Seven Penn students and alumni have launched an eco-friendly food delivery service operating in University City.
The business, Vago Logistics, will deliver food from any restaurant that accepts phone or online orders. It charges an additional dollar on top of the total cost for pickup and delivery. This applies both to establishments that currently work with Vago, as well as those that do not.
Vago founder and rising Wharton senior Evan Lyons explained that on the company’s website, “you can directly order from places like restaurants and food trucks … if we are not currently working with the establishment, you order regular take-out and enter that order on our website.”
The Vago Logistics delivery employees, called “agents,” then pick up the order and deliver it to the customer for the $1 fee.
Vago goes by a strict no-tipping policy. “There are no hidden fees,” said Vago’s Director of Operations and 2011 College graduate James Munson. “It’s just one extra dollar.”
In an effort to minimize carbon emissions, the business uses exclusively electric vehicles for delivery.
“Not only are we providing cheap, fast delivery, it’s also eco-friendly,” Lyons said.
Currently Vago Logistics requires that payment be made by either credit or debit card. While for now the hours of delivery are only during mealtimes five days a week, the service will operate seven days a week come this fall.
Vago aims to fill a void in food delivery services in the area.
“My biggest problem with delivery services around here is that they just don’t offer all the food options I want,” University City resident David Lynham said.
Munson believes that Vago will be able to do just that. “Not only can we deliver food to you that normally cannot be delivered, but we do so when you’re busy or it’s raining … anytime you can’t make it over to your favorite place,” he said.
Vago plans to extend its reach beyond just eating establishments in the near future to include delivery from businesses such as Wawa and Fresh Grocer.
“This is only the beginning,” Lyons said. “We’ve got a lot of exciting things planned,” including 24/7 delivery of items from any local establishment.
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