Sodexo Campus Innovation Takes Major Leap Forward with Eat NOW Autonomous Grocery Stores Powered by AiFi, Ramen-Making Robots, Mariah Carey’s Cookies, and MrBeast Burger
March 28 2022 - 8:26AM
Sodexo makes a massive play to innovate campus foodservice by
bringing eat>NOW autonomous grocery stores, high tech vending,
and virtual dining concepts delivered by robots to campuses across
the U.S. this spring. “Students want three things:
convenience, choice, and quality – often in that order,” explained
Kevin Rettle, Global Vice President, Sodexo Innovation
and Digital, Universities. “Sodexo is in the business of helping
our clients meet those needs head on, so we’re introducing campuses
to the latest in innovative foodservice with eat>NOW autonomous
grocery stores, high-tech vending, partnering with the top brands
that students are looking for, and delivering it to their
doors.”Eat>NOW Autonomous Campus Grocery Stores In
partnership with AiFi, the most flexible AI platform enabling
autonomous shopping solutions, Sodexo introduces eat>NOW, a
frictionless, checkout-free grocery and convenience offer. Among
the first campuses to host this AI-powered retail is the University
of Denver with a grand opening on April 6. “We’re proud to partner
with Sodexo, a leader in innovating campus foodservice,” said Steve
Gu, AiFi’s CEO and co-founder. “This partnership allows AiFi to
bring our leading technology to campuses across the country with a
proven leader in food services. With Sodexo, we can bring today’s
students the ultimate convenience they’re looking for.” Autonomous
Restaurants
In partnership with Yo Kai Express, Sodexo clients will now be
able to offer students high-tech vending machines, with 80-plus
ramen and udon noodle bowl combinations. Already on campuses,
including New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, NM, Yo Kai
Express kiosks allow guests to place their orders and make payments
via touch screen. With this technology, Sodexo is able to provide
students with 24/7 access to delicious meals, particularly late at
night when demand is highest and options are limited.
Virtual Dining Concepts
In Partnership with Virtual Dining Concepts, Sodexo will now
offer campuses three delivery-only options available on Sodexo’s
Bite App for Universities. Virtual Dining Concepts is a collection
of concepts such as MrBeast Burger, Mariah’s Cookies, and Buddy V’s
Cake Slice. Already in place on Sodexo campuses like Gonzaga
University in Spokane, WA, these concepts bring the brands students
are asking for delivered to their dorm rooms.
“Virtual Dining Concepts is excited to be part of Sodexo’s
mission to further innovate the college dining experience,” said
Trish Giordano, Co-Founder of Virtual Dining Concepts. “Our MrBeast
Burger, Mariah’s Cookies, and Buddy V’s Cake Slice concepts offer
students great variety and convenience since they are delivered via
existing delivery robots on Sodexo’s campuses.”About AiFi
AiFi provides the most flexible AI platform that enables
retailers to affordably deploy and scale autonomous shopping
solutions across their businesses. Leveraging computer vision, AiFi
adapts to existing store formats without the need for shelf
sensors, and provides advanced tracking algorithms that can scale
up to 10,000 square feet to support various shopper journeys such
as an app, credit card, gated, or hybrid entry. AiFi works with top
retailers worldwide such as ALDI South Group, Carrefour, Compass
Group, Morrisons, Żabka Group, REWE, and Verizon. AiFi has the
highest number of computer vision powered autonomous stores across
the globe. The company has raised a total of $80 million from
investors including Verizon Ventures, Qualcomm Ventures, HP Tech
Ventures, Mithril Capital, Cervin Ventures, TransLink Capital, Plum
Alley, Duke Angel Network, Reaction, GS Future, Drive Catalyst, and
Evolution. For more information, please visit aifi.com.
About Virtual Dining Concepts
Virtual Dining Concepts is the creator of virtual restaurant
brands poised to expand the revenue of independent kitchens. The
delivery-only infrastructure, exclusive online platform (with
third-party delivery interface), and marketing strategy services
guide existing restaurant operators from set-up to inception.
Virtual Dining Concepts include celebrity-owned and non-celebrity
brands with menus deriving from diverse cuisines. Menus are
available for order online through their individual websites,
proprietary apps, and most major third-party delivery services. For
more information, please
visit www.virtualdiningconcepts.comAbout Sodexo North
America
Sodexo North America is part of a global, Fortune 500 company
with a presence in 56 countries. Sodexo is a leading provider of
integrated food, facilities management and other services that
enhance organizational performance, contribute to local communities
and improve quality of life for millions of customers in corporate,
education, healthcare, senior living, government, Sodexo Live! and
other environments daily. The company employs 125,000 people at
thousands of sites in all 50 U.S. states, Canada, Puerto Rico and
Guam, and indirectly supports tens of thousands of additional jobs
through its annual purchases of $20B in goods and services from
small to large businesses. Sodexo is committed to supporting
diversity, equity, inclusion and safety, while upholding the
highest standards of corporate responsibility and ethical business
conduct. In support of local communities across the U.S., in 2021,
the Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation mobilized more than 11,000
volunteers to distribute 1.8 million meals to help 2.5 million
children and adults meet their immediate food needs. Since 1996,
the Stop Hunger Foundation has contributed $38 million to help feed
children in America impacted by hunger. To learn more about Sodexo,
visit us.sodexo.com, and connect with us
on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube.
Heidi Bullman
Sodexo
Heidi.Bullman@sodexo.com
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