Automation of Food Prep and Last-Mile Delivery
Sweetgreen, Zipline and Starship execs share insights and key learnings at HNGRY Summit
The food technology world recently gathered in Los Angeles for the second annual HNGRY Summit. Core to the conversation was a panel on “Automation of Food Prep and Last-Mile Delivery,” featuring Sweetgreen’s SVP of Development Tim Noonan, Zipline’s Head of Restaurants Chris Kenney, Starship’s VP of Business Development Chris Neider and moderator Jonah Bliss, Publisher of Ottomate.
In keeping with the theme of the event, we’ve had a large learning model ingest the contents of the discussion; these are the top takeaways for practicing technologists.
Automation in Practice: Current Implementations
Sweetgreen’s Infinite Kitchen: Tim from Sweetgreen explained their "Infinite Kitchen" concept—an automated assembly line that prepares salads and bowls — has seen its pace of adoption accelerate as of late. The technology focuses on reducing errors and enhancing speed while still relying on team members for preparation and final touches. Sweetgreen has integrated automation into both new builds and renovations, such as their Penn Plaza location in New York.
Starship Technologies: Chris Neider highlighted how their autonomous delivery robots have found significant traction on U.S. college campuses, thanks to easier sales processes and regulatory frameworks. These robots focus on short-range deliveries, leveraging a lightweight design to deliver food within one to two miles efficiently.
Zipline’s Drone Deliveries: Chris Kenny from Zipline detailed their drone-based delivery system’s forthcoming new P2 hardware. Their approach involves integrating drones with existing workflows to deliver hot or cold meals directly to customers.
Chris Neider & Chris Kenney | HNGRY
Challenges and Considerations
Integration and Cost: Automation is capital-intensive. Companies must decide whether to retrofit existing locations or build new facilities optimized for automation. Sweetgreen found that integrating automation into new builds is often more efficient.
Regulatory Hurdles: For Zipline, operating as a regulated airline presented challenges in meeting aviation authority standards. Conversely, Starship’s ground-based robots navigated city regulations through cooperative partnerships.
Customer Interaction: The panelists discussed the importance of designing machines that are approachable. Starship’s robots, for example, are intentionally compact and playful, evoking a sense of curiosity rather than intimidation.
Economic and Environmental Impact
Cost Reduction and Scalability: Automation helps stabilize labor needs and reduce operational costs. Sweetgreen aims to use automation to expand into lower-volume markets while maintaining consistency and speed.
Sustainability: Automation also offers environmental benefits. Starship’s robots, for instance, significantly reduce carbon emissions compared to traditional vehicle-based deliveries. Zipline’s drones achieve a 97% reduction in CO2 emissions relative to car-based delivery systems.
Future Outlook
The panelists unanimously agreed that automation will play a critical role in the food industry. As technology evolves, companies aim to enhance customer experiences by reducing delivery times and improving order accuracy. The discussion also touched on balancing automation with job creation. Sweetgreen highlighted how automation stabilizes team sizes, improving employee retention and creating opportunities for training in new technologies.
Takeaways for Stakeholders
For smaller businesses, the integration of automation presents both challenges and opportunities. Consumer-facing machines like Starship's delivery robots highlight the importance of creating approachable, interactive technology. These robots are intentionally designed to be playful and engaging, sparking curiosity and eliciting empathy from users who see them navigating sidewalks or delivering food. This visibility fosters brand identity and customer connection, making the technology a prominent feature of the overall experience.
In contrast, automation systems like Sweetgreen's Infinite Kitchen operate largely behind the scenes, designed as appliances rather than personalities. These machines prioritize efficiency and consistency, removing tedious tasks for employees while remaining invisible to the consumer. Customers may interact with automation indirectly, such as through faster service or more accurate orders, without realizing a machine is involved.
Both approaches serve different purposes and target unique aspects of the customer experience. Consumer-facing machines build brand excitement and offer direct interactions, while hidden automation focuses on operational excellence and seamless integration into the service pipeline. Together, they represent the broad potential of automation to enhance the food industry, offering innovative paths forward for businesses of all sizes.
For smaller operators, shared resources or scalable models could make these technologies more accessible. As companies adopt automation tailored to their needs—whether visible to consumers or not—they can redefine the dining and delivery experience while maintaining efficiency, reliability, and environmental benefits.