Key facts
- Robotic pizza makers have struggled to achieve financial success, with several companies failing.
- Moto Pizza's founder Lee Kindell found his $160,000 investment in robotic pizza machines became useless after supplier Picnic shut down.
- Experts and analysts point to the clumsiness of robots and the superior efficiency of human workers in pizza preparation.
- Despite setbacks, entrepreneurs like Lee Kindell and Nipun Sharma are continuing to develop and invest in automated pizza technology.
- Miso Robotics has acquired patents from the failed Zume company, indicating continued interest in robotic food assembly.
Robotic pizza makers have struggled to gain traction in the market, with several companies failing to deliver on their promises. Moto Pizza founder Lee Kindell found his restaurant's expensive robotic pizza machines became 'basically useless' after their supplier, Picnic, abruptly shut down, leaving him without technical support. This mirrors a broader trend of failed ventures in the sector, including Zume, Pazzi, and Basil Street, which also aimed to automate pizza production.
Analysts like Sara Senatore from Bank of America note that while fast food seems like a target for automation, it has proven more difficult than anticipated. She points out that food preparation bots can be clumsy, often dropping ingredients, whereas humans are highly efficient at making pizza. This human touch is also seen as a crucial element for customer experience, especially for artisanal pizza makers like Paul Giannone, who has vowed never to use robots.
Despite these challenges, some entrepreneurs remain optimistic. Lee Kindell, inspired by 3D printing technology, is developing his own automated pizza-making machine for square pan-style pies, aiming for a fully operational version by 2027. He believes that failed companies have generated valuable data and technological advancements. Similarly, Nipun Sharma, CEO of Appetronix, is working on faster sauce deposition and slicing methods, aiming for a pizza to be produced every minute for chain markets where consistency is key.
Miso Robotics, known for its French fry-cooking bot Flippy, has acquired over 300 patents from the defunct Zume, indicating a continued belief in the potential of robotic food assembly. While customers may not have been ready for robot-made pizza in the past, proponents argue that it's only a matter of time before the technology becomes reliable and widespread.