DoorDash has announced its drone delivery programme, DoorDash Air, which will begin operations in northern California with Chipotle and Popeyes as initial restaurant partners. This represents a significant step towards automated food delivery, with the company designing its six-propeller drone to operate quietly within communities and deliver orders in under five minutes on average.

DoorDash estimates that approximately 80 per cent of restaurant orders placed through its platform are small and light enough for drone delivery. The company's delivery management system will consider factors such as ground traffic, weather conditions and flight times to determine which orders are suitable for air transport. Additionally, DoorDash announced several complementary features, including text-based ordering through Apple Messages and expanded retail partnerships with Macy's, Anthropologie, The North Face, Vans and Timberland for clothing, footwear and beauty item delivery.