Papa Johns Is Getting Into Drone Delivery-but Not for Pizza

"Starting today, eager customers of the US pizza restaurant chain Papa Johns living in one corner of southern North Carolina will have the opportunity to receive their food from the sky, thanks to a new collaboration with Alphabet's drone company, Wing. But Papa Johns' signature pizzas won't be on offer. Instead, drone-loving North Carolinians will have to choose between three kinds of sandwiches, a newer product for the fast-food chain: Philly cheesesteak, chicken bacon ranch, or steak and mushroom varieties."

"Drone deliveries are popping up in more communities across the US and the world. Questions about the long-term economics and regulatory picture around unmanned aerial vehicles persist, but Wing boasts partnerships with Walmart, Panera, and DoorDash and is delivering through the sky to customers in four metro areas: Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Houston. (In 2019, Wing received the US Federal Aviation Administration's first certificate allowing a drone delivery company to operate in the country.)"

"But until very recently, drone operators have struggled to fly full-size pizzas. For companies hoping to break into the food delivery space, this is unfortunate: 11 percent of the US population eats a slice on any given day, according to the US Department of Agriculture. In a fast-diversifying restaurant industry, getting them to customers is still big business. But the realities of physics, engineering, and the restaurant business conspire to make pizzas a challenge for drones."

Wing will begin drone deliveries for eager customers of Papa Johns in one corner of southern North Carolina. Deliveries will be made from the sky through a collaboration with Alphabet’s drone company Wing. Papa Johns signature pizzas will not be offered; customers can choose among three sandwich options: Philly cheesesteak, chicken bacon ranch, or steak and mushroom. Drone deliveries are expanding across communities in the US and worldwide, with Wing partnering with Walmart, Panera, and DoorDash and operating in metro areas including Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Houston. Wing received the FAA’s first certificate for drone delivery in 2019. Other drone firms deliver packages, medical supplies, and food items such as burritos and operate in places including Ghana and Japan.

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