Centerplate Debuts First-Ever Automated Pizza Assembly Robot and Other Delicious Giga-Bytes For the 2020 Consumer Electronics Show

The hospitality partner to the Las Vegas Convention Center food service provider, Centerplate, brings robotic pizzamaker technology from Picnic to a convention center setting for the first time

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (January 7, 2020) – Centerplate, the leading hospitality partner to North America’s premier entertainment venues and convention centers, including the Las Vegas Convention Center, today announced that CES attendees will, for the first time, be able to enjoy pizza produced by a robot using AI, cloud and automation technology. The technology is made by Seattle-based Picnic™, an innovator of food production technology and Robotics-as-a-Service (RaaS) solutions.

Picnic’s robot is capable of producing up to 300 12-inch customized pizzas an hour on the CES show floor. Attendees can see the technology in action near Booth 21667 on the first floor of the South Hall at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

“Picnic’s automated food assembly platform showed an ability to enhance quality and speed of service for our kitchen operations during a recent trial run at T-Mobile Park in Seattle,” said Steve Pangburn, CEO of Centerplate. “What better setting than the world’s largest technology show to introduce the apparatus to guests and attendees this week at CES. We look forward to helping them scale their technology in an effective way.”

Centerplate, providing live event hospitality for more than 115 million guests each year at hundreds of prominent sports, entertainment and convention venues, revealed in October 2019 that Picnic’s successful pilot was operating at their T-Mobile Park location, home of the Seattle Mariners.

“Picnic’s distinct culmination of food production customization and throughput, smart data and cloud analytics is quickly resonating with food service operators,” said Clayton Wood, CEO of Picnic. “Our continued relationship with Centerplate illustrates our ability to tailor our offerings to the specific needs of our partners and jointly transform the food experience for their consumers. This is one robot that won’t be a CES exhibitor only showing futuristic concepts; it is already in use in real-world kitchen settings and will only continue to grow its capabilities, as will be seen through Picnic’s delivery of mass customization food production and great-tasting pizza provided to CES attendees.”

The offering is part of Centerplate’s commitment to being on top of the latest trends in the culinary space. As robotics and AI become more fine-tuned, the company looks forward to strategically working with partners like Picnic to bring these solutions to life in the venues in which it serves.

Centerplate Executive Chef Kristine Raymer has also debuted new food options for show attendees this year, blending locally authentic choices with guest-friendly dishes. From variety to pushing flavor boundaries, the choices pair well with the technology offered on the trade show floor.

Anyone who has attended the show understands that the days will be long. Luckily, Centerplate has expanded breakfast, coffee and self-serve nitro coffee options. This year, they will also offer new breakfast burritos, breakfast sandwiches and the return of the favorite vegetable panini. Also, Centerplate is adding more sushi. Throughout the show, sushi is a popular choice for guests. With more chefs preparing fresh sushi, everyone can grab their favorite roll to go.

About Centerplate

Centerplate is a leader in live event hospitality, "Making It Better To Be There®" for more than 115 million guests each year at more than 200 prominent entertainment, sports and convention venues. From hosting VIPs at the Super Bowl to super heroes at Comic Con, the company provides hospitality services to North America's premier events. A Sodexo company, Centerplate creates unique, locally-inspired menus, best-in-class guest service, and one-of-a-kind experiences backed by world-class design and insights teams. Visit the company online at Centerplate.com, connect via Twitter @centerplate, Instagram @Centerplate_ or Facebook.com/centerplate.

About Picnic

Founded in 2016 Vivid Robotics, Inc., (dba Picnic) (hellopicnic.com), has collected an experienced team of food and technology industry veterans to develop and provide specialized intelligent technology and exclusive solutions for the food service and hospitality industries. Restaurants, convenience and grocery stores, university and corporate campuses, casinos, hotels, cruise lines, sports venues, catering groups, healthcare cafeterias, small kiosks, ghost kitchen operators, mobile food operations, food trucks, delivery and military sites are among the many segments poised to benefit from the company’s automated food assembly platform integrating RaaS, software, cloud and deep learning technology.

Follow Picnic on hellopicnic.com, facebook.com/picnicgroup; linkedin.com/company/picnicnews; twitter.com/picnicnews; and Instagram.com/picnicnews.

Media Contacts

Paul Pettas, Centerplate, Communications Director Paul.Pettas@Centerplate.com