White Castle expands Uber delivery partnership with robots
A legendary fast-food hamburger chain is launching autonomous deliveries via Uber Eats starting in Chicago.
White Castle is rolling out its first-ever deployment of robotic delivery in collaboration with the Uber Eats on-demand delivery subsidiary of Uber and urban robot delivery platform Coco Robotics. The retailer has been providing delivery as an option within its White Castle app in a partnership with Uber Direct, Uber's white-label delivery platform, since 2023.
[READ MORE: White Castle teams with Uber for in-app delivery]
Now, by integrating Coco's zero-emission delivery robots into the Uber Eats platform, White Castle aims to streamline fulfillment, reduce parking lot congestion, and get food to customers faster.
"This partnership is about driving smarter operations where it matters most," said Chris Shaffery, VP of operations at White Castle. "By testing Coco's robots at a high-traffic location, we're seeking to ease congestion, speed up service, and allow our team to stay focused on quality - helping us serve more customers, more efficiently."
The real-time sync between White Castle's menu, Uber Eats, and the in-store POS system is supported by Checkmate technology that helps ensure seamless order flow and fulfillment. Checkmate provides White Castle restaurants with visibility into Coco's delivery status via the Checkmate portal, helping them stay informed and responsive throughout the process.
"Expanding our partnership with Coco Robotics to include White Castle's autonomous deliveries in Chicago is another exciting milestone," said Megan Jensen, head of autonomous delivery operations at Uber Eats. "Thanks to Checkmate's integration, merchants can access autonomous delivery with no added complexity - helping us deliver more seamlessly integrated solutions as restaurants embrace new technologies.”
Customers ordering from the first participating White Castle location in Chicago may now be matched with a Coco robot directly through the Uber Eats app. When the robot arrives, customers receive an alert to meet it outside, unlock the lid via the app, and collect their items with no additional steps, tips or fees required.
"Coco is already completing hundreds of thousands of orders, proving that autonomous food delivery is scaling rapidly," said Melissa Fahs, chief commercial officer at Coco Robotics. "By expanding our footprint through partners like Uber Eats, we've unlocked opportunities with national brands such as White Castle - bringing autonomous delivery to a quick-service staple that's embracing technology to keep up with demand in high-traffic locations."
Uber Eats also has been piloting emissions-free Coco Robotics sidewalk robots in Miami and Los Angeles.
White Castle, America's first fast-food hamburger chain, opened in 1921. Based in Columbus, Ohio, the family-owned business owns and operates more than 350 restaurants as well as a retail division providing frozen hamburgers in retail stores nationwide.
