Serve Robotics has announced an agreement to acquire the assets of Vebu Inc., an automation and robotics company known for developing back-of-house solutions for restaurants. While financial terms of the all-stock transaction remain undisclosed, the acquisition is set to strengthen Serve’s competitive position by broadening its offerings beyond delivery to include back-of-house automation. This acquisition introduces Vebu’s Autocado, a robotic system designed to automate avocado processing for restaurant kitchens, currently in pilot testing at a Chipotle location in California.
With this acquisition, Serve aims to deepen its restaurant partnerships by providing an expanded suite of automation solutions, including Vebu’s full-stack robotics capabilities. Vebu’s founder and CEO, Buck Jordan, will join Serve Robotics as Senior Vice President of Kitchen Automation, where he will lead the ongoing development of Autocado and oversee other back-of-house innovations.
The acquisition aligns with Serve’s recent expansion efforts, including its collaboration with Wing Aviation for distance delivery. By integrating Vebu’s automation technology, Serve plans to address a wider range of operational needs within the restaurant sector, potentially unlocking new market opportunities and enhancing its relationships with existing partners, which include companies like Shake Shack and 7-Eleven.