White Castle Expands Robot Workforce with Miso Robotics

White Castle is integrating additional robotic systems into its restaurants.

As part of a growing collaboration with Miso Robotics, approximately ten more White Castle establishments will be equipped with the company’s automated fry cooking technology, developed in Pasadena, California.

This expansion will increase the implementation of Miso Robotics’ latest Flippy model within restaurant kitchens, aiming to enhance efficiency and enable more team members to focus on customer service in the front of the house, as stated by the companies.

The financial specifics of this agreement have not been revealed.

White Castle initially unveiled its trial program with Flippy in July, coinciding with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated health concerns for both employees and patrons.

Maintaining cooking speed while minimizing staffing levels became a significant concern for the restaurant chain, leading them to explore Miso Robotics’ robotic fry cook as a potential answer.

“White Castle has been actively seeking opportunities to explore artificial intelligence and automation to refine our processes and create a more favorable work setting for our staff,” explained Lisa Ingram, CEO of White Castle, in a released statement. “This pilot program is moving us in that direction – and we are delighted to continue collaborating with Miso Robotics and lead the way for broader acceptance of advanced technology within the quick-service restaurant sector.”

The robotic systems have proven especially valuable during overnight hours, a time when staffing can be challenging but demand from White Castle’s customer base remains strong, the company reports. Flippy is now capable of processing as many as 360 baskets of fried items daily.

Since the pilot program began in late September 2020, the robotic system has processed roughly 14,580 pounds of food and completed over 9,720 baskets, according to company data.