Yee-haw! Wonder Gallops into Texas
Coco 2 robot revealed, DOL re-qualifies gig workers, Costco pushes Same Day
New robots, updated labor laws, a big push into Texas and some advertising intelligence… we’ve got something for everyone in today’s update. Read on!
Today:
Coco Robotics Reveals Coco 2 Hardware
Wonder Heads to Texas
INTEL | Costco & Instacart Ads
Labor Dept Says Yes You’re A Gig Worker
ROBOTICS | Coco Unveils New Hardware: Coco 2
Los Angeles-based delivery bot biggie Coco Robotics revealed its new Coco 2 robot, at an exclusive event near Venice Beach, late last week. The larger robot features improved autonomy, IPX6 weather resilience (a vital factor for a company operating in both Miami and Helsinki) and the ability to operate on both street and sidewalks. While Coco has long prioritized lean and affordable hardware, the new version — which costs “around 10% of a car” — definitely has some higher-end additions, including an air blade on its cameras, heated glass and a hardware keypad for unlocking the storage compartment.
The Big Picture: Coco’s launch party showcased just how much the company has matured in recent years. Guests included key regulators (vital for the company as it pushes into new markets like Culver City, Long Beach and Pasadena,) senior leadership from Nvidia, and food tech innovators from companies like Dave’s Hot Chicken and Colony Cooks. (And because it was a party in Venice, all the guests either looked like schlubby geeks or lost runway models…)
We’ll be publishing more behind-the-scenes content from the launch in tomorrow’s edition of Ottomate.
FOOD HALLS | Wonder Announces Texas Expansion
Wonder — the Marc Lore-helmed “super app for mealtime” — is officially headed to Texas, confirming a story that Modern Delivery first broke back in June. The company plans to open 100 locations by the end of 2027, focused on the Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Austin, and San Antonio metropolitan areas. Wonder’s family of licensed restaurant brands already includes some Tejanos, like noted meat magnate Tejas Barbecue.
The Big Picture: Wonder CEO Tony Hoggett noted “Texas’ dynamic food culture, population growth, and suburban footprint align closely with our delivery-first model.” That last point makes Texas seem like a natural next step for Wonder. Bloomberg Businessweek’s recent profile on Wonder (a story that Modern Delivery was delighted to assist with) found that Wonder’s recreations of famed chef creations don’t always come off as quite as good as the original thing… but while that might be a tough sell in NYC or DC, it’s likely less of an issue in places like Dallas: Texas’ cities have some of the most chain restaurants per capita of any big metropolitan area in America.
INTEL | Costco Pushes Same-Day Delivery Ads
It’s been a while since we scooped some advertising intel, but some web snooping reveals that Costco is heavily promoting its same-day delivery services, powered by Instacart. For all you fee watchers, Costco helpfully notes that the prices on its whitelabeled site will be cheaper than if you shop the brand through the Instacart app.
REGULATION | DOL Pushes New IC Rule Clarifications
The U.S. Department of Labor announced a proposed rule that would classify more workers as independent / gig workers, setting off a 60 day comment period that closes 4/28. This rule replaces a Biden-era rule that in turn undid a policy that was enacted at the tail-end of the first Trump administration. This proposed rule adopts the “core factor” test used in the 2021 rule: whereby the “control factor” and the “opportunity-for-profit-or-loss factor” are the key indicators of whether a worker is an employee or independent contractor.
The Big Picture: Flex Association, a trade group backed by the 3PDs and TNCs, praised the new ruling. DoorDash welcomed the action as well, with Max Rettig, Vice President of Global Public Policy, tying the policy to other legislative advancements like portable benefits. (Listen to our recent podcast interview with Max for more insights into that topic.)
A Few Good Links
Delivery Hero 2025 GMV up 9%, revenue climbs 23.1%. Amazon completes 100 millionth sustainable delivery in Europe. From delivery worker to robot wrangler. CAVA revenue spikes 21.2%. Slang AI raises $36M for voice AI in hospitality. Android integrates DoorDash ordering into Gemini. Anta Sports, the “Nike of China,” opens first U.S. store in Los Angeles. Hungry buys Hungerhub (sounds like brand integration will be easy…) DoorDash-owned Deliveroo and Wolt exit Qatar, Singapore, Japan and Uzbekistan. Walmart to pay $100M settlement over Spark Driver pay practices. Restaurants get smaller. Uber Eats and Manna partner for European drone delivery. Speedbird raises $5.8M from Brazilian drones, with backing form iFood. Papa Johns International Q4 revenue dips 6.1%, as company plans to close 300 stores. Everyware debuts self-checkout kiosks in Hong Kong. Shipt claims Ipsos’ “best delivery experience.” China promulgates delivery fee transparency laws. IKEA to use Neolix’s robo-delivery van. (See our recent take on Ikea’s latest retail innovations.) America’s latest war disrupts food delivery in the Gulf.
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