DoorDash, Wing Launch Drone Delivery Pilot in US
DoorDash and Wing have launched their drone delivery partnership in the United States, starting in Christiansburg, Va. Select local consumers will be able to order eligible menu items from Wendy’s – the pilot’s first restaurant partner – through the DoorDash marketplace and have them delivered via drone.
This follows the drone delivery pilot program that DoorDash and Wing launched in Australia in 2022 and has since expanded to three locations in Queensland with more than 60 participating merchants, marking the first time that Wing integrated its drone delivery service within another marketplace.
“We are excited to expand our partnership with Wing in the U.S. to integrate drone delivery into DoorDash’s ecosystem,” said Harrison Shih, senior director of DoorDash Labs. “At DoorDash, we are committed to advancing last-mile logistics by building a multi-modal delivery platform that serves all sides of our marketplace. We’re optimistic about the value drone delivery will bring to our platform as we work to offer more efficient, sustainable, and convenient delivery options for consumers.”
“Expanding our partnership with DoorDash and launching in the U.S. is a direct result of the success we’ve seen from our initial collaboration in Australia, where Wing has served tens of thousands of customers via the DoorDash app for over a year now,” said Cosimo Leipold, head of partnerships at Wing. “Wing has now made over 350,000 deliveries across three countries and looking ahead we are focused on providing a fast, affordable and safe service to our partners so they can better serve their customers.
“This moment continues our meaningful expansion of this service in the U.S. and advances our shared goal to better the last-mile delivery ecosystem.”
When DoorDash customers with an eligible address in Christiansburg place a qualifying order in the DoorDash app from the Wendy’s located at 2355 N. Franklin St., they will see the option to have their meal delivered by drone on the checkout page. Once they select drone delivery and place their order, it will be prepared and packaged at the Wendy’s location and delivered via a Wing drone, typically in 30 minutes or less.
Through this partnership, DoorDash aims to provide access to an innovative delivery solution for consumers and merchants, complementary to traditional Dasher-fulfilled orders. The new offering provides a quick and sustainable delivery option for small, short-distanced orders while creating the potential for incremental order growth across the platform.
The pilot will initially be available in Christiansburg with plans to explore other cities later this year.
The drone delivery partnership with Wing was born out of DoorDash Labs, DoorDash’s robotics and automation arm. DoorDash sees automation as a means to develop the right platform solution to satisfy consumer demand, while improving efficiencies within the platform.
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Garden City Equity Invests in WeBuild’s Foodservice Turn-Key Service
Garden City Equity is investing in WeBuild, a manufacturer of custom store elements and provider of turn-key program management services for national restaurant and retail franchise brands.
Jeff Fenster founded WeBuild in 2017 to support the rapid new unit growth of his healthy food chain brand, Everbowl. After successfully standing up over 50 Everbowl locations, Fenster saw the opportunity to provide other franchise brands with the same turn-key services – including custom fabrication, logistics, installation, general construction and inventory management.
WeBuild marks Garden City Equity’s seventh investment since 2020. Other notable investors in WeBuild include Drew Brees – athlete and co-owner of Walk-On’s, Smalls Sliders and Stretch Zone; and Perry Rogers – co-owner of Big Chicken.
“Emerging restaurant and retail brands are looking for creative ways to offset the increasing costs and complexity of new unit development. There is immense value in having a partner who has experience avoiding overruns and delays who can support each phase of multi-site brand rollouts – all while having a more streamlined development process,” said Fenster.
“We are very excited to welcome WeBuild to the Garden City family of companies,” said Michael Arrieta, Garden City Equity founder & CEO.
Garden City Equity recently invested in Wathco, a national leader in providing remodel, conversion, and expansion project services to multi-site restaurant, retail, and hospitality brands with nationwide footprints.
Arrieta added, “This investment is extremely strategic for us as we can now further help our national restaurant clients simplify their entire development process – WeBuild provides custom store elements and Wathco provides the installation and project management services.”
