Papa Johns tests drone delivery with sandwiches before pizza takes flight

Your next order of Papa Johns may soon fall from the sky. Don’t expect a huge pepperoni pizza to come swimming around just yet.

Papa John’s has started a drone delivery test with Alphabet-owned drone company Wing. The first flights take place outside Charlotte near Sun Valley Commons on Indian Trail in North Carolina. Eligible customers can order through the Wing app and receive a limited-edition Papa Johns Oven-Toasted Sandwich menu, including Philly Cheesesteak, Chicken Bacon Ranch, and Steak & Mushroom.

While Little Caesars is already testing drone delivery for full-size pizzas in Texas, Papa Johns is taking a different tack: sandwiches first. For now, the company is using a smaller, drone-friendly menu and working with Wing on aerodynamically designed packaging that could help future pizza orders go more smoothly.

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Why do Papa John’s drones start with sandwiches?

A sandwich box is compact. A pizza box is wide, flat and firm. Anyone who carries a pizza home from the passenger seat of their vehicle knows this rule. Keep it straight or prepare for a cheese landslide. The same problem becomes even more difficult when a drone is involved. Drones have payload limits. They also need packages that fit into their distribution systems and remain stable during flight.

This helps explain why Papa Johns started with sandwiches. Wing says the companies are also working on special, streamlined packaging provided by both Papa Johns and Wing. In other words, sandwich testing could be the starting point as companies figure out how to package food for future drone delivery. For now, the skies are clear for toasted sandwiches. The pizza has to wait.

How does the Papa Johns drone delivery test work?

Testing is limited to residents near Sun Valley Commons in Indian Trail, North Carolina. Eligible customers can order through the Wing app and choose from a special menu of Papa Johns Oven Toasted Sandwiches. Charlotte-area residents can check delivery availability and sign up for updates on Wing’s delivery page: wing.com/get-delivery

For now, customers order through Wing. But the long-term plan is to connect Wing’s drone network directly to Papa Johns’ own app and AI-powered private food ordering agency powered by Google Cloud. This could ultimately make drone delivery feel like just another delivery option in the Papa Johns ordering experience rather than a separate test. Wing says his goal goes beyond a restaurant test. This is Wing’s first direct partnership with a national restaurant brand. It also builds on Papa Johns’ existing relationship with Alphabet through Google Cloud. The company sees the partnership as a way to build a broader model for AI-powered restaurant ordering and drone delivery.

“This partnership is a true collaboration that brings together Wing’s leading technology and Papa Johns’ commitment to innovation,” said Heather Rivera, Wing’s Chief Operating Officer. “Together, we are defining a new blueprint for how representative commerce and industry-leading operational design will shape the future of food distribution.”

Papa Johns says this effort is about building the future of hot delivery. This means more than just attaching food to a drone. Workers need to prepare orders differently. Restaurants need space for pickup. The packaging needs to survive the journey. The technology also needs to accommodate the busy lunch or dinner rush without slowing down the store. This last part may be the real test. A drone delivery system only works if it helps during chaos, not after it.

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Papa Johns is testing drone delivery with Wing in Indian Trail, North Carolina, starting with a limited sandwich menu. (Wing)

Why is pizza such a challenge for drone delivery?

Pizza looks perfect for quick delivery. It’s hot, it’s familiar, and it’s often ordered by people who want a quick meal. However, pizza boxes pose several problems for drone companies. A pizza box has a large surface area. This may affect stability. The box also needs to remain flat. A sandwich can tolerate a little movement. A hot pizza with melted cheese and toppings can’t do this.

That’s why other companies are working on larger drones and specialized delivery setups. Flytrex recently announced its partnership with Little Caesars in Wylie, Texas, using the Sky2 drone. The company says the drone can carry up to 8.8 pounds, travel up to 4 miles, and deliver two large pizzas with drinks. This shows that pizza delivery can be done by drone. This also shows why Papa Johns is taking a slower path.

Drone delivery still a local experiment

Drone delivery has been talked about for years but remains rare for many communities. Wing already works with companies like Walmart and DoorDash and has expanded its service in several metro areas.

Still, the work needs to overcome some hurdles. Weather conditions may disrupt flights. Regulations may limit how drones operate. Restaurants need to train staff. Customers must also live in the correct delivery area. Then there is money. A drone can look great in a promotional video. The more difficult question is whether each delivery makes financial sense when the system runs every day.

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Papa Johns and Wing are testing drone-friendly packaging that could help future pizza deliveries happen quickly. (Wing)

What does this mean to you?

If you live near the testing site, this could be a fun way to try out this faster food delivery option. It can also give you a preview of where the delivery is going. But drone delivery will likely happen in small steps. At least at first. Customers need to live in the correct delivery area, order through the correct app, and select items that the drone system can safely transport.

Bigger change may come later. If Wing’s system connects directly to the Papa Johns app, customers could see drone delivery as an option at checkout. This will provide a much more normal experience than opening a separate drone app just to order lunch. The biggest benefit for customers may be speed and convenience. A drone can avoid traffic, parking issues, and some of the delays that affect traditional delivery during peak hours.

There are also practice questions. People may wonder noisysecurity, privacy, and whether drones belong in our neighborhoods. These concerns will undoubtedly increase as more restaurants join.

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Kurt’s important takeaways

Papa Johns’ flying sandwiches instead of pizza seem a little off at first. This is a pizza chain, after all. But when you think of a hot cake bouncing under a drone, the sandwich-first approach starts to make sense. The company is testing the technology, customers have the option of faster delivery, and the pizza stays with the regular delivery crew until the drone can handle the installation without turning a hot cake into a miserable mess.

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If drone delivery becomes commonplace, would you be excited to see dinner falling from the sky, or would you be driven crazy by all those drones buzzing over your neighborhood? Let us know by writing to us. CyberGuy.com

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