Fresh Ideas Partners with Tortoise, a Logistics Automation Company

Columbia, MO — Fresh Ideas Food Service Management and last-mile logistics automation company Tortoise announced a partnership to bring a new kind of robotic delivery to dining service operations across the United States.

The fully electric sidewalk robots can carry up to 150 pounds at a speed of 3-7 mph and will provide value across the dining service operation for the Fresh Ideas team, clients and guests.

“This partnership can change the way we do business, maximize labor and add new ordering options and opportunities for our clients and guests,” says Bob Love, Chief Technology Officer at Fresh Ideas.

The Tortoise robot will help operators achieve the following three goals:

First, the robots will allow Fresh Ideas to offer delivery without significantly impacting labor in a time of labor shortages and higher labor costs across the country. The Tortoise robot can do multiple deliveries at one time where other robot solutions are made to do single deliveries. This feature increases operational efficiency and sustainability.

Second, Tortoise can help augment staff to support nearby food service venues and outlets without dedicating a person to deliver supplies and goods.

Lastly, the robot creates an opportunity to increase sales through developing new revenue verticals including ghost convenience stores, bulk grocery delivery and a centralized office supply program. These programs keep guests and revenue on property by allowing the dining team to facilitate orders without extra labor.

An added bonus is that the heavy payload allows for automated contactless delivery of larger orders and bulk items to vulnerable guests reducing their risk during the pandemic.

Robotic delivery presents a solution to make delivery more efficient and profitable as customer’s desire for on-demand convenience continues to increase.

The program will launch in the next few months.