The basics:
Wonder plans to lay off 533 NJ workers
Company winding down operations in Cranford, Fairfield
Plans to move into a higher-capacity facility in Swedesboro
Wonder recently agreed to sell Grubhub Campus Dining to DoorDash for $300M
Fast-growing food hall concept Wonder plans to lay off 533 workers in New Jersey.
In a filing with the New Jersey Department of Labor & Workforce Development, the company said the cuts will take effect between Sept. 16 and Jan. 8, 2027.
According to a Wonder spokesperson, the company is transitioning away from existing production and distribution facilities in Cranford and Fairfield ahead of a move into a “new, higher-capacity facility in Swedesboro.”
The change aims to “set our supply chain up for long-term growth,” they added.
“Because this is a site consolidation, it unfortunately requires winding down operations and the roles tied to those locations. We recognize this is a significant disruption for these employees and we are working to support them through this transition,” the media representative said.
“Eligible employees will receive severance, outplacement services and the opportunity to apply for open roles at Wonder, including at the new Swedesboro facility,” they added.
Growth goals
Founded in 2018 by billionaire entrepreneur Marc Lore, Wonder allows customers to mix and match menu items from a collection of nearly two dozen acclaimed chefs and eateries in a single order.
Everything is then made-to-order for delivery, pickup or limited dining in at its 150-plus locations across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. Within New Jersey, Wonder has 28 eateries, as well as an R&D facility in Parsippany.
Wonder’s location in Toms River opened in August 2025. – PROVIDED BY WONDER
To support its goal of hitting 1,000 outposts by 2029, Wonder has made several key acquisitions, such as:
To fuel its growth, Wonder has also raised significant amounts across several funding rounds, including $650 million earlier this summer and $600 million in 2025.
The company is reportedly preparing for an IPO as soon as next year.
Just a Dash
Wonder disclosed the layoffs in New Jersey less than a day after announcing plans to sell its Grubhub campus dining division to delivery platform DoorDash for $300 million.
The transaction is expected to close in early 2027, the companies said in a Sept. 15 press release. After that, DoorDash will continue operating Grubhub’s campus dining program.
Earlier this year, Grubhub launched a test program integrating Dexa’s drone delivery service for customers ordering from Wonder’s Green Brook location. – PROVIDED BY GRUBHUB
Currently live at 450 colleges and universities nationwide, the offering allows students to order meals from campus foodservice or restaurant locations and pay using campus dining dollars.
Additionally, DoorDash is investing $125 million to support Wonder’s “continued physical expansion and investments in technology, robotics and AI,” the release said.
Partnering for growth
In a statement, Lore said, “Wonder was founded to make great food more accessible. To us, that means higher-quality food at lower prices, with more choice and convenience, in more communities.”
Lore
“Our partnership with DoorDash lets us continue investing in the technology, robotics and infrastructure that mission requires. Grubhub Campus Dining is a thriving business built by a great team, and DoorDash is well positioned to take it further.
“The partnership also allows Wonder to focus on our long-term ambition: a fully autonomous food system that can plan, produce and deliver personalized meals at scale, serving all 21 meals people eat each week,” he said.
Wonder noted it has more than quadrupled its footprint since the start of 2025. The company added that it will soon also expand beyond the East Coast — with the grand opening of its first Texas locations in early 2027.
The New Jersey WARN notice comes two weeks after Nation’s Restaurant News reported Wonder would eliminate about 150 jobs in a streamlining effort. A spokesperson told the trade publication it was part of “difficult decision to eliminate a number of roles to focus our resources on key growth areas” as the company “enters its next chapter.”
Dining and Cooking