Mobile pizza trucks deliver fast food

Many pizza companies talk fast delivery, but Super Fast Pizza — they talk fast delivery. In fact, before your order is even completed your pie could already be rolling its way to your door, thanks to the wonders of wireless and a small fleet of Chrysler Sprinter vans outfitted with kitchen equipment. You trade off a bit in selection, with only seven possible varieties to order, but you'll get that dough and cheese in about 15 minutes. Order by phone or online, and your pizza pleasure gets doled out to an available $60,000 "mobile kitchen" via a wireless internet connection. Drivers park, load up the oven, and keep on rolling to your door. The service is apparently experiencing rapid growth in its hometown of tiny Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, so owner Scott Matthew plans to, uh, roll out his business plan across the country.

[Via Core 77]

[RuneSpyder @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

What a kick in the nuts it must be to start a business like this with gas prices being as high as the are.

[Eric Rice @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

"The Deliverator�s uniform is black as activated charcoal, filtering the light out of the air. A bullet will bounce off its aracnofiber weave like a wren hitting a patio door, but excess perspiration wafts through it like a breeze through a fleshly napalmed forest." -Snow Crash.

Pizza delivery is HOT.

[JJ @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Cool. I wonder if they charge an extra service fee?

I hope this catches on.

[douglas @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

years ago, Domino's had a "half an hour or your pizza is free" policy, but they had to end it because too many drivers were getting into accidents.

i hope the vans with 600 degree ovens are driving slower.

[Michael Rubin @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Sort of reminds me of the cartoon I saw at "Escape from New York" Pizza in San Francisco last week:

"Psychic Pizza Delivery-Guaranteed to be there 5 minutes before you order." In the cartoon the woman opens the door and says "That's so weird-we were just about to order a pizza."

[Tyler Stevens @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

One accident and Insurance will be so high it'll get scrapped. Sounds like a dumb idea anyway.

[rjp @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Isn't a truck by definition 'mobile'? Unless I am missing the popular stationary pizza trucks?

[Clint @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

ERIC - FORGET THE PIZZA, WHAT ARE YOU SMOKING? SNOW CRASH? PASS IT THIS WAY!

[Blue Balloon @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Teleport woud be better way to make instant delivery! woot!

[Adam Rice @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Years ago, there was a small operation here in Austin called Midnight Tacos (which always answered the phone "we know you're hungry!"). As far as I know, they had no stationary kitchen, just a small fleet of step-vans outfitted with kitchens (and garish handpainted murals on the sides). The van would drive to your location, make the food, and bring it to your door.

Sounds great in theory, except the operation was apparently run by a bunch of stoners, so this actually took longer than any other delivery I've ever used.

[Brian @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

this only because if you read the article the town is 2 square miles, probably not large enough to support paying rent on a pizza parlor and having the delivery trucks. now i have a really creative pizza idea, too bad i dont have time for it.

[mainfr4me @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Ha ha! Wisconsin is finally known for something other than taxing your downloads and beer!

[Tom @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Back in the late '80's Pizza Hut tried this in Cedar Rapids, IA- they called it "Pizza-2-U". Had oversize white vans with yellow flashing lights. Everyone in the neighborhood knew when you ordered from those guys.

Of course- with the Internet I'm sure it will work out this time.

[Ian @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

A guy here in Hamden Connecticut did this awhile ago. He converted a fire truck and added a oven/whatever else is needed to make pizzas. You can rent him for partys and such where he rolls up, and can pop out a supprisingly large number of (good) pizzas in a short amount of time. He has been a great hit around here.

[meh @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Domino's had the same thing in an ad a few years ago for their "Heat Wave" bags.

[Suntiger @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Agree with Eric and Clint - very Snow Crash. We need this all over the nation, now.

[Joe @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

So, I am sure the dude making the pizzas in the back has his seatbelt on. I could care less, but most police departments do care.

[Taiwan @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

This is why /pizza is on EverQuest II!

Read about ordering pizza on EverQuest II here: http://everquest2.station.sony.com/pizza/

-Taiwan Brown

[VK @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

"Isn't a truck by definition 'mobile'? Unless I am missing the popular stationary pizza trucks?"

