What is a fast-food restaurant today? We are talking Quick Service Restaurant (QSR)
Today restaurants brands need to be faster than ever before or they risk losing
customers. Drive-thru times at QSR are increasingly mocked by consumers as ‘slower
than molasses’. Many companies have
reduced menus to drive faster times via the drive-thru or delivery.
Steven Johnson Grocerant
Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions® recalls back-in-the-day
when he was invited to the grand opening of the first pizza hut in Hong Kong.
While conducing research consumers at that first Hong Kong unit number one
complaint expressed confusion about the concept. They thought Pizza Hut was an American fast-food
restaurant and the speed of service was simply disappointing. Times have
changed. Pizza Hut has very few ‘red
roof locations left. The speed of
service from the time you order and receive a pizza at Pizza Hut are remarkedly
faster than they were back in the day.
Once
again restaurant chain branded pizza sector is about to evolve, expand, and
disrupt the status quo. This time it is being done by the Grote family, Donatos Pizza and its sister companies
Agape Automation and the Grote Co. are co-developing the automated pizzeria
with robotics firm Appetronix.
So,
if you have not heard, Donatos Pizza is
developing an automated pizza vending machine that will reduce cost in the long
run, speed up service while doubling down on food quality consistency the hallmark
of all chain restaurants.
The
first unit will open in Donatos’ hometown of Columbus, Ohio, though the chain
did not say when. The companies said the state-of-the-art machine will
improve quality, service and accuracy and will make it easy for customers to
order Donatos pizza. The machine will
also feature artificial intelligence that can do things like personalize
recommendations and predict when maintenance will be needed.
Donatos
founder Jim Grote, stated, "We are thrilled to be working with Appetronix
to deliver an intuitive, automated system to create our pizza, accessible to
people everywhere,” …. “Utilizing technology to provide a better customer
experience through improved speed and product consistency has been a focus of
mine since the first Donatos restaurant opened."
The
chain is known for its generously topped Edge to Edge pizzas. In addition to
its 176 brick-and-mortars, its pies are sold in 273 Red Robin restaurants and
it has about 10 outlets in sports and entertainment venues. This machine will
empower Donatos to expand to new
non-traditional locations as well.
If
you did not know, Grote also founded Agape Automation, a maker of
internet-connected pizza-making devices, and Grote Co., a foodservice equipment
manufacturer. Those companies will co-develop Donatos’ vending machine with
Appetronix.
Building a Larger Share of Stomach
Requires Technology & Digital Marketing
"We
are truly honored to partner with the Grote family and contribute to the future
of one of the most iconic pizza brands in the United States,” said Appetronix
co-founder and CEO Nipun Sharma in a statement. Appetronix was formerly known
as SJW Robotics.
Toronto-based
Appetronix has a fully automated restaurant called RoWok, a proprietary
automated wok system.
Regular
readers of this blog understand that pizza is viewed as a good candidate for
automation. They also have heard of a
number of robotic pizza companies and concepts, including Picnic, Piestro and
Stellar Pizza. However, their success has been mixed: Earlier entrants like
Zume Pizza and Basil Street Pizza have shut down, and Picnic went through
layoffs earlier this year.
Do
you think Donatos branded vending will be more successful than all the
others?
For international corporate presentations, regional
chain presentations, educational forums, or keynotes contact: Steven Johnson
Grocerant Guru®
at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions.
His extensive experience as a multi-unit restaurant operator,
consultant, brand / product positioning expert, and public speaking will leave
success clues for all. For more information visit GrocerantGuru.com,
FoodserviceSolutions.US or call 1-253-759-7869
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