This is a print-friendly version of www.whitehutchinson.com/news/lenews/2022/october/article113.shtml

White Hutchinson Leisure & Learning Group, Kansas City, MO, USA

Robotics creating pizzatainment

Driven by the post-pandemic shortage of workers, restaurants are turning to robots. Robots are flipping burgers, frying French fries, brewing coffee, and even delivering food to customers. Now along comes several startups using robots and artificial intelligence to churn out pizzas faster and cheaper than humans.

Top engineering minds are building robotic equipment that can stretch dough, slap on sauce, and sprinkle cheese and toppings without human intervention.

• Stellar Pizza (www.eatstellarpizza.com/ ) , founded by a former SpaceX rocket scientist, will open this month in L.A. with a fleet of trucks staffed by robotic pizza chefs + human drivers.
• PizzaHQ (www.pizza-hq.com/ ) in New Jersey has converted a traditional pizzeria into a robotic one, with plans to expand.
• Picnic Works (www.picnicworks.com/ savings-estimator/ ) is a tech company that leases the "Picnic Pizza Station" - a modular assembly line that can make up to 100 pizzas an hour under the supervision of one human attendant.

(vimeo.com/ 725858581)
Click the photo to see Picnic Pizza Station in action.

When it comes to pizza, robots can save money. The most expensive ingredient on pizza is cheese. Humans are terrible at consistent portion control, typically adding up to 40% more cheese than the recipe calls for. Robots can get it precisely right every time. Another problem at pizza joints is the quality of the pizza can vary daily. With robotics, there is 100% consistency in every aspect of making and baking it.

Many pizza joints are also banking on a "pizzatainment" element to increase the appeal of their restaurants. It's fun to watch a robot make a pizza.

And when the pizza is done, a robot can deliver it to the table.

© 1999 - 2025, White Hutchinson Leisure & Learning Group, Inc.
The contents of this website and eNewsletters are protected by USA and international copyright law. Permission is granted to download and print single copites of any of the contents or articles for personal use. No other copies may be made. Educational institutions may obtain permission to make multiple copies for classroom use by e-mailing us with details. The contents of articles may be quoted provided credit is given to the "(author's name), White Hutchinson Leisure & Learning Group, Kansas City, MO, USA". All other rights for use or reproduction of the contents and articles are reserved.