Key Takeaways
- MOTO Pizza to introduce salads at select locations using Cibotica’s robotic technology.
- The partnership is a three-year deal focused on expanding MOTO’s presence, including Southern California.
Expansion and Innovation at MOTO Pizza
MOTO Pizza, a rapidly growing restaurant chain, has announced its plans to add salads to its menu at select locations by collaborating with Cibotica, a startup known for its salad-making robots. Founder Lee Kindell revealed that the first Cibotica unit will debut at the flagship store in Belltown, Seattle, this summer.
Kindell expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, noting he visited Cibotica’s shop in Vancouver and was impressed by their operations. “We’re actually developing my recipes right now for my salad. We’re looking at maybe getting it in here in the next two months,” he shared.
The collaboration follows a robotics-as-a-service model that will last for up to three years, focusing on producing salads at various MOTO locations. Future expansions may include sites in Southern California, with MOTO already having entered the Palm Springs market earlier in the year. Recently, the chain secured its first venue in Los Angeles at the Hollywood Bowl. Kindell remarked that having a presence in stadiums, like T-Mobile Park, significantly boosts visibility and sales, allowing customers to discover the brand in a larger metropolitan area.
In addition to robot-prepared salads and enhanced stadium partnerships, Kindell is also considering the frozen food market as a new venture for MOTO Pizza. This idea originated from a conversation with a devoted customer who regularly purchased multiple pizzas to freeze for later use. When asked if the pizzas retained their quality after freezing, the customer enthusiastically stated, “My son likes it better.” This feedback inspired Kindell to explore retail opportunities.
Kindell’s innovations, which include the use of robotic technology for salad and pizza preparation, as well as considerations for drone delivery and frozen pizzas, all share a common objective. “Like a dog on a bone, I’ve grabbed this idea of scaling craft,” he explained, emphasizing his commitment to blending artisanal quality with efficient scaling.
Next week, Kindell will share insights at the Smart Kitchen Summit, offering attendees a chance to learn more about his vision for MOTO Pizza’s future.
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