Culinary Commercialization Manager - Robotics

Wonder to lay off 533 workers in New Jersey. The basics: * Wonder plans to lay off 533 NJ workers * Company winding down operations in Cranford, Fairfield * Plans to move into a higher-capacity facility in Swedesboro * Wonder recently agreed to sell Grubhub Campus Dining to DoorDash for $300M Fast-growing food hall concept Wonder plans to lay off 533 workers in New Jersey. In a filing with the New Jersey Department of Labor & Workforce Development, the company said the cuts will take effect between Sept. 16 and Jan. 8, 2027. According to a Wonder spokesperson, the company is transitioning away from existing production and distribution facilities in Cranford and Fairfield ahead of a move into a "new, higher-capacity facility in Swedesboro." The change aims to "set our supply chain up for long-term growth," they added. "Because this is a site consolidation, it unfortunately requires winding down operations and the roles tied to those locations. We recognize this is a significant disruption for these employees and we are working to support them through this transition," the media representative said. "Eligible employees will receive severance, outplacement services and the opportunity to apply for open roles at Wonder, including at the new Swedesboro facility," they added. Growth goals. Founded in 2018 by billionaire entrepreneur Marc Lore, Wonder allows customers to mix and match menu items from a collection of nearly two dozen acclaimed chefs and eateries in a single order. Everything is then made-to-order for delivery, pickup or limited dining in at its 150-plus locations across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. Within New Jersey, Wonder has 28 eateries, as well as an R&D facility in Parsippany. To fuel its growth, Wonder has also raised significant amounts across several funding rounds, including $650 million earlier this summer and $600 million in 2025. Just a dash. Wonder disclosed the layoffs in New Jersey less than a day after announcing plans to sell its Grubhub campus dining division to delivery platform DoorDash for $300 million. The transaction is expected to close in early 2027, the companies said in a Sept. 15 press release. After that, DoorDash will continue operating Grubhub's campus dining program. Currently live at 450 colleges and universities nationwide, the offering allows students to order meals from campus foodservice or restaurant locations and pay using campus dining dollars. Additionally, DoorDash is investing $125 million to support Wonder's "continued physical expansion and investments in technology, robotics and AI," the release said. Partnering for growth. In a statement, Lore said, "Wonder was founded to make great food more accessible. To us, that means higher-quality food at lower prices, with more choice and convenience, in more communities." "Its partnership with DoorDash lets NJBIZ Company continue investing in the technology, robotics and infrastructure that mission requires. Grubhub Campus Dining is a thriving business built by a great team, and DoorDash is well positioned to take it further. "The partnership also allows Wonder to focus on our long-term ambition: a fully autonomous food system that can plan, produce and deliver personalized meals at scale, serving all 21 meals people eat each week," he said. Wonder noted it has more than quadrupled its footprint since the start of 2025. The company added that it will soon also expand beyond the East Coast - with the grand opening of its first Texas locations in early 2027. The New Jersey WARN notice comes two weeks after Nation's Restaurant News reported Wonder would eliminate about 150 jobs in a streamlining effort. A spokesperson told the trade publication it was part of "difficult decision to eliminate a number of roles to focus our resources on key growth areas" as the company "enters its next chapter."

DoorDash to acquire Wonder's Grubhub Campus Dining business, invest $125M in company. Sep 16 2026 DoorDash, and Wonder announced a strategic partnership. Under the agreement, DoorDash will acquire Wonder's Grubhub Campus Dining business. In addition, DoorDash made a long-term investment in Wonder as part of its Series D round. Grubhub Campus Dining, formerly known as Tapingo, enables millions of students to order a meal from campus dining facilities and on-campus restaurants using its mobile app or kiosks, pay for the meal with the convenience of campus dining dollars and schedule the pickup. Grubhub Campus Dining is live at more than 450 colleges and universities, serving a significant portion of U.S. higher education students. Following the close of the transaction, DoorDash intends to continue expanding Grubhub Campus Dining in the U.S., enhance the selection and convenience available to students and bring Tapingo's vertically integrated technology stack beyond college campuses to stadiums, hotels and other similar venues. The transaction is anticipated to close by the first half of 2027, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory review. Additionally, DoorDash's $125 million investment adds to Wonder's $650 million Series D round announced in July, fueling Wonder's continued physical expansion and investments in technology, robotics and AI. Wonder offers more than 25 different in-house and chef-created concepts under one roof, using hardware and software to translate the craft of Michelin-starred chefs and iconic restaurants into a repeatable, machine-readable process. With 157 locations across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions, Wonder's footprint has more than quadrupled since the start of 2025. Wonder will expand beyond the East Coast in 2027, opening its first Texas locations in January. "Wonder was founded to make great food more accessible. To us, that means higher-quality food at lower prices, with more choice and convenience, in more communities," Marc Lore, founder and CEO of Wonder, said in a statement. "Our partnership with DoorDash lets us continue investing in the technology, robotics and infrastructure that mission requires. Grubhub Campus Dining is a thriving business built by a great team, and DoorDash is well positioned to take it further. The partnership also allows Wonder to focus on our long-term ambition: a fully autonomous food system that can plan, produce and deliver personalized meals at scale, serving all 21 meals people eat each week." "Our mission at DoorDash is to grow and empower local economies," added Tony Xu, cofounder and CEO of DoorDash. "Adding Grubhub Campus Dining to our platform will enable us to bring greater choice and convenience to college students while streamlining operations and reducing friction for universities. In addition, we're pleased to be investing in Wonder as they continue to expand access to world-class food for communities across the nation." Latham & Watkins LLP and Fenwick & West LLP served as legal counsel and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC acted as exclusive financial advisor to Wonder. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati P.C. served as legal counsel and RBC Capital Markets served as a financial advisor to DoorDash.