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Five fully automated foodservice outlets

These robotic units are more than vending machines and poised for growth

Lisa Jennings, Executive Editor

August 16, 2018

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Aspects of automation are increasingly becoming part of the restaurant industry, from burger-flipping robotic arms in the kitchen to robotic servers on wheels.

With that has come a growing crop of fully automated foodservice outlets, in which humans, if involved at all, play only a supporting role.

Some may look more vending machine than restaurant, but these machines stand poised to potentially steal market share from concepts operated by their human counterparts.

The robotic coffee bar Café X, for example, on Aug. 1 disclosed it has come close to raising $12 million in its latest round of funding, according to filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Company officials say they are expanding in-house manufacturing and more Café X units will be available for deployment in commercial real estate and other high-traffic areas soon.

But Café X already has competition. Here’s a closer look at that brand as well as four other robot-driven outlets:

About the Author

Lisa Jennings

Executive Editor, Nation's Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality

Lisa Jennings is executive editor of Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality. She joined the NRN staff as West Coast editor in 2004 as a veteran journalist. Before joining NRN, she spent 11 years at The Commercial Appeal, the daily newspaper in Memphis, Tenn., most recently as editor of the Food and Health & Wellness sections. Prior experience includes staff reporting for the Washington Business Journal and United Press International.

Lisa’s areas of expertise include coverage of both large public restaurant chains and small independents, the regulatory and legal landscapes impacting the industry overall, as well as helping operators find solutions to run their business better.

Lisa Jennings’ experience:

Executive editor, NRN (March 2020 to present)

Executive editor, Restaurant Hospitality (January 2018 to present)

Senior editor, NRN (September 2004 to March 2020)

Reporter/editor, The Commercial Appeal (1990-2001)

Reporter, Washington Business Journal (1985-1987)

Contact Lisa Jennings at:

[email protected]

@livetodineout

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-jennings-83202510/

 

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