Matternet, a developer of commercial drone delivery systems, has partnered with Dave’s Hot Chicken to pilot a food delivery service in Los Angeles. The initiative will begin in Northridge, California, where eligible residents will soon be able to order meals through the Dave’s app and have them delivered by Matternet’s autonomous M2 drones.
Expanding Drone Delivery into Fast Casual Dining
The pilot marks the first time Dave’s Hot Chicken, one of the fastest-growing restaurant brands in the U.S., has turned to drone technology for customer service. Meals will be prepared at the Northridge Reseda location and flown directly to approved homes in the surrounding area.
“Innovation is part of our DNA at Dave’s Hot Chicken,” said Leon Davoyan, Chief Technology Officer of the company. “By using drones, we’re delivering our food in a way that takes it straight from the kitchen to our loyal customers’ hands.”
Reducing Traffic and Emissions
Matternet CEO Andreas Raptopoulos highlighted the broader impact of drone delivery on urban logistics.
“Each day, more than 10 million food deliveries move through our cities in 2-ton cars, adding traffic and pollution,” Raptopoulos said. “Drones will replace millions of those trips — delivering meals faster, cleaner, and with no human contact beyond the restaurant and the customer. Our partnership with Dave’s shows the future of food delivery.”
The Los Angeles project builds on Matternet’s ongoing home delivery service in Silicon Valley, which launched in October 2024. The company’s expansion into food delivery follows years of work in healthcare logistics and other sectors.
Building Drone Delivery Infrastructure
For Matternet, the partnership represents another milestone in scaling its logistics network beyond medical and retail deliveries. The company has a history of industry firsts, including securing the first FAA Type Certification for a drone delivery system in the United States.
Since launching operations in 2014, Matternet has completed tens of thousands of flights in both U.S. and European cities, focusing on solutions for dense urban and suburban environments.
Dave’s Hot Chicken’s Growth Strategy
Dave’s Hot Chicken, founded in Los Angeles in 2017, has rapidly expanded across the U.S. and internationally, with more than 1,020 franchise locations sold. By becoming one of the first national fast-casual brands to test drone delivery, the company is extending its reputation for growth and experimentation into logistics innovation.
The Northridge pilot will serve as a testing ground for how drone delivery can integrate into mainstream food service operations, potentially setting a precedent for similar rollouts in other markets.
Read more:
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- Matternet and ANRA Technologies Collaborate to Scale Urban Drone Delivery Networks
Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, a professional drone services marketplace, and a fascinated observer of the emerging drone industry and the regulatory environment for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles focused on the commercial drone space and is an international speaker and recognized figure in the industry. Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and over 20 years of experience in high tech sales and marketing for new technologies.
For drone industry consulting or writing, Email Miriam.
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