Donatos Pizza and Agápe Automation, in collaboration with foodtech company Appetronix, are set to debut their robot-operated first fully autonomous pizza restaurant in June 2025.

To be operated by restaurateur HMS Host, the new restaurant will be opened in front of Concourse B at the John Glenn Columbus International Airport in the US.

The kitchen will function 24/7, utilising robotics and data science to provide travellers with quick, freshly made pizzas which they can watch being made by the robot in real time.

Appetronix CEO and co-founder Nipun Sharma stated: "Bringing this first-of-its-kind autonomous kitchen to life in collaboration with Donatos has been an extraordinary journey and marks a defining moment for the future of the restaurant industry.” 

Donatos Pizza noted that this collaboration promotes the four-point strategy outlined by the CEO and president Kevin King, to introduce disruptive new ideas to the pizza industry.

Kevin King stated: "We're not just adding tech to a restaurant - we're jumping in with a fully autonomous restaurant. But, most importantly, we're going to continue to serve great-tasting, abundantly topped pizzas and provide the top-notch customer experience that Donatos has always been known for.

“In a busy airport environment, where customers are most focused on catching their flights, we think the vending machine-style location will be a huge success." 

The company employs scaleable technological solutions that could eventually be implemented in settings where traditional kitchens are impractical, such as airports, hospitals, college campuses and industrial sites.

This latest development comes on the heels of Donatos Pizza's recent expansion efforts, which include the May 2025 signing of three new franchise groups to extend its reach in Texas.