When the first National Restaurant Association Show took place in 1919 in Kansas City, attendees didn’t much discuss technology. It was more food rationing and Prohibition. But this year in Chicago, tech was all the talk.
Richtech Robotics had a hit on its hands with its robot bartender Adam, who made coffee drinks for visitors. And there was a steady stream of visitors.
But it wasn’t just consumer-facing technology getting the attention. There were many companies with head-turning back-of-house solutions among the 2,310 exhibitors.
SoundHound AI gave demonstrations of its AI-powered tools for phone, kiosk, and in-car ordering.
Metafoodx showed off its AI-powered food scanner and dashboard for inventory management.
Powerhouse Dynamics won raves for its OilSmart By Open Kitchen platform, which leverages data to improve the management of frying operations.
And Lab2Fab dropped the mic with a Fizzbot Smart Beverage Dispenser, developed in partnership with Yum Brands, which can dispense a soft drink, adjust ice levels, and seal it with a cover, all autonomously. It can do this in eight seconds.
This year’s show certainly had more of an international flair than the first one. Exhibitors came from 45 countries, including Ross Cronin of Rocket Box, in from Dublin, and the folks from Sanhe Group in Japan, who were there to showcase sushi-making robots.
DoorDash came with big intentions and hosted a lavish booth with Las Vegas-level lights and staffers ready to answer every question, which put them in curious contrast with its competitors, who barely managed a brochure.
Avocados were among the clear winners of the Show as one of the most popular stops was the toast bar put on by Avocados From Mexico, featuring 50 topping options, including mango salsa and honey drizzle with pistachios.
A more difficult sell was the pitch from the friendly folks at Nature’s Fynd. They told everyone within earshot that fungi is the future. It very well may be. But that’s a hard idea to digest.
And this wouldn’t be the NRA without the prerequisite whining from journalists, including a 55-year-old Food On Demand reporter, that there weren’t enough places to sit. The Titanic lifeboat had more seats. But just when it seemed like Advil was pending, a heroic booth emerged. And all was right in the world.
