Dive Brief:
- Donatos Pizza is working with Appetronix (formerly SJW Robotics) to build a fully automated pizza vending machine, the companies announced Thursday.
- The first unit will deploy in Columbus, Ohio, at an unspecified point in time. The partnership will also include the development of some robots for existing kitchens.
- To build the vending machine, Donatos is working with two associated companies, Agápe Automation, described as “the innovation arm for Donatos Pizza,” and Grote Company, an equipment manufacturer founded by Donatos founder Jim Grote.
Dive Insight:
The companies say the use of robotics will offer Donatos increased speed of service, greater precision, consistency and order accuracy.
According to the press release, the “collaboration will pave the way for the development of a standalone, fully autonomous restaurant that combines cutting-edge technology with the art of creating delicious pizzas.”
Agápe Automation and the Grote Company will develop the kiosk with Appetronix. Agápe Automation will “focus on new technologies for both fully autonomous stand-alone restaurants as well as small prep-bots for existing restaurant kitchens.”
A number of robotics companies have invested in building out pizza robots over the last few years. Piestro and 800 Degrees Pizza announced a partnership in 2021 to deploy Piestro’s automated machines. Last summer, Serve Robotics and Piestro announced their intent to start offering autonomous delivery from automated pizza kiosks. In October, Stellar Pizza, which makes pizza robot trucks, secured $16.5 million in funding in a round led in part by Jay-Z’s Marcy Venture Partners.
Donatos operates 176 traditional stores, 273 stores in conjunction with Red Robin and ten in sports and entertainment venues. In 2021, the pizza chain signed a deal with Reef Kitchens to sell its pizza through that company’s ghost kitchens, though Reef has largely pivoted away from its initial strategy reliant on mobile food “vessels.” It is unclear if there are any units open through that partnership.
Donatos did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the timing of the deployment of its pizza vending machine or its physical placement.
