With ongoing staffing shortages in the food service industry and restaurant owners facing increases in minimum wages, restaurants are looking at technology to reduce labor costs and enhance productivity.
Miso Robotics, previously known for developing robotic equipment that is used by various restaurant chains, is now launching its own robotics-run restaurant. Set to open in Pasadena by the end of this month, the restaurant, called CaliExpress, will feature Miso’s artificial intelligence-enabled burger-flipping robot, initially developed as “Flippy.”
CaliExpress is a joint venture between Miso and holding company Cali Group, with a total investment exceeding $1 million. However, Cali Group, which already operates Flippy at its CaliBurger restaurant chain, will hold a substantial level of authority over the project, as it owns a minority stake in Miso. CaliExpress will occupy the property of a previous CaliGroup venture at 561 E. Green St. in Pasadena’s Playhouse District. Miso and Cali Group are based in Pasadena.
In addition to CaliBurger, Miso has partnered with companies including White Castle, Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. and Panera Bread. Alana Abbitt, vice president of product development at Miso, said that the long-term goal for CaliExpress is not necessarily for Miso to become a new franchisee, but rather to provide a platform to showcase its technology in action for customers and investors.
“What our value proposition is, is for this to be a showroom for our prospective customers and current customers to see (Miso’s technology) in a live restaurant,” Abbitt said. “Seeing is believing, and while we have our lab literally down the street, it’s one thing when you are not doing it in a very fast-paced setting in front of customers and you’re just kind of tweaking and turning knobs and playing with it.”
Fast food
Flippy can quickly cook fried foods and is run by a robotic arm that hangs on a track above a restaurant’s frying…
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