Columbus-based Donatos Pizza will debut its first fully autonomous, 24/7 location at John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH). The airport outpost, opened in partnership with Donatos sister company Agápe Automation and food tech company Appetronix, will open in June and be operated by HMSHost. Donatos’ pre-security Concourse B location will use data science and robotic technology to produce the brand’s signature end-to-end-topping, made-to-order pizzas.
“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 a top-notch customer experience that Donatos has always been known for,” said Kevin King, president and CEO of Donatos Pizza. “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.”
“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,” added Nipun Sharma, co-founder and CEO of Appetronix. “With our state-of-the-art, AI-powered robotic technology, we’re delivering hot, fresh pizza with unprecedented precision and efficiency. This is more than innovation—it’s a transformative leap for the QSR space, setting a new standard for consistency, speed, and customer satisfaction.”
“Donatos’ new fully autonomous restaurant is an exciting addition to John Glenn International, showcasing their commitment to innovation and our shared focus on enhancing the passenger experience,” said Joseph R. Nardone, president and CEO of Columbus Regional Airport Authority. “This cutting-edge technology will provide travelers with a quick and convenient taste of a beloved local favorite.”
“I’m incredibly proud of the innovation my dad, Jim Grote, has championed over the past 62 years,” said Jane Grote Abell, executive chairwoman of Donatos Pizza. “It’s in his DNA to constantly seek better ways to deliver the same consistent, high-quality pizza we’ve always served. At Donatos, we believe people are at the heart of innovation—and this fully automated location allows our guests to enjoy Donatos on the run, without sacrificing the experience. More innovation, more passion, and more opportunities to eat great pizza—that’s what this is all about.”
“We work every day to make travelers happier, and we think we’ve delivered on that promise by expanding the pre-security food & beverage amenities and introducing a dining option that will offer travelers and visitors to the airport a high-quality, fast and filling meal 24/7. It’s a wonderful way to enhance our existing restaurant operations,” added Tosin Kasali, vice president of business development for HMSHost. “We’re happy to be the concessions operator chosen to bring this technology to John Glenn International.”
