Robots are beginning to prove themselves at scale in commercial kitchens. Miso Robotics today announced a partnership with Jack in the Box Inc. to test its Flippy 2 and Sippy product lines in one of the national restaurant chain's stand-alone locations. The companies said they might plan for further integration in the months ahead.
“This collaboration with Miso Robotics is a stepping stone for our back-of-house restaurant operations,” said Tony Darden, chief operating officer at Jack in the Box. “We are confident that this technology will be a good fit to support our growing business needs with intentions of having a positive impact on our operations while promoting safety and comfort to our team members. We are looking forward to testing Flippy 2 as our new hire at our San Diego location!”
Jack in the Box said it operates and franchises one of the nation’s largest hamburger chains, with more than 2,200 restaurants in 21 states and Guam.
Jack in the Box turns to Flippy 2, Sippy for efficiency
Like many fast-food and fast-casual restaurant chains, Jack in the Box faced continued staffing challenges, which affected operating hours and costs. The San Diego-based company said it decided to revamp its technology roadmap and establish new systems—particularly in the back of house.
Automation can help improve restaurant-level economics and alleviate the pain points of working in a high-volume commercial kitchen, said Miso Robotics. The Flippy 2 frying assistant and Sippy automated beverage dispenser are built on the Miso Platform, said the company.
Jack in the Box plans to test the integration of both Flippy 2 and Sippy into its operations and measure the benefits of a connected kitchen. The partners said the goal is to help team members with their day-to-day responsibilities, so they can spend less time at the fryer and drink stations and more time with customers.
“Beginning our journey with a premier brand like Jack in the Box is an enormous step in our commitment to helping restaurants increase throughput, reduce costs and create a safer environment for their staff,” said Mike Bell, CEO of Miso Robotics. “From tacos and curly fries to fountain sodas, the future is now for Jack in the Box, and we are ecstatic to serve as the company’s technological arm to assure a quality product gets into its customers hands every time they order.”
Miso continues cooking up funding
Miso Robotics said its automated systems solve some of the largest gaps in commercial foodservice operations. The company's products include Flippy 2, Sippy, the CookRight intelligent cooking assistant, and the Chippy tortilla robot.
In its first five years, Miso said it has gained industry knowledge and real-world lessons from brand partnerships. It claimed that its products use artificial intelligence, machine learning, computer vision, and data analytics to drive consistency, increase productivity, reduce costs, and improve the overall dining experience.
Miso added that it is primarily funded by individual investors through a successful crowdfunding campaign. With more than 18,000 shareholders, the company has raised more than $50 million to date and is currently accepting new investors for its Series E round, which kicked off with a market valuation of $500 million.
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