Zipline adds Wonder to its growing drone delivery network

Texas has become one of the biggest proving grounds for drone delivery in America, and it’s about to add another high-profile name to the list. Food technology company Wonder has announced a partnership with Zipline that will bring on-demand drone meal deliveries to Texas beginning in January 2027.

The rollout will start in Dallas before expanding across the state. By the end of 2027, Wonder expects most of its Texas locations to offer drone delivery, making it a core part of the company’s expansion strategy rather than a limited pilot.

Wonder says it’s already laying the groundwork ahead of its Texas launch by building storefronts, kitchens, logistics systems, and ordering technology that can support drone operations from day one.

For customers, the biggest benefit is simple: faster meals without getting stuck in traffic. Texas’ sprawling cities and growing suburbs make it an attractive market for aerial delivery, especially in areas where traditional food delivery can be slow or expensive. Wonder believes drones will help it reach more customers while ensuring meals arrive fresher and closer to how chefs intended.

The drone technology comes from Zipline, which has quietly built one of the world’s largest autonomous delivery networks. The company says it has completed more than 2.5 million autonomous deliveries globally across healthcare, food, and retail. In the United States alone, customers can already order more than 100,000 different products through its delivery network.

One detail that could make the partnership especially appealing for restaurants is how little additional infrastructure is required. Instead of redesigning kitchens or building rooftop drone pads, Wonder locations will use Zipline’s “Dropbox” system. Restaurant staff simply place completed orders into a secure drawer, and the drone system takes over from there. Customers never interact directly with the aircraft, and the system doesn’t require special food packaging either.

Wonder CEO Tony Hoggett says the partnership is about making high-quality meals available to more people through faster and more convenient delivery. Zipline’s Chris Kenney adds that removing traffic from the delivery equation means restaurants can confidently offer menu items that might otherwise suffer during long car rides.

The announcement also highlights how drone delivery is steadily moving beyond prescriptions and grocery orders into everyday restaurant meals. If the Texas rollout goes as planned, ordering dinner from celebrity chef brands like Bobby Flay or Marcus Samuelsson — and having it arrive by drone — could soon become just another option at checkout.

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