White Castle will use robots to flip burgers and fry fries in more than 100 stores across the US – in a move the company says will give burnt-out staff ‘an extra hand’ as the restaurant industry struggles to recruit new workers.
The fast food chain’s vice-president Jamie Richardson insisted last week that the robot will give staff who were burnt out during the COVID-19 pandemic an extra hand by taking over some of the day-to-day operations in nearly one-third of its stores.
Richardson said that it was ‘hard’ to recruit new workers, and at least 65% of restaurant owners said they have found it difficult to find new hires, according to a recent survey by the National Restaurant Association.
‘We’re a 24-hour operation, family-owned business that’s been around for 102 years. This is unlike anything we’ve ever seen. We have incredible people, we were named a great place to work for the second time in a row, but we still aren’t completely fully staffed. But we’re getting there, it doesn’t happen overnight, but we’re making good progress.’
White Castle will use robots to flip burgers and fry fries in more than 100 stores across the US – in a move the company says will give burnt-out staff ‘an extra hand’
The Ohio-based fast food chain has been experimenting with the robot, Flippy, which costs approximately $3,000 per month, since September 2020 and later rolled out an expanded and upgraded program in November 2021.
After initial success with the program in 2020 and 2021, the company who makes Flippy, Miso Robotics, said the intended goal is to alleviate stress for Flippy’s human coworkers.
‘Flippy will drop everything into the fryer and then at the perfect time, take everything out, give it a little shake and put it into the area for the packaging for the team members,’ White Castle Vice President Jamie Richardson said in a recent interview with ‘Fox and Friends.’
White Castle now joins the ranks of McDonald’s, Sonic and Checkers, which have all spent the past few years working to implement AI into their restaurants.
White Castle executives reported positive findings with the rollout, as well, with a February press release stating Flippy had an ‘immediate positive impact’ on the workplace environment.
‘By taking over the work of an entire fry station, Flippy 2 alleviates the pain points that come with back-of-house roles at quick-service restaurants to create a working environment for its human coworkers that maximizes the efficiency of the kitchen,’ Miso Robotics said in February.
White Castle officials said at the time team members also had increased productivity in daily operations.
‘The improved workflow allows for the redeployment of team members to focus on creating memorable moments for customers,’ Miso Robotics agreed.
Company executives reported positive findings with the rollout, as well, with a February press release stating Flippy had an ‘immediate positive impact’ on the workplace environment
The robots will be installed in 100 of the company’s nearly 350 locations
Richardson, in the interview last week said alleviated stress and increased productivity continue to be the goals of the company.
‘For us, it’s around helping our team members and being empowering,’ Richardson said as he appeared in front of an operational Flippy 2 in one restaurant’s kitchen.
According to Miso Robotics, Flippy has more than 120 configurations built into its technology.
An AutoBin system allows the robot to change its procedure for different foods like chicken tenders, French fries, onion rings, and burgers.
The different bins hold as much as a normal sized fry basked, the company says, and can even be customized for various kitchens.
Flippy can also delineate baskets for products that cannot be cross-contaminated, like vegetables and fish.
Flippy will help alleviate the stress of its human coworkers, officials have said
It’s unclear whether the move to install robots will put people out of work
An AutoBin system allows the robot to change its procedure for different foods like chicken tenders, French fries, onion rings, and burger
The technology has been described as a game changer for White Castle and the fast food industry, even as some fret it may be a sign of what’s to come for the industry.
Richardson, however, said Flippy is there to help the human workers, not steal their jobs.
‘Nobody wants to use the ‘p’ word, but the pandemic was a kick in the knees for all of us,’ Richardson said while speaking with Fox.
‘Our team members are on the front lines every day. Giving them more tools to help serve our customers hot and tasty food is what it’s all about for us,’ he continued.
White Castle currently owns and operates an estimated 344 stores across the country.
The robot has 120 configurations and can be customized for various kitchens
Some reports indicate Flippy costs $3,000 per month to operate
In December, McDonald’s sparked outrage after opening a mostly-automated location in Fort Worth, Texas, complete with conveyor belts and touchscreens for customers to order their food.
The company defended the restaurant, saying the location is not ‘fully automated.’
While officials with the chains have said its a move to streamline everyday tasks, some experts and economists see it as nothing more than a way to cut labor costs.
Despite the concerns over the dehumanization of the business, many fast-food chain owners have faced difficulty in finding workers throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Low wages and the absence of benefits while working labor intensive hours have contributed to many leaving their jobs or avoiding the industry all together.
A recent survey by the National Restaurant Association found that 65 percent of restaurant owners say hiring difficulties is their current biggest challenge.
‘It’s hard,’ Richardson said. ‘We’re looking for people with a heart for hospitality.’
The White Castle VP did say the hiring troubles are ‘getting better’ but they still aren’t completely staffed.
