A snackbot, the outdoor, self-driving robot who brings snacks and beverages from Hello Goodness, a curated portfolio of better-for-you brands from PepsiCo, has arrived on campus at University of the Pacific in Stockton, California.
As a part of a collaborative partnership with Bay Area-based Robby Technologies, the Hello Goodness fleet of snackbots are the first robots from a major food and beverage company to be rolled out in the United States.
As today’s college students seek on-the-go sustenance and nourishment amid packed schedules, they are turning to snacks more often, as three fixed meals become less common on campus.
The Hello Goodness snackbots are a user-friendly and fun solution for this on-demand snacking mentality, and are stocked with choices everyone can enjoy, including Smartfood Delight, Baked Lay’s, SunChips, Pure Leaf Tea, bubly, LIFEWTR and Starbucks Cold Brew.
“We are thrilled to launch our Hello Goodness autonomous delivery snackbots and reimagine college snacking for the future,” said Scott Finlow, vice-president, innovation and insights, PepsiCo Foodservice.
“PepsiCo has a unique opportunity to better serve today’s ambitious college students, by joining together the power of the Hello Goodness portfolio with our expertise in design and equipment innovation,” he added.
Building on the initial successes of its Hello Goodness vending platform, PepsiCo has expanded the idea of curated convenience into new formats, locations and experiences to deliver 50,000 touchpoints by the end of the year. The snackbot is part of this effort, catering 24/7 healthier solutions to fuel the always on consumer.
“We’re thrilled to welcome snackbot to our campus, along with its convenient and nourishing options,” said Matt Camino, director, e-commerce, University of the Pacific Stockton.
“This innovative technology from PepsiCo is enhancing campus life for our students, staff and faculty alike, who have embraced this new way of snacking from PepsiCo,” he added.
The University of Pacific community can now order food and drinks between 9am to 5pm via the snackbot app, to be delivered to over 50 designated areas across the 175-acre campus, allowing students to enjoy their breaks between classes with a snack or beverage.
The bots are ready to roll with a range of over 20 miles on a single charge, and are equipped with camera and headlights that allow it to see and navigate carefully in full darkness or rain, as well as all-wheel drive capabilities for handling curbs and steep hills.
The ordering app can be used with a University of the Pacific email address.