You've never seen a grease truck? Ever been to a college campus with commuters?

[Dale Stanbrough @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

The only problem is that the pizzas are cooked by the hot exhaust from the engine.
Ensures a nice even cooking, but it does smell a bit.

[John P. @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Eric,

"The Deliverator�s uniform is black as activated charcoal....

"Snow Crash" was a pretty cool book. When I read this article, it was the first thing I thought of.

[Super Fast Pizza Co. @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Hi Folks,
Thanks for the comments. Here are some answers:

1) The Sprinter vans get good mileage, and are diesel. Fuel is a small part of our overhead.

4) No Extra charge to deliver. First pizza is $8.99, just $5.99 for each extra pizza. We offer TEN different types of pizza, PLUS a rotating "pizza of the month." More options in the future. We also offer Soda, and Cheesecake.

5) Our drivers don't need to speed. The pizzas takes 6-8 minutes to cook anyway, so there is no rush to arrive. A nice safe pace gets them to delivery as the pizza is done baking.

7) Our insurance cost is reasonable, and won't skyrocket from an accident. And it's NOT dumb to get "Delicious hot pizza, delivered in about 15 minutes." (You sound like the professor who gave Fred Smith a "C" for his paper about Fed/Ex!)

8) Our Vans are not stationary. We come to YOU! In about 15 minutes.

12) This is a town of 45,000 people, with a Dominos, Pizza Hut, Papa Johns, Little Caesars, etc. and 5 independents that deliver. How many people do you think it takes to support a pizza place?

15) That's great for parties. This will get you a single pizza, for $8.99, in 15 minutes.

16) Baking a pizza, then keeping in a warm bag for another 15 minutes, is not the "same thing." With us, it's 30 seconds from our oven, to your door. Big difference.

18) We make the pizzas up before we head out, and keep them in the refrigerator on the mobile kitches. One person runs the whole kitchen, and is naturally belted in when driving (while the pizzas are baking).

21) That's just silly. We have 5 pizza ovens on board, and a 10K generator to power them. There is no smell!

Thanks for the feedback.
Scott Matthew
Super Fast Pizza Co.

[Tnsquire66 @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Does anyone know how to get in touch with this guy? Would like to consider franchise in Tennessee

[Tnsquire66 @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Scott :
Very interested in your concept, would like to explore further if interested, thank you

[Richard Bell @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Been there done that. Speedy has ZERO patent protection and will get eaten. My patent cooks in 90 SECONDS, has a potential 5 minute delivery time, and each vehicle costs $20K, NOT $60K...
and yes, its ALL PATENTED....
http://www.krbcapital.com/kbell.html

[Richard Bell @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Been there done that. Speedy has ZERO patent protection and will get eaten. My patent cooks in 90 SECONDS, has a potential 5 minute delivery time, and each vehicle costs $20K, NOT $60K...
and yes, its ALL PATENTED....
http://www.krbcapital.com/kbell.html

[Sgt. Belcher @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

They are lucky not to get arrested...

[chachi @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

This is great --- he should patent it.

[Mark A. Peterson @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Scott:
Can you tell me who manufactures your pizza trucks and the approximate cost? I have been doing quite a bit of research on the concept for a SoCal application. I was moving forward with it when I saw your company's success and was heartened by it. I am looking at a different market niche than strictly delivery but, I admire your success!!!

[K. Radford @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

To Mr. Bell- You have a patented truck that can cook a pizza in 90 seconds. Where do you operate and why haven't I heard of you. To Mr. Matthews- All I see from you is you take a frozen pizza and cook it in a truck and I get it 15-20 minutes after I order it. Excuse me but I don't like to cook either especially after a hard days work but if I wanted a "FROZEN" Pizza I would go to my freezer and put it in my own oven and get it 15-20 minutes after I started. And I could save alot of money. I don't see the big deal behind that. Sorry I think I would like to try a pizza cooked in 90 seconds from a fresh state right before my eyes though after I pick out my own toppings. I just have a hard time believing that one would really like to hear from some of the customers of this 90 second idea.