Robot Delivery Specialist

Coco Robotics and Deliveroo announce exclusive partnership to scale robot deliveries across the UK. -The partnership marks Coco Robotics' UK debut as it accelerates expansion across Europe -The rollout is due to begin in London's Canary Wharf before expanding to several other towns and cities in the coming months -The partnership follows the successful collaboration between Coco, DoorDash and Wolt in the U.S. and other geographies Coco Robotics, one of the largest sidewalk delivery operators across the U.S. and Europe, and Deliveroo, a brand within DoorDash's global portfolio, are set to bring robot deliveries to towns and cities across the UK through a new strategic partnership. More headlines. Articles. Coco Robotics will launch in multiple locations, beginning with Canary Wharf in London this October, before launching in Milton Keynes, Leeds, Stockton on Tees and Nottingham in the coming weeks and months. The launches have been welcomed by local authorities across the UK in a positive sign of support for the innovative new service and job creation the partnership will bring. Coco is also in discussions with other councils across both London and the UK. Consumers will initially be able to order from the likes of Patty&Bun, independent family-run brands like bakery Signorelli and cafe and restaurant Beam, in Wood Wharf, Canary Wharf, before the service area expands to include a wider pool of merchants at a later stage, including Ole & Steen, Royal China and Din Tai Fung. In Milton Keynes, consumers will be able to order from Smoke and Pepper amongst others when the service rolls out. The multi-city rollout marks Coco's entry into the UK, extending the company's broader expansion across Europe. The launch will be backed by local investment in UK operational infrastructure, creating new skilled jobs in operations, maintenance and logistics across each region, supported by new depot and charging facilities. The partnership represents a significant milestone in Deliveroo's autonomous delivery journey, marking its first use of autonomous delivery vehicles in the UK. The move reflects the company's strategy to develop a multi-modal last-mile delivery approach by scaling new delivery methods for consumers and merchants, building on learnings from other geographies. While the majority of orders will continue to be fulfilled by Deliveroo's extensive rider network, Coco's fully electric robots are suited to short-distances and navigating urban environments, offering additional flexibility to local businesses on Deliveroo's platform to fulfill more orders. Built to travel safely and navigate busy urban environments, Coco's robots operate at walking pace, moving safely along sidewalks while carrying orders directly to customers. Each delivery is zero-emission and reduces urban congestion. Through its partnership with BlindSquare, Coco will also share real-time data on sidewalk hazards identified by its robots, so that the company can update its app to help alert blind and partially sighted pedestrians to obstacles ahead. Zach Rash, CEO and co-founder of Coco Robotics: "We're thrilled to be bringing Coco to the UK with Deliveroo as our launch partner, building on our existing partnership with DoorDash. The interest here has been incredible, and we're committed to building something that creates lasting value for local merchants and the communities they serve. As we expand further across the UK, we look forward to giving more businesses another reliable delivery option and more communities access to the kind of infrastructure that makes delivery work better for everyone." Miki Kuusi, CEO at Deliveroo and Head of DoorDash International: "London is where Deliveroo was born, so it feels fitting that we're launching our first UK autonomous delivery service with Coco Robotics here before expanding our exclusive partnership to more towns and cities nationwide, building on our partnership in other geographies." "We see huge potential in autonomous delivery and we are looking forward to working with Coco to bring more flexibility to our delivery network, helping local restaurants and shops meet increasing consumer demand. We firmly believe that robot and drone technology should benefit High Street businesses of all sizes, helping them remain competitive and meet consumers in new ways." Ilkka Pirttimaa, Founder, BlindSquare: "This isn't theoretical anymore. We're seeing firsthand how Coco's real-time sidewalk data delivers tangible safety improvements for our users in every city where we operate together. Coco's robots are essentially a real-time accessibility mapping network, feeding hazard data, discarded e-scooters, temporary construction, straight into BlindSquare's self-voicing app, giving blind and partially sighted pedestrians the crucial seconds they need to navigate safely. London is historic, dynamic, and often challenging to navigate. Bringing this safety layer here is a major step forward, and it's what autonomous technology should look like in a city. Coco's robots don't just share the sidewalk, they help make it more accessible for everyone." Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward, said: "The East Midlands is determined to be a leader in the adoption of new technologies, and Coco's UK launch is exactly the kind of opportunity that reflects our ambitions for the region. We look forward to working with Coco Robotics to explore the potential for autonomous delivery and the benefits it could bring to businesses, residents and visitors." Ben Houchen, Mayor of Tees Valley: "Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool have built a reputation for turning innovation into reality, and Coco Robotics choosing our region as one of its first UK launches is another major vote of confidence in everything we're building here. This project will bring more cutting-edge tech, new investment and good-quality opportunities for local people - further proof that Teesside is one of the best places in the country to grow and invest in industries of the future." Jacinta Rowsell, Managing Director of Operations at Canary Wharf Group: "It's exciting to be the first UK launch for Coco and Deliveroo's autonomous delivery