Grubhub is moving beyond bikes and cars in New Jersey, teaming with drone company Dexa on a three month pilot that will fly food orders from Wonder’s Green Brook location to nearby customers starting March 18, 2026. The initiative is the state’s first commercial drone powered food delivery program and the first time Grubhub has fully integrated autonomous aerial delivery into its marketplace.
How the Pilot Will Work
The program runs for three months out of Wonder’s site in Green Brook, serving eligible customers within a 2.5 mile radius. Diners order as usual in the Grubhub app, then opt in to drone delivery at checkout; flights are promised to be faster than traditional delivery but carry no extra fee beyond standard delivery and service charges.
The DE‑2020 Drone System
Deliveries use Dexa’s DE‑2020, a fully automated aircraft that carries food in a box suspended beneath the drone and lowers it to the ground via a controlled tether. Dexa is one of only four U.S. companies that both manufacture and operate FAA Part 135 air carrier certified delivery drones, and it runs all flights under FAA approved routes designed to prioritize safety and limit noise.
“Our partnership with Dexa represents a major step forward in Grubhub’s commitment to delivery innovation,” said Abhishek “PJ” Poykayil, SVP of Customer Delivery Operations at Wonder and Grubhub. “By connecting Grubhub’s marketplace expertise, Wonder’s innovative mealtime platform, and Dexa’s expansive drone technology, we’re proud to introduce a faster and more efficient way for New Jersey diners to experience food delivery without compromising safety or reliability.”
Safety, Operations, and Tracking
Before each flight, trained Dexa crew members at Wonder’s Green Brook location verify that orders are packed and secured according to operational and food safety protocols. During delivery, the drone typically cruises at up to 400 feet and about 40 miles per hour, then descends to roughly 10 feet above the ground before lowering the tethered box into the customer’s yard and returning to base. Customers can follow the order’s progress with real time GPS tracking, arrival estimates, and confirmations managed directly in the Grubhub app.
“Consumers want delivery that’s faster and more reliable – and this collaboration shows what’s possible when industry innovators come together,” said Beth Flippo, Chief Executive Officer of Dexa. “This service is a glimpse into the future of how autonomous technology will help restaurants and retailers serve customers at a completely new level.”
Looking Ahead
For Grubhub, the Green Brook pilot extends a broader push into autonomous delivery that already includes sidewalk robots and other partners in select U.S. markets. The company will use the three month test to measure speed, reliability, customer satisfaction, and operational impact before deciding whether to expand drone delivery to additional local restaurants.
Dexa gets a high visibility use case for its DE‑2020 platform, building on earlier logistics pilots and showing regulators and restaurant partners that highly automated drone delivery can integrate into everyday food ordering at scale.
