Picnic Launches First Robotic Pizza System | Automated Pizza Making

The Rise of Robotic Pizza Systems

The concept of automating pizza production has attracted considerable interest from numerous startups. While some ventures have achieved greater success than others in recent years, the pursuit remains a popular one. Zume, for example, represents a prominent case of a company that didn't meet expectations, ultimately ceasing operations with its robotic pizza trucks in early 2020 to concentrate on sustainable packaging solutions.

Picnic's Recent Progress

Picnic has gained increasing recognition lately, securing a $16.3 million funding round in May. A further investment of $4.2 million in July brought the company’s total funding to over $38 million. Today, the startup has announced the official launch of its inaugural device, following a series of pilot programs across diverse sectors, including restaurants, hospitality, entertainment venues, and theme parks.

The announcement took place at the International Pizza Expo and Conference, currently being held in Las Vegas.

CEO Statement and System Validation

“Our team has dedicated the past year to meticulously refining the Picnic Pizza System in collaboration with customers and strategic partners,” stated CEO Clayton Wood in a press release. “We are exceptionally proud of the solution we’ve developed.

The positive feedback received from industry partners and customers underscores the demand for kitchen automation solutions like ours, and we anticipate a successful year ahead.”

Why Pizza?

Pizza is a logical initial focus for food robotics systems for two primary reasons: its relatively simple and consistent construction process, and its widespread popularity. It’s estimated that in 2015, Americans consumed approximately 100 acres of pizza each day.

Availability and Pricing

The company is currently fulfilling pre-existing customer orders and will begin shipping new orders to customers in the coming year. The system will be offered under a robotics-as-a-service (RaaS) model.

Customers can effectively rent the system for a monthly fee ranging from $3,500 to $5,000. This cost varies based on factors such as the specific configuration of the modular system and its production capacity. The fees encompass routine maintenance checks and remote monitoring services.

Preorders for the system are being accepted starting today.