The Future Is Today: Robotic Kitchens as The New Reality

Robotics and device automation are actively changing the globe across many facets and industries, and the non-stop development represents the foundation on which robotics companies will make further progress in the foodservice industry.  

Moreover, with the oscillating economy, increased competition, and with Australia facing increasing staff shortages, restaurants are under immense pressure to bring more than just delicious food and  a great environment to the table.

Technology transforms the way commercial kitchens work and improves the quality of their service, and every year, brand-new technology is being developed and perfected to automate more of the essential restaurant operations.

That is why many restaurants have embraced automation and robotics to improve their operations, save resources, and manage the staff’s energy while maintaining the level of speed and service at the same time.

Why Kitchen Robotics Matter Today

We used to watch robots run kitchens and restaurants in the movies. Nowadays, that has become our new reality. With recent AI, robotics, and IoT development, a robotic kitchen is no longer a wild imagination!

If you’re a professional chef, the concept of a team of robots as sous-chefs with the abilities of a master-chef that you can assign them with can address any shortfall in preparing and serving the food for the customers.

With the AI and IoT emergence, commercial kitchen appliances can communicate with each other and share digital data between themselves and the humans that operate with them, relieving lots of man-hours for the restaurant staff of repetitive and time-consuming tasks.  

Almost every task in the commercial kitchen environment can be transformed by robotics & automation, adding more to the major advantages of the technologies such as labour cost savings, precise product quality and enhanced health and safety in the venue. 

Middleby Corporation & Robotics: Made for Each Other

Headquartered in Freemont, US, L2F has been engineering food service with the same accuracy that puts rockets in space, electric vehicles on every road, and robots in kitchens. 

Since 2011, L2F has helped companies innovate and bring new ideas from the lab to full-scale products, and Middleby’s extensive network of foodservice equipment companies, with our track record for unlimited innovation in the commercial kitchen space makes us the perfect match for the robotic kitchen visions of the future to come true.

​L2F further solidifies our position as the global leader in industrial kitchen appliances and keeps us on the cutting edge of foodservice automation. Watch the following video to see L2F & Middleby’s technologies together in action:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bYTwD0jOwI

Wrapping Up

The future is here, and it is brimming with robotics and IoT technologies as more and more brands continue investing in appliances and technologies that help them resolve day-to-day challenges.

Investing in these innovations might be exactly what you need at this point of transition for the restaurant industry. Although robots can’t replace the creativity of a human chef, for now, they can help you reduce work hours and add more staff or replace staff when necessary.

The foodservice and the hospitality industries could benefit immensely from integrating robots into their kitchens, and thankfully, those are the solutions we’re bringing for the sector with L2F.

From chef to delivery and barista robots, the possibilities for the commercial kitchen and restaurant industries are endless. With the increasing hardware and software developments, it’s not difficult to envision a future with our android pals.

Renewable Energy in Commercial Kitchens

Running a successful restaurant business is not only about delivering the best possible experience for your customers. It is also about greater sustainability and efficient energy management.

Indeed, with the unpredictable climate changes and the rise of energy costs due to the unpredictable economy, restaurants must now focus on safer energy consumption while capitalizing on renewable energy sources.

Thus, whether you’re about to open a brand-new restaurant or commercial kitchen, or you want to revamp the current one, investing in renewable induction energy can help you reduce energy loss, protect the environment, and improve your profits.

Investing in Energy-Efficient Equipment

Businesses of any industry contemplate their efforts for reducing their negative impact on the environment, and restaurants are no exception. Today, the foodservice and hospitality sectors are more than ready to revolutionize according to nature’s requirements.

Energy efficiency and sustainability continue to make strides into the foodservice and hospitality sector, and decreasing energy consumption and the decarbonization of the commercial kitchen became a priority.

The first step towards using renewable energy technology for a restaurant is to invest in smart and energy-saving commercial kitchen equipment. Thus, before purchasing your new commercial kitchen equipment, conduct thorough research of the appliances that will bring the best efficiency ROI for your money.

Old Is Expensive, New Is Better

In general, there are a couple of options when looking for commercial kitchen equipment for your restaurant. One is to purchase brand-new unused equipment, and the other is to either rent or buy one that is already used.

Sure, used equipment always seems more affordable at first glance. But, maintaining it puts you at risk of costly repairs. On the other hand, brand-new commercial kitchen equipment is unblemished, warrantied, and you won’t have to worry about expensive repairs.

If you’re planning to replace your used or older commercial kitchen appliances, invest in one with the Middleby logo on it, and use the power of our innovative and renewable energy commercial kitchen equipment brands such as Goldstein.

Goldstein has been creating world-class cooking technology since 1911. Throughout the century, the company always evolved with something new and exciting for the commercial kitchen teams, most recently the innovative electric induction range that will develop even further for any need and any kitchen operation.  

Switching to All-Electric Kitchen Is Inevitable

Commercial kitchen appliances are often powered by methane, which contributes to global warming nearly 30 times higher than CO2, impacting the environment beyond the kitchen as a result due to the amount of natural gas that is entering the atmosphere.

This is why it’s no wonder that environmentally responsible high-end restaurants switch to all-electric kitchens. With full electrification, commercial kitchens can attain full decarbonization and eliminate the usage of fossil fuels, particularly natural gas.

According to Guardian Australia, the future is already looking gas-free for Australia, as gas-burning stoves come with downsides for people’s health and financial plans. Furthermore, as written by Forbes, induction is coming on strong in the commercial kitchen industry.

