DoorDash Inc. said it is acquiring the Chowbotics starter robot, signaling an increased interest in automating food production when order is at its peak.
The companies did not disclose the terms of the deal, which The Wall Street Journal reported 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 run 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 locations – an airport kiosk, for example – without having to more manpower.
“We are working on solutions to help merchants grow in an ever-challenging and changing landscape, and with Chowbotics we hope to improve this level of support,” DoorDash said in a blog post announcing the acquisition. The company said Chowbotics has installed food processing robots in hundreds of locations, including universities, hospitals and grocery stores.
Although automating food production could save time and costs in restaurants, it is not clear how favorable potential customers are for these technologies.