partnership. Canary Wharf is built on an ambitious vision, one which supports and encourages growth and innovation, and our partnership with Coco is a great example of this." DoorDash and Wolt partner with Coco across multiple cities across the globe, including Los Angeles, San Jose, Chicago, Miami, Washington D.C. and Helsinki. Deliveroo, Wolt and DoorDash are also exploring different forms of autonomous vehicles across multiple geographies, and DoorDash continues to invest in autonomous delivery solutions. The companies have established partnerships with multiple leading aerial drone and ground-based robot operators, and DoorDash has developed its own in-house autonomous delivery robot, Dot, which is operating across the greater Phoenix area in Arizona. How Coco robots work Coco robots operate at a walking pace and use onboard sensors, cameras, and AI-driven navigation to move along sidewalks. The system processes real-time environmental data at the edge, without relying on cloud connectivity, allowing the robot to perceive and respond to its surroundings as conditions change. Each robot is designed to operate within the existing flow of pedestrian and urban traffic rather than requiring dedicated infrastructure. Deployment in any new location is always phased and aligned with local regulations. Coco's control software enforces location-specific speed limits and routing policies, and supervising operators are trained on local rules and street conditions. The robot is designed to move predictably and yield where appropriate. The objective is to complement urban mobility systems, not interfere with them. About Coco Robotics Coco Robotics is one of the largest robot delivery fleets across the U.S. and Europe, combining autonomous robots, real-world operations data, and advanced AI to power smarter, more efficient city logistics. Founded in 2020, Coco has completed more than 500,000 zero-emission deliveries across the U.S. and Europe for more than 4,500 restaurants and retailers. The fleet continuously learns from millions of miles of real-world operations, giving Coco instant adaptability to new cities and environments. Coco partners with leading delivery platforms including Deliveroo, DoorDash, and Wolt to bring autonomous delivery services to businesses and consumers around the world. For more information, visit cocodelivery.com. About Deliveroo Deliveroo is changing the way people eat and shop by bringing the neighbourhood to your door, unlocking a wealth of hyperlocal choice across restaurants, grocery and retail, with fast and reliable delivery, at the right price. Founded in 2013 by William Shu and Greg Orlowski, Deliveroo joined forces with DoorDash (NASDAQ: DASH) in 2025. Together, RoboticsTomorrow operate in more than 40 countries. You can read more on the Deliveroo website.

Deliveroo to roll out delivery robots in five UK locations. Deliveroo is to begin using pavement robots to deliver takeaways and groceries in the UK, with its first robot deliveries due to take place in London in the coming weeks. The branded robots will initially operate in Canary Wharf in east London, as well as in Milton Keynes, Leeds, Stockton-on-Tees and Nottingham, all areas where local councils allow robot deliveries. Miki Kuusi, the chief executive of Deliveroo, said the move was "not about replacing" human riders. "We view it as a complement [to human couriers]," he said. "Certain kinds of deliveries, certain kinds of merchants, certain neighbourhoods and places work better for autonomous deliveries." Free newsletters The stories that matter to UK business, straight to your inbox. The robots are made by Coco, a US technology firm that has an exclusive deal with Deliveroo. They travel at roughly walking pace and use sensors, cameras and an AI navigation system to move along pavements. Deliveroo is in talks with more councils across the UK and with the Department for Transport as it seeks permission to use the technology more widely. Kuusi, 37, said the number of robots would grow as the technology improved, but described it as an "incremental process". He said: "Especially in high-density, urban environments, you're always going to need people who do deliveries. It's more about what the optimal fleet split is." Rival platforms are also automating deliveries. Just Eat uses robot couriers made by Starship in some parts of Britain, while Deliveroo is trialling deliveries by airborne drone in Dublin. Deliveroo was founded in 2013 by the tech entrepreneur Will Shu and was acquired last year by the US delivery group DoorDash in a £2.9bn takeover. Kuusi, who is also DoorDash's international chief executive, has since sought to make ordering on the platform more affordable and to expand in groceries. On 24 September the company announced a partnership with Aldi. Kuusi said robots would help to lower costs. "A plastic box on wheels rolling around a city is incredibly energy-efficient, the hardware can be very low-cost, and that ultimately makes the service a lot more affordable," he said. He also argued that robot couriers would help local retailers and independent shops compete with international groups such as Amazon and Shein. "It's not going to some company that's bringing something over through the airport from the other side of the world, trying to price-compete to death the high street locally," he said. The use of pavement robots has drawn objections. In July, the campaign group Living Streets argued that Starship robots used by the Co-op for grocery deliveries presented "a danger to pedestrians". Kuusi said: "These are the kind of things where it's very easy to come up with all the concerns and fears on paper in theory. But then when you actually see these things on the streets and how they work as a part of the city, the reality is that they blend in quite well." Deliveroo does not treat the riders who fulfil orders as employees. They are self-employed contractors in law, and critics have argued that the model is exploitative because riders do not receive benefits such as sick pay or pension contributions. Concerns have also been raised that a feature allowing riders to rent out their accounts to substitutes can be exploited by criminals. Deliveroo has introduced new