White Castle Makes History with Robotic Fry Cook Pilot
Fast food is entering the future as White Castle becomes the first national burger chain to test Miso Robotics’ automated kitchen assistant, Flippy. The innovative pilot program, launching at a Chicago-area location this September, could revolutionize how quick-service restaurants operate.
The Future of Fast Food Kitchens
White Castle has partnered with Pasadena-based Miso Robotics to implement their latest Flippy robot model, which will handle frying tasks including:
- French fries
- Chicken
- Onion rings
The robotic system integrates directly with White Castle’s POS technology, automatically beginning food preparation the moment orders are placed.
“We’ve been exploring how to bring tomorrow’s kitchen into today’s restaurants,” said Jamie Richardson, White Castle’s VP of Shareholder Relations. The company began discussions with Miso Robotics about nine months ago, drawn to the technology’s potential after seeing Flippy’s viral social media success.
Addressing Industry Challenges
This collaboration comes at a pivotal time for the restaurant industry:
- Labor optimization: Flippy handles repetitive, dangerous frying tasks while staff focus on customer experience
- Food safety: Reduced human contact minimizes pathogen transmission risks
- Consistency: Smart sensors maintain perfect cooking temperatures
- Cost efficiency: Automated systems reduce food waste and improve output
“Automation is here to stay,” stated Miso Robotics CEO Buck Jordan. “White Castle represents our first major chain partnership on this journey.”
Employee Assurance and Cost Considerations
White Castle emphasizes that Flippy complements rather than replaces human workers:
“We’re not implementing this to reduce staff,” Richardson clarified. “The benefits come from improved efficiency and food quality that can drive more customer visits.”
The standard Miso Robotics system carries a \(30,000 installation fee plus \)15,000 annual costs, though White Castle negotiated custom terms. Jordan revealed plans to eventually reduce total costs to \(15,000-\)20,000 per unit, making the technology more accessible.
Pandemic Accelerates Innovation
COVID-19 has heightened the need for contactless solutions in food service. While White Castle implemented executive pay cuts to preserve jobs, the Flippy pilot remained a priority.
“Some investments were too important to delay, pandemic or not,” Richardson noted. The technology aligns with evolving consumer expectations around food safety and operational efficiency.
As automation reshapes the restaurant industry, White Castle’s bold move positions them at the forefront of this culinary revolution—proving that even 100-year-old brands can innovate for the digital age.
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