Charleys Philly Steaks Starts Delivering by Drone

Cheesesteaks soon will be taking to the Durham, N.C., skies before being dropped into residents’ front and backyards.

The flying food comes as Charleys Philly Steaks partners with an autonomous drone delivery company to deliver its cheesesteaks, fries, lemonades and more by air. Brian Hipsher, Charleys Philly Steaks’ chief marketing officer, expects the future-forward delivery mode to be more cost effective and speed up delivery.

Orders are placed through the drone delivery company’s app, which updates customers regarding their order status along the route before the package is lowered by wire into their yards. The company says the average flight time is three minutes.

The 700-unit chain joins a growing number of restaurant brands spreading their wings to offer drone delivery.

El Pollo Loco reportedly became the first national restaurant company to test door-to-door backyard drone delivery last summer when it began piloting its “Air Loco” drone delivery service, and the virtual restaurant company C3 also began testing drone delivery late last year to customers within two miles of select kitchens.

In addition, brands like Raising Cane’s, Chipotle Mexican Grill and Starbucks have been offering delivery by air in select areas in North Carolina and Texas.