NORTH AMERICA – Advanced, AI-powered delivery robot maker Serve Robotics has acquired Vebu, the developer of Autocado, Chipotle’s avocado processing machine.
The financial terms of this acquisition have not been disclosed, though both companies confirm it is an all-stock deal.
The delivery robotics firm, Serve Robotics, expects the acquisition to expand its offerings for the restaurant sector. Currently, Serve focuses on deploying sidewalk delivery robots through partnerships with restaurants and delivery platforms.
Following the transaction, Vebu founder and CEO Buck Jordan will lead the development of the Autocado as Senior Vice President of Kitchen Automation.
“This is an exciting chance to combine our skills and expertise to introduce transformative automation to a broader audience,” Jordan stated in the press release, “Together, we aim to offer a suite of automation solutions that will redefine restaurant operations.”
With Serve’s existing collaborations with brands like 7-Eleven and Shake Shack, Vebu could have opportunities to tackle various operational challenges beyond tasks like peeling and coring avocados. Additionally, Vebu’s links to Chipotle may support Serve’s efforts to grow its geographic footprint.
“We’re in a unique position to leverage robotics and AI to address labor shortages in the restaurant industry,” Serve CEO Ali Kashani commented. “This acquisition emphasizes our commitment to helping partners operate more efficiently and to expanding partnerships with national restaurant chains.”
Chipotle previously invested in Vebu through its Cultivate Next Venture fund, exemplifying the restaurant industry’s interest in automation to reduce reliance on hourly labor.
Although some tech initiatives, such as Brinker’s tests of “Rita the Robot” as a server, have not succeeded, the industry remains invested in automation, as seen with tools like drive-thru voice AI.
Despite a slowdown in real wage growth since late 2022, the demand for automation technology in restaurants persists.
Vebu’s Autocado is currently undergoing testing at a Chipotle location in California, part of the chain’s extended tech development process.
This acquisition announcement follows Serve’s recent debut of its third-generation sidewalk delivery robots for Uber Eats.
Serve projects it will manufacture around 2,000 of these robots in 2025. Since signing a major expansion agreement with Uber Eats last year, Serve went public through a reverse merger and entered a significant partnership with Shake Shack via Uber Eats.
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