Listen to this articleThe basics:
- Wonder and Grubhub debut autonomous food delivery with Avride
- Jersey City pilot marks Grubhub’s first off-campus robot rollout
- Robots use AI tech for safe navigation and efficient delivery
- Wonder continues rapid growth across New Jersey and the Northeast
Fast-growing food hall chain Wonder is the latest restaurant in Jersey City to give customers the option of having their food delivered by self-driving robots.
As part a newly announced pilot between Wonder-owned on-demand delivery platform Grubhub and autonomous vehicle startup Avride, the Grove Street eatery will offer robot-powered delivery from its multiple in-house concepts.
Besides serving as Wonder’s introduction into the world of robot delivery, the program marks the first time Grubhub will provide autonomous delivery outside of a college campus. Following the pilot, Grubhub plans to bring the service to other markets nationwide, according to the announcement.
How it works
When customers order from Wonder on the Grubhub app, they will have the option to choose delivery via an Avride robot if their delivery address is within a set range of the restaurant. PJ Poykayil, Wonder and Grubhub’s senior vice president of delivery operations, told NJBIZ that “radius is intentionally kept small to ensure fast, high-quality delivery – leveraging Wonder’s proprietary technology to consistently deliver meals in under 30 minutes.”
According to the companies, the initiative will feature Avride’s most advanced delivery robots to date. Guided by AI-enabled autonomous driving technology, robots can navigate challenging urban environments and various weather conditions. They are also able to make smooth, efficient deliveries thanks to a precision-engineered four-wheel chassis capable of quick 180-degree turns and advanced maneuverability.
Founded by billionaire entrepreneur Marc Lore, Wonder allows customers to order from a collection of nearly two dozen acclaimed chefs and eateries. Everything is made-to-order for delivery, pick-up or limited dining in at one of the concept’s more than 75 locations across the Northeast.
To support its growth plans, Wonder has made several key acquisitions over the past two years, such as meal kit provider Blue Apron for $103 million and Grubhub for $650 million.
On a roll
A company spokesperson told NJBIZ that Wonder is on track to meet its goal of having 90 locations open by the end of 2025. After recent launches in Mount Laurel, Jersey City, Hackensack and Englishtown, the brand has sites coming soon to Marlton, Fort Lee and Hackettstown.
The company – which has its R&D facility in Parsippany – has raised more than $2 billion since its 2018 founding and is reportedly valued at more than $7 billion.
“This pilot represents the next step in our mission to provide diners with fast, reliable, and delightful delivery experiences. By combining Grubhub’s marketplace, Wonder’s culinary innovation, and Avride’s advanced robotics, we’re delivering the future of convenience,” Poykayil said in a statement.
Avride CEO Dmitry Polishchuk said, “We’re proud to be Grubhub’s trusted partner as they bring robot delivery beyond campuses for the very first time. For Avride, this marks an important step in expanding robotic delivery. Going beyond traditional restaurant or grocery delivery, it highlights how seamlessly our technology can integrate with innovative platforms like Wonder’s, opening up new business verticals for autonomous delivery.”
‘Wonder’ what it looks like in action? (no sound):
Majoring in robotics
Over the past year, Grubhub and Avride have completed more than 100,000 robot deliveries across U.S. campuses, including Ohio State University. The school is home to the largest single-site robot food delivery program in the country, where a fleet of over 120 robots delivers meals to students every day, the companies said.
With a population density of more than 19,000 people per square mile, Jersey City is becoming a testing ground for last-mile delivery technology.
Earlier this year, Uber Eats teamed up with Avride to introduce robot food delivery in Jersey City as part of a larger multiyear partnership. Since then, they have more than doubled the service’s local operating territory to more than 100 eateries.
Editor’s note: This story was updated at 9:17 a.m. EST Oct. 24, 2025, to include more information about the delivery range of the service.