Garden City Equity is a people-first holding company that invests in exceptional founder and family-owned businesses. It partners with owners who truly care about the legacy of their businesses, and provide them with a fast, fair, and straightforward acquisition process. It utilizes little to no debt, hold for the long term, and actively engage our family of 50+ mission-aligned shareholders to help grow our businesses.
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THesis Hotel Appoints Giua as Director of Restaurants, Bars
THesis Hotel, a lifestyle hotel in Coral Gables known for its chef-driven culinary concepts and exceptional dining experiences, has appointed Massimiliano Giua as director of restaurants and bars to lead the hotel to new heights while keeping it at the forefront of Miami’s culinary scene and maintaining its status as a cultural hub. Giua, with his wealth of expertise, will bring fresh perspectives to THesis Hotel’s culinary concepts, while continuing to celebrate the well-known flavors and innovative experiences that guests know and love.
“I am thrilled that Massimiliano Giua is joining THesis as our new Director of Restaurants and Bars,” said General Manager Vikash Maharaj. “With a passion for curating memorable experiences and a keen attention to detail, he is a dynamic leader when demonstrating the behaviors and qualities that represent the values of the hotel and its culinary concepts. His commitment to excellence and his ability to navigate the luxury hospitality industry has positioned him as a key player in shaping upscale experiences that he will now bring to THesis Hotel, further enhancing the guest experience. ”
Giua’s journey in the hospitality industry began with a strong foundation and has evolved into a distinguished career, starting in Italy and holding positions at various luxury properties in the United Kingdom, New York City and Miami. Recently, in 2019, Giua opened and took charge of managing the restaurant and bar staff at the prestigious Mr C Hotel by Cipriani in Coconut Grove, Miami. Under his leadership, the team achieved remarkable success. In this role, he successfully managed restaurant and bar staff and played a crucial role in maintaining client relationships to ensure a luxurious and memorable guest experience. His dedication to quality-driven service and team development set the stage for his continued success.
Giua’s career progression led him to his most recent role as the general manager at The Bath Club, a private membership club in Miami, where he assumed a comprehensive leadership role in 2023. Here, Giua oversaw all operational aspects, including sales and marketing, human resources, and food and beverage, contributing significantly to the club’s profitability and growth. His hands-on approach involved daily property inspections, meticulous payroll management, and coordination across various departments.
“As I step into my new role as director of restaurants and bars at THesis Hotel, I am committed to offering outstanding customer service while maintaining THesis Hotel’s renowned culinary reputation,” said Giua. “My extensive travel experiences and immersion in luxury hospitality have shaped my understanding of diverse cultures and exceptional customer service, inspiring my career in the industry. I constantly strive for excellence in service delivery and emphasize the importance of engaging with guests to create lasting connections, enhancing the overall dining experience, ensuring THesis Hotel continues to be a dynamic destination for culinary excellence.”
THesis Hotel Miami is located at 1350 S. Dixie Highway in Coral Gables and is home to the celebrated signature restaurant, Mamey. For more information, visit thesishotelmiami.com, call 305.667.5611, or follow the hotel on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.
Landing on the New York Times’ “36 Hours in Miami” guide, THesis Hotel Miami is a modern property that serves as a cultural hub in Coral Gables with 245 contemporary guest rooms and suites in a strikingly designed building. THesis is a culinary-driven property with luxury amenities that include a sun-filled rooftop pool with tropical views, a poolside bar perfect for soaking up the Florida sun and an open-air paseo.
With a robust year-round calendar of programming and events – all open to the public – THesis is not only a hotel but a destination where curious, like-minded individuals exchange ideas, celebrate art, discover new cultural experiences and engage with the community. Conceived as a modern-day town square and communal gathering space at the intersection of three historic neighborhoods – Coral Gables, South Miami and Coconut Grove – THesis fosters genuine connection and creative expression. Follow on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.
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