California Pizza Kitchen to deploy 1,000 automated kiosks across US
The US pizza chain has partnered with T-ROC Global to expand into high-footfall venues, scaling a pilot programme into a national distribution channel.
US restaurant chain California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) has selected T-ROC Global to deploy up to 1,000 automated food kiosks over a three-year period. The initiative is designed to expand the brand’s footprint into high-footfall venues that are unsuitable for conventional restaurant formats, targeting 30 major US markets.
The rollout will focus on locations such as airports, electric vehicle charging hubs, hospitals, hotels, office complexes, residential sites, and universities. To build regional operational density, the plan involves deploying clusters of at least 20 units per territory. The automated units will feature touchscreen interfaces, operational data systems, and integrated Turbo-chef technology capable of preparing a pizza in 90 seconds.
CPK global president Michael Beacham noted that the brand has been dedicated to meeting consumers wherever they are for decades, including through its global restaurant network and its 25-year presence in the local grocery store sector. He stated that the partnership with T-ROC accelerates the automated retail strategy, introducing CPK to new occasions and venues where consumers desire quality food on the go.
The agreement scales up an automated retail pilot that CPK began testing last year. The chain currently operates units across Atlanta, Boston Logan, Dallas Love Field, and Dayton airports. A further 15 installations are scheduled across university campuses later this year.
Under the new deal, T-ROC will also serve as the nationwide service provider for CPK’s other automated retail operating partners. The scope of work includes venue identification, machine deployment, restocking, maintenance, warehousing, logistics, staff training, and kiosk management systems.
T-ROC global founder and CEO Brett Beveridge described CPK as an iconic consumer brand that can redefine automated retail. He added that by combining CPK’s brand and loyal following with T-ROC’s nationwide infrastructure and technology capabilities, the partnership has the opportunity to build a new national distribution channel at a meaningful scale.
