants both time and money as the industry continues to see effects from COVID-19.
How will DoorDash continue to expand in the foodservice sector? Deli Market News will continue to report.
