You might think new ideas infoodstartups are done to death.
Now, a US company calledWonderhas created an entirely new business model: chefs-on-wheels.
Its a somewhat novel idea.
Consumers order food through a mobile app.
But, while it may bring you fresh pizza, it raises questions about sustainability and urban planning.
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An idling vehicle releases harmful chemicals, gases and particle pollution into the air.
Further, they sit in a grey area between food delivery and parked food trucks.
Wondertold WSJthat they are years off from an electric fleet.
While theyve opted for efficient cooking tech that runs on battery electricity, their fleet is all gas.
Were not talking about a quick drop-off of a delivery meal here.
People presumably move to the suburbs to escape the noise of restaurants.
Wonder is only available in 22 towns.
Let the people have their freshly baked bread!
But the company recently raised a whopping $3.5 billion in funding.
And Wonders fleet of 200 vans is expected to increase to thousands in the next few years.
Thats a lot of vansblocking the curb.
Even electric vans would take up a fair chunk of parking space.
Further, the companys founderMarc Lore, has a history of founding businesses that get acquired.
Walmart bought Jet.com (an alternative to Amazon)for $3.3 billion.
Maybe Uber better start ordering someCanoo vans?
Story byCate Lawrence
Cate Lawrence is an Australian tech journo living in Berlin.
