Re-Up LLC is installing autonomous robotic chefs from Nala Robotics in a variety of its convenience store locations. The Wingman robots are autonomous fry stations that customers can easily add or configure to any restaurant or commercial food service operation, the company said.
Right now, Re-Up has opened nine convenience stores and is in the process of opening more than 30 others. To start, the Miami Beach, Fla.-based company is rolling out the Wingman in its location in Melbourne, Fla., just a mile and a half from the Melbourne Orlando International Airport.
In some of these other locations, Re-Up plans to use Nala Robotics’ artificial intelligence to enhance its food service offerings. The company said the technology will enable it to provide customers with freshly prepared, fully customizable fried chicken, french fries, and other menu items on demand, quickly, easily, and without human intervention.
Nala Robotics said its fully automated system can handle every part of the frying process, from breading to frying, tossing, and packing.
“At Re-Up, we took the Wingman, and we have a modified version specifically for doing the concession food services that operate inside of our convenience store,” Michael Salafia, CEO of Re-Up, told The Robot Report.
“So, for our network of stores, our most popular food items already are fried chicken tenders, french fries, and chicken wings,” he said. “Those are the three top-selling items that go in the deep fryer. So, we’ve made a smaller menu that just focuses on those.”
All of Nala Robotics’ AI-enabled virtual kitchens are equipped with advanced sensors, precision cooking mechanisms, and machine learning algorithms. The company said they allow its robotic chefs to autonomously, consistently, and efficiently prepare a wide range of menu items.
Robotics helps Re-Up keep up with customer expectations
Salafia noted that customers have had higher expectations for convenience stores and gas stations in recent years. A typical customer doesn’t just expect to fill up on gas and grab a pre-packaged food item; they expect to get hot, fresh food, he said.
“When you see these gas stations that don’t have some kind of hot food program, those businesses are typically struggling,” Salafia said. “It’s an important part of the viability of success for this business.”
To stay relevant, convenience stores have to be able to compete in terms of quality with fast food establishments, said Salafia. Having Nala Robotics’ technology allows them to experiment with different food options to see what customers are most interested in.
Salafia said that Wingman can prepare all foods to the highest cleanliness and safety standards. The robot never forgets to change gloves when handling different foods, and in some situations, humans will never handle hot food within Re-Up stores.
This will be the case in its first location, where employees will only handle the food after it’s finished being prepared.
“At that property, we have a small convenience store and a large piece of land. So, we actually bought a 24-foot food trailer, and we’re cooking all the food inside of there,” Salafia said. “And then once every 15 minutes during the lunch rush, somebody comes in, and they bring [the food] into the convenience store.”
Salafia says Re-Up will take a look at each of its stores individually to find where the robots will best fit. At some stores, where Re-Up works with local restaurants to provide food, the robots will work alongside human cooks to prepare food.
Robotics are an additional draw for customers
In addition to the quality and cleanliness benefits, robots also are also novelty for customers, something that Re-Up wants to lean into.
“A big motivation going into this is the novelty. It’s the draw,” Salafia said. “And we’re expecting this to bring a lot of customers into the store just because it’s exciting and new.”
Nala Robotics said its robots can work 24/7 without human intervention, a significant benefit for convenience stores like Re-Up. Salafia claimed that that with the stable and consistent workforce that Wingman provides, the chain can put more time, energy, and money into sourcing quality ingredients for its stores.
“After two years, you would break even on the cost of full-time employees,” Salafia said. “However, you gain 100% consistency on all of your food. So, I would personally be willing to pay more to have the food safety risk just dramatically lowered.”
In the future, Salafia said he hopes to implement more technology into Re-Up’s convenience stores. The company said it could eventually open fully automated convenience stores in select areas.
These stores would be small, with a fewer number of SKUs than a typical store, allowing cameras and AI technology to keep track of customer’s totals as they gather their items, and then charge them automatically when they leave. The key to the success of a project like this is the small number of SKUs, Salafia said.
