Minnow Launches Pilot Program for its Contact-Free Food Pickup Pods

Minnow, an IoT startup that has developed a contact-free food delivery and pickup solution, has launched a pilot program in partnership with fast-casual restaurants and food service operators.

Minnow Pickup Pod has launched pilots at Crisp Salads in Portland, Oregon (Division Street location) and at bNatural Kitchen in New Haven, Connecticut. Both are fast-casual restaurants that offer healthy fare and have experienced a sharp increase in online orders since the pandemic began. That increase, along with the need to maintain social distancing, has made it more difficult to provide a pickup experience that is both safe and convenient.

“Trying to ensure the safety of our customers as well as our team members is our number one priority,” said Emma Dye, founder of Crisp Salads. “The Pickup Pod frees up staff time and reduces order mix-ups. Having the order in a secure cubby where it is accessible only to the person who is supposed to pick it up is a game changer.”

Minnow’s latest consumer survey shows that consumers agree. When asked about their preferences for picking up their online orders, 86% of consumers said contact-free pickup is important. In addition, the vast majority (96%) want their food kept in an insulated compartment so it stays hot or cold while waiting to be picked up, while 94% want it kept in a secure compartment so no one could touch or tamper with it.

Nebyat Sheweye, owner of bNatural Kitchen, echoed those sentiments. “We make healthy food, but we also want to provide our customers and delivery partners with a healthy pickup experience. That’s where the Minnow Pickup Pod comes in.”

In addition to reducing labor costs and providing a safer and more convenient pickup experience, a Minnow Pickup Pod can increase revenues and boost profitability. 36% of consumers said they’d order more often from restaurants with a Pickup Pod. Consumers also said they’d be willing to pay a $0.50 convenience fee to pick up from a secure, insulated, self-service food pickup solution.

To learn how to provide a safer and more convenient food delivery or pickup experience using the Minnow Pickup Pod, visit minnowpod.com.