DoorDash Inc. said it is acquiring the start of Chowbotics robotics, which shows that the interest in automating food production when ordering is at an all-time high.
The companies did not disclose the terms of the deal, which reported The Wall Street Journal earlier Monday. Chowbotics was valued at $ 46 million in 2018, when it last raised money, according to data firm PitchBook.
Chowbotics technology can beat salads and bowls, among other things, and DoorDash is exploring how to deploy it in restaurants, said a person familiar with the matter. Ideas include using technology to help restaurants expand their menu, such as allowing a pizzeria to offer salads, or allowing a salad bar to try new places, a kiosk at an airport, for example, without the need for more labour force.
“We’re working on solutions to help marketers grow in an increasingly challenging and changing landscape, and with Chowbotics we hope to improve that level of support,” DoorDash said in a blog post announcing the acquisition. The company said Chowbotics had installed its robots to eat in hundreds of places, including universities, hospitals and grocery stores.
While automating food production can save time and cost in restaurants, it’s unclear to what extent potential diners are friendly to these technologies.