Delivery
GoTo Foods takes to skies with multi-brand drone delivery in partnership with DoorDash, Wing
GoTo Foods is partnering with DoorDash and Wing on a multi-brand drone delivery pilot in three Texas markets to explore how the technology can improve last-mile delivery.
August 22, 2025 by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Networld Media Group
Imagine a lazy Friday night. You're in from work, probably already in your pajamas, but you have a hankering for an Auntie Anne's pretzel and a lemonade. Sure you can have one delivered by DoorDash, but Auntie Anne's parent company GoTo Foods is taking delivery a step farther — through drone delivery.
In partnership with DoorDash and Wing, the brand has launched a multi-brand strategy to bring its many brands to homes via drones. Executives from GoTo Foods, DoorDash and Wing shared insight via email interviews on the partnership and their views on how it alters the future of delivery.
Q: What was the internal process and timeline for deciding to make this investment in drone technology and why was a multi-brand launch the chosen strategy?
Kieran Donahue, chief commercial officer at GoTo Foods: At GoTo Foods, we constantly evaluate how to meet guests where they are — in ways that feel seamless and relevant. Drone delivery had been on our radar, and the opportunity came into focus as we deepened our collaboration with DoorDash and explored Wing's capabilities. Cross-functional teams assessed guest experience, operational readiness and scalability before moving forward.
Launching across four brands was intentional. Our platform company model allows us to test innovation at scale. By deploying Auntie Anne's, Jamba, McAlister's Deli and Schlotzsky's simultaneously, we capture insights across diverse menus, dayparts and customer segments — giving us a fuller picture of drone delivery's value.
Q: The service is live in three Texas markets. How were these specific locations — Frisco, Fort Worth and Plano — selected as the pilot markets and what criteria will you use to determine the next wave of expansion?
Donahue: The pilot markets were determined in collaboration with DoorDash and Wing. For us, the priority is how these communities allow us to test guest adoption, operational execution and franchisee readiness. Looking ahead, expansion will be guided by performance, consumer demand and partner alignment. Speed, quality and guest satisfaction remain non-negotiable benchmarks, and we'll ensure growth aligns with franchisee capabilities and technology infrastructure at scale.
Q: From a franchisee's perspective, what is the operational impact of integrating drone delivery? What new processes or training were required for the teams at the participating locations?
Donahue: Integration has been seamless thanks to Wing's technology and our existing DoorDash collaboration. For franchisees, adjustments focus on order staging and handoff. Teams received training on packaging for freshness and clear pickup protocols. Equally important, we prepared teams to see drone delivery as an extension of in-store hospitality — ensuring every drone order feels as smooth and guest-centric as traditional fulfillment.
Q: How does the drone delivery model affect profitability for both the franchisees and GoTo Foods compared to traditional third-party delivery?
Donahue: We're still in the pilot phase, but early results are promising. Faster delivery drives satisfaction, repeat orders and incremental sales from outside the typical trade area. For brands, drone delivery sparks curiosity, trial and shareability — creating buzz that builds awareness. Over time, we see it becoming a strong complement to traditional delivery.
Q: Are there other types of autonomous delivery, or other technologies, that GoTo Foods is actively exploring?
Donahue: Yes. Drone delivery is part of a broader innovation roadmap. From new store formats to tech-forward service models, we test bold ideas, scale what works and always aim to increase access, relevance and convenience for our guests.
Q: What are some of the biggest challenges you've faced or anticipate facing as you work to scale this program nationally, particularly in relation to regulatory hurdles or different operational environments?
Kent Ferguson, head of partnerships for Wing: 'When are you coming to my neighborhood?' is the most common question we hear from customers. Wing, our partners, and our customers all have come to expect drone delivery to grow. Before Wing could achieve scale, we had to demonstrate our speed, reliability, and business case. Every backyard is different, so our aircraft needed to effectively execute deliveries despite various conditions. We also needed packaging that could ensure eggs arrived safely and hot coffees and cold smoothies arrived without spilling.
Today, our lightweight infrastructure and aircraft complete thousands of deliveries each week in Dallas-Fort Worth alone. We are entering a growth phase where regulatory, technological, consumer, and partner readiness are aligning for drone delivery. Most recently, the FAA issued a proposed rule aimed at enabling drone delivery and getting the rule right will be key. Beyond the regulatory environment, our focus is on integrating with partners to show how Wing's drone delivery is evolving from a futuristic technology into an integral part of their delivery operations.
Q: Looking ahead, how do you see drone delivery evolving beyond its current form?
Ferguson: We want drone delivery to be boring. As more customers experience Wing drone delivery's speed and reliability, we see strong market potential to set a new standard for last-mile delivery in industries like retail and fast food. I predict in the near future, we'll see drone delivery directly integrated into restaurant and retail brands' broader digital strategies and technology environments.
Ultimately, our goal is to make drone delivery accessible to everyone, with seamless integration across various partners. Everything Wing has done, we've built with an eye toward scale.
Q. What have been the early results and customer feedback from the pilot program since it launched in June? Are you seeing any unexpected or surprising trends in how customers are using the service?
DoorDash spokesperson: We've seen strong early traction since the pilot launched, and customer feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Many have pointed to the speed, ease and novelty of the experience. Some families have even made drone delivery part of their weekly routine, with kids gathering in the backyard to watch the drone land, showing just how much delight and excitement the service can bring.
We also know that drone delivery is well suited for small, light orders. One of our most popular drone-delivered items globally is a mango smoothie, which speaks to how seamless and reliable the experience is— a beverage delivered quickly and at the right temperature with no spills.
These early signs support what we've long believed: the future of delivery will be multi-modal. Drones are not just an exciting new tool. They're a practical and reliable way to deliver lightweight items safely, reliably, quickly and efficiently.
About Mandy Wolf Detwiler
Mandy Wolf Detwiler is the managing editor at Networld Media Group and the site editor for PizzaMarketplace.com and QSRweb.com. She has more than 20 years’ experience covering food, people and places.
An award-winning print journalist, Mandy brings more than 20 years’ experience to Networld Media Group. She has spent nearly two decades covering the pizza industry, from independent pizzerias to multi-unit chains and every size business in between. Mandy has been featured on the Food Network and has won numerous awards for her coverage of the restaurant industry. She has an insatiable appetite for learning, and can tell you where to find the best slices in the country after spending 15 years traveling and eating pizza for a living.
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