The mid-Atlantic grocery retailer is piloting a salad bar that is self-serve – and roboticized.
ShopRite is rolling out Sally the Salad Robot at a store in Carteret, New Jersey. Based on technology from food robotics company Chowbotics, Sally enables customers to create an individualised salad bar meal with a few taps of its screen. The fresh food robot contains 22 ingredients including dressings, fruits, nuts, and vegetables, as well as proteins such as chicken, eggs and ham. Sally can combine two main base ingredients, up to six toppings and a dressing to make a custom salad, grain bowl or pasta salad.
“We are very excited to introduce Sally to our customers,” said Jonathan D’Orsi, VP of Operations at his family’s ShopRite store in Carteret. “Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, my family’s ShopRite store was looking for a salad bar solution that was touchless, fresh, and innovative. The current health crisis made it even more of a priority. The ShopRite of Carteret is thrilled to partner now with Chowbotics and proud to offer Sally, our salad robot, to customers looking to create their own fresh, healthy salads.”
“Sally is an ideal alternative to a traditional salad bar or pre-packaged vending,” noted Rick Wilmer, CEO of Chowbotics. “Through ShopRite’s tremendous partnership, we’re excited to introduce Carteret shoppers to a safer self-serve experience that delivers restaurant-quality meals, while enabling custom choices for their unique preferences and dietary needs.”