Wrapping Up

Many restaurateurs still don’t realize that each time they turn on their old gas equipment, they’re inadvertently spending energy, losing profits, and contaminating the environment as a result.

It all comes down to achieving the ultimate performance while safeguarding and renewing the planet’s resources. While we agree that gas is still necessary, induction is today and the future of safe and energy-efficient cooking, reducing the cooking time in the process.

All-electric commercial kitchens provide many major benefits, including precise cooking controls, and working with energy-efficient induction technologies, safeguarding valuable electric energy that won’t go to waste as a result.

Top 10 Food & Restaurant trends to continue in 2022

Even though the restaurant industry was forced to reshape and disrupt throughout 2020 and 2021 since the pandemic commenced, with 11 months left of 2022 ahead of us, new challenges mean new opportunities for everyone in the food and hospitality industry.

When looking back at the last couple of years, you don’t need a crystal ball to predict the cuisine trends that will rule the food and beverage scene this year. So, without further ado, let’s learn more about the ten food trends that will continue to shape the restaurant industry in 2022.

1.Concise Menus

With rising meat prices not slowing down soon, restaurants will have to continue to simplify and refine their menus to accommodate the reality in 2022. Chefs are getting more imaginative but also moving towards reducing food waste and creating richer flavors from local ingredients. Focusing on creating savoury food versus offering too many choices is a trend that helps restaurants manage their cost but still provide delicious food on customers’ plates at the same time.

2. Plant-Based Altogether

Cooking light, plant-based, and sustainable cuisine is something that will spread even further in 2022 since the need to cook with local and fresh ingredients is greater and more cost-effective for everyone. Let’s not forget the health component as well. Consumers now eat even more vegetables at their homes and restaurants, staying mindful about their health and nutrition in the process.

3. Robot Restaurant Servers

Robots aren’t coming. They’re here! The COVID-19 pandemic inspired a great deal of technology improvements within the restaurant and hospitality industry, including digital ordering and touch-free payments, as well as robotics. In 2022, even more restaurants will jump on the robotics train as well.

Including robots to automate certain tasks in the restaurant can help reduce the strain that restaurateurs feel when they don’t have enough staff to work in the kitchen or at the counter, as well as reduce the germs and viruses spread by reducing the person-to-person contact.

4. Ghost Kitchens

Don’t worry, it’s not as eerie as it sounds. In fact, ghost kitchens are not a novelty at all. However, the pandemic made the food delivery services explode in popularity, contributing significantly to the ghost kitchen concept’s growth.

With highly efficient food preparation technologies and the latest app solutions, most ghost kitchens are uniquely set up for food preparation and delivery, without a shopfront where customers can pick up the food. With less overhead costs in the process, introducing a ghost kitchen is an excellent way for restaurants to continue working successfully and survive the pandemic.

5. Bottling Cocktails

Under the influence of the takeaway cocktails movement that rose during the pandemic, bars and restaurants are now preparing bottled cocktails in advance instead of mixing them straight away for the customers on the spot. This saves a lot of time, especially in busy weekend hours, but also represents a significant revenue opportunity because customers will have the privilege to get these drinks delivered to their homes via delivery apps.

6. Comfort Foods

As society is still dealing with lots of losses and stress due to the pandemic, comfort food is even in greater demand than in 2020 and 2021. Of course, any dish that warms people’s souls and nourishes them will always resonate at home and in restaurants as well. But still, you shouldn’t expect the standard granny recipes from venues. Instead, we expect chefs to raise the bar and reimagine their takes on famous classics such as pastas, pizzas, breads, lasagnes, and stews.

7. Non-Alcoholic Beverages

Whether due to the rising healthy habits or the pandemic, the demand for more sophisticated non-alcoholic beverages will rise further in 2022 and the years to come. Non-alcoholic drinks are no longer just a mix of fruit juice, but they also feature all the freshest seasonal ingredients as well, becoming more appealing for guests and customers in the process. In their latest trend report, Pinterest predicts more tea parties, and we’re also going to see more veggie-focused drinks prepared by restaurants that put health first above all.

8. Potato Milk

Potatoes are delicious, affordable, and good for everybody! Frequently described as a healthier milk alternative, potato milk might be the next best thing in alternative foods. Strengthened with vitamin D, folic acid, and calcium, potato milk is vegan, lactose-free, and gluten-free alternative to regular milk, which makes it appropriate for every type of diet, especially with innovative types of coffees.

9. Immunity Boosters

Another vital food trend that will continue to dominate 2022 is immune-boosting meals, drinks, and ingredients. Consumers nowadays are keener than ever to continue to eat healthy foods and improve their immune systems and the rest of their bodily functions. This is where your restaurant can capitalize on the trend by adding ingredients such as kombucha, kimchi, chia, kefir, yogurts, smoothies, and health juices to the menus.  of this trend by adding these ingredients to your dishes or drinks menu.

10. Private Dining Experience

Outdoor dining with COVID-19 protocols in restaurant gardens, patios, and greenhouses became the safer and much more popular dining event for guests, which pushed venues to build outdoor environments that customers can reserve for safer, and more private dining and celebrations.

Since the recent developments don’t announce that the pandemic will end soon, the demand for private dining outdoors will become even more exclusive in 2022, allowing restaurants to enrich their offering and provide exclusive experiences.

Wrapping Up

2022 is an opportunity to grab greater customer attention by staying creative with your menus, introducing efficient technologies, and focusing on healthier dining overall. Adapting to the conditions, addressing consumer behaviors, and staying relevant is the key to success.

Let us know which 2022 food trends are excited to try in your restaurant!