PepsiCo has enrolled its “Hello Goodness snackbot” into college. (See video below.)
What the company calls “the friendliest new freshman” at University of the Pacific in Stockton, California, arrived on campus earlier this month. And it’s stocked with snacks and beverages.
Snackbot is described as an “outdoor, self-driving robot” which brings snacks and beverages from Hello Goodness, a curated portfolio of brands from PepsiCo, to hungry college students.
As 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 in the United States to roll out, bringing great-tasting, healthier snacks and beverages direct to students, making better-for-you snacking ultra-convenient.
As today’s college students are seeking on-the-go sustenance and nourishment amid packed schedules, they’re 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 including Smartfood Delight, Baked Lay’s, SunChips, Pure Leaf Tea, bubly, LifeWtr and Starbucks Cold Brew.
Scott Finlow, vice president innovation and insights, PepsiCo Foodservice, says: “We’re thrilled to launch our Hello Goodness autonomous delivery snackbots and reimagine college snacking for the future.
“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.”
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.
Matt Camino, director of e-commerce at University of the Pacific Stockton, says: “We’re thrilled to welcome snackbot to our campus, along with its convenient and nourishing options.
“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.”
The University of Pacific community can now order food and drinks from 9 am to 5 pm via the snackbot app, to be delivered to more than 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 more than 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 is available for iOS with a University of the Pacific email address.