security features in response. In France, four campaign groups have sued Deliveroo and Uber Eats, accusing them of "human trafficking" and of making "significant profits by exploiting the vulnerability of these workers". Both companies deny the claims. Kuusi said: "If I look at the UK, we're talking about over 100,000 people that deliver actively on Deliveroo." He said the company had "had to come up with more sophisticated ways to try to combat malpractice on the platform", adding: "This is not something we want on the platform." Jamie Young. Jamie Young is Senior Reporter at Business Matters, covering SME finance, employment law and Westminster policy since 2016. He has reported on every Budget and Autumn Statement since 2018, helped make sense of the 'covid era' and the bounce-back loan scheme from launch through the fraud investigations, and broke the magazine's coverage of the 2024 late-payment reforms. He joined Business Matters straight from completing his BA in Administration from Exeter University and is NCTJ-qualified. Reach him at [email protected]

2 UCLA students thought food delivery was broken. Shake Shack called their invention its 'favorite courier.' They looked at a 5,000-pound car delivering a 5-pound bag of food and decided there had to be a better way. Copied to clipboard Key takeaways. * Coco Robotics is doing 1,000 deliveries a day in Los Angeles and has completed more than 500,000 deliveries across more than 1 million miles. * The company's VP of Enterprise Partnerships believes using traditional cars to deliver small food orders creates unnecessary costs. * Shake Shack regional manager gave Coco a particularly memorable review. Restaurant delivery has a vehicle problem. Coco Robotics was founded in 2020 by two UCLA engineers who began questioning whether traditional cars made sense for moving restaurant orders short distances. "They were just kind of looking around at the environment thinking, 'Why are we using 5,000-pound cars to deliver a five-pound bag of food?'" Melissa Fahs, Vice President of Enterprise Partnerships at Coco Robotics, says. "There has to be a better way." The founders set out to build a vehicle specifically for restaurant delivery. Fahs joined the Coco team after spending years working with restaurant partners and seeing firsthand how difficult the economics of third-party delivery could be. "The last mile is broken," Fahs says. "The cost equation has to change." For years, autonomous cars seemed like part of the answer. But even as that technology has advanced, Fahs believes a full-size car isn't the ideal vehicle for moving a small restaurant order across a neighborhood. When she was introduced to Coco and saw what the founders had built, the opportunity immediately stood out. "This is going to fix what's broken in third-party delivery," Fahs remembers. For restaurants and their customers, that means more than replacing a car with a robot. Fahs says Coco eliminates the need for a consumer tip while helping restaurants protect food quality. Orders travel directly from the restaurant to the customer and remain locked inside the robot during delivery. "It allows the restaurant to keep the food presented in the way it was prepared, at the temperature it was intended," she says. The bigger challenge is making the technology work without creating another operational burden. Fahs describes restaurants as "mini factories" that produce food quickly for demanding customers while managing thin margins, perishable products and entry-level labor. "Our robot has to be so seamless," she says. "Coco has to be so seamless into their operation that they actually love it." For at least one restaurant operator, that's already happening. Fahs says a Shake Shack regional manager gave Coco a particularly memorable review: "Coco's our favorite courier." It's already here. Coco Robotics is doing 1,000 deliveries a day in Los Angeles. Its robots have traveled more than one million miles and completed more than 500,000 deliveries since the company launched. "It isn't the future," Melissa Fahs says. "It is here today." Coco now works with 4,500 merchants, while restaurant brands including Little Caesars, Taco Bell, Shake Shack and White Castle are beginning to explore the technology. The company operates in seven cities, and each market has taught the team something new. In Finland, cold weather meant faster battery drain and studded tires. Chicago brought more lessons about the cold. In Miami, heavy rains pushed Coco to go beyond waterproofing. The next model is designed to be submersible, allowing it to navigate deep puddles while keeping the food protected. "With every city we kind of learn something," Fahs says. For restaurants, Fahs says adoption is designed to be simple. There's no robot to purchase, maintain or clean. In markets where Coco operates, restaurants can ask Uber Eats or DoorDash to turn on the service. "All you do is load your food in the robot, and we take care of everything else," Fahs says. That simplicity is important in an industry where operators have little room for another complicated system. Fahs believes autonomous delivery has to fit into the restaurant's existing operation, not force the restaurant to adapt around it. And operators don't have to make a major commitment to find out whether it works for them. "Get in the game," Fahs says. "You could do one store. But learn about how it can fit or not fit in your operation, how it fits with your guests." For Fahs, the opportunity is no longer about waiting to see whether autonomous delivery becomes viable. Restaurants can start testing it now. About restaurant Influencers. Restaurant Influencers is brought to you by Toast, the powerful restaurant point-of-sale and management system that helps restaurants improve operations, increase sales and create a better guest experience. Toast - Powering Successful Restaurants. Learn more about Toast. Restaurant Influencers is proud to have PepsiCo as a sponsor of this episode. Partnering with PepsiCo Foodservice helps restaurant operators drive sustainable growth through smarter digital experiences, AI-backed menu optimization, and tools designed to create more profitable online orders. Check out PepsiCo Foodservice