Foodservice Innovation Zone

Immerse yourself in the future

The immersive activations throughout the Foodservice Innovation Zone place you in real-life environments so you can see and interact with the technology that is changing the way retailers and operators deliver food to their customers.

The center of the plate

• Taffer’s Tavern, presented by Middleby, lets attendees order food prepared in state-of-the-art ventless ovens, featuring sous-vide cooking tech (food provided by Cuisine Solutions).
• Jukebox Pizza, showcasing Middleby’s PizzaBot, demonstrates how robots can streamline and automate the cooking process within a small footprint, while delivering piping hot, fresh pizza in just minutes. Order and enjoy your pizza to-go.
• Comcast Business: Connectivity, Managed WiFi that extends wireless coverage to outdoor areas – powering digital kitchen technology, customer-facing apps and touchpoints, and POS, all managed remotely.
• MachineQ, a Comcast company, powers IoT solutions. waste fill-level monitoring, leak detection, smart restrooms, utility monitoring, staff safety alert, fridge/freezer temperature management, inventory tracking, occupancy monitoring.
• LetzChat harnesses advanced AI technology to provide real time, seamless multi-lingual menu translations to enable superior customer experiences.
• Cisco Meraki Cameras capture and monitor foot traffic in and out of retail environments to reimagine security and analytics and modernize security infrastructure.
• NCR provides the systems to make the ordering process easy and food preparation efficient through their POS and Kitchen Display Systems.
  • Once you’ve placed your order via NCR kiosk, or online, you’ll receive a text letting you know your order can be picked up in a Middleby connected locker with the scan of a barcode.

The “more convenient” convenience store

Showcasing the perfect example of the Grab & Go solution, check out the technology that can change how customers shop, and how operators use tech to monitor and provide seamless services in this environment.

• TLines successful retail depends on effective and appealing design – that’s what we do!
• SymphonyAI delivers a Store Intelligence solution, powered by advanced AI and computer vision technology, delivers a real-time view of shelf conditions, prioritized workflows to remedy disruptions, and insight-based recommendations to achieve new levels of compliance, on-shelf availability, and operational excellence.
• PepsiCo foodservice leverages the best of PepsiCo to help our customers drive the future of food and beverage experiences. Our unparalleled line-up includes beverage, snacks and food brands that touch every consumer occasion.
• ShiftSmart connects companies with skilled workers to increase fulfillment, reduce turnover, and improve quality. Check out their team in action.

Autonomous retail

• Sensei showcases a store blend technology seamlessly with traditional shopping, streamlining the customer's journey, from browsing to checkout, with AI, sensors, and more. It's convenient and quick, like accessing their pantry at home.
• Auki Labs showcases Convergent, the spatial computing platform for retail which enhances retail operations. It offers features like augmented reality overlays for store layouts, searchable maps for inventory, route optimization for order picking, and spatial notes for effective communication. It aims to reduce training costs, improve efficiency, and streamline everyday tasks.
• PepsiCo foodservice leverages the best of PepsiCo to help our customers drive the future of food and beverage experiences. Our unparalleled line-up includes beverage, snacks and food brands that touch every consumer occasion.

Game-changing grab-and-go

• Structural Concepts will showcase its Autonomous Retail Merchandiser, the only refrigerated display case to offer a complete smart solution for autonomous shopping that will offset labor challenges, streamline inventory management, and deliver a quick ROI turning into increased profitability.

Drive-thru drives new tech to the storefront

Technology for drive-thru window staff: See what the future holds.

• CRI provides ordering boards that illustrate how using tech in displaying menus helps drive higher sales and improve the customer experience, order accuracy and flow.
• LetzChat offers translation in 104 languages, making it easier than ever to take accurate orders in any language.
• Par's packaged drive-thru solution includes the POS for the cashier booth, integrated headsets, drive-thru order management and payments.
• Cisco Meraki Cameras capture and monitor foot traffic in and out of retail environments to reimagine security and analytics and modernize security infrastructure.

This unique exhibit of leading innovation is made possible by:

• Fortinet - providing data security for the Foodservice Innovation Zone.
• PepsiCo – foodservice leverages the best of PepsiCo to help our customers drive the future of food and beverage experiences. Our unparalleled line-up includes beverage, snacks and food brands that touch every consumer occasion. Fueling visitors with their snacks and beverages across the Innovation Zone.
• Samsung - showcasing its state-of-the-art digital signage.
• ShiftSmart - a tech powered labor platform helping retailers address critical staffing needs by leveraging the gig-worker community. Staff will be showcasing their capabilities throughout the Zone.