The Weekly · November 6
Amazon and Uber team up on delivery, Yum! and Starbucks push AI into the drive-thru, Solink raises $100M+, and Ninja makes its first microwave.
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In the Pro Kitchen
Press releaseThe Association's new Future of Restaurant Technology report, based on a summer survey of 212 operators, says 82% feel technology has helped their business and 38.6% use AI tools, though only 3.2% are rolling AI out companywide. Cost (48.8%) and doubts about fit and value (43.8%) are the biggest barriers. Nearly half expect technology to raise labor productivity.
At Home
Press releaseA new FlexiStart feature in Beko's HomeWhiz app times connected dishwashers, washers and dryers to lower-priced electricity hours, either from a partner energy company's tariff or hours you enter yourself. It starts in January 2027 with energy-provider links in Germany and Türkiye after a Dutch pilot; fridges and air conditioners are due later in 2027.
In the Pro Kitchen
Press releaseServe, whose robots deliver for more than 4,000 restaurants, launched Physical AI Services on Nov 5: tools that keep robots connected to off-board AI models, pick out useful field data for training, and a data catalog from its sidewalk runs. Construction-automation firm Bedrock Robotics is the first customer. Serve says it has deployed over 2,000 robots in 40+ cities; no pricing was given.
At Home
Gaggenau launched its 10-model Vario Cooling Expressive range of built-in fridges, freezers and wine cabinets in Australia this week. The wine units use an infrared sensor to bring a bottle to serving temperature automatically and run up to three climate zones; the fridges manage temperature, humidity and ethylene. All have a 6.8-inch display and Home Connect app control. No prices were given.
Weekend Recipe · Sous vide circulator
A thick bone-in rib chop cooks in a 140°F water bath for 45 minutes, then gets a fast butter sear in cast iron. Fingerling potatoes crisp up in the same pan, so dinner for two comes together with one skillet.
See the recipe
Smeg has released its Diamond Premium dishwashers in Australia: two built-under models at A$2,590 and a fully integrated one at A$2,690. A WinePro rack takes up to 11 flutes, a two-axis spray arm aims to reach every corner, and Dry Assist+ pops the door open at cycle end. Higher-end Diamond Luxury models follow in 2027.
The Xiaomi Mijia Smart Steam Air Fryer 7L is now on sale through Xiaomi's UK online store for £159.99 (€179.99 in Europe). A 1.5-litre water tank on top adds steaming and sous vide to its 10 functions, with a 30–230°C range and 25 presets. It links to the Xiaomi Home app for 100+ recipes and works with Google Home.
Announced in the UK on Oct 29, Miele's five new built-in MasterCool fridge freezers come in 75 to 90 cm widths and can carry up to four internal cameras whose images show in the Miele app rather than on a door screen. They also add climate-controlled freshness drawers, a colder zone for meat, fish and dairy, and handle-free push-to-open doors. Prices start at £13,499.
The Ninja Crispi Microwave and Air Fryer (MW101) pairs a 1,000W microwave with a 1,700W air-fry system and cooks in a 5.5-quart glass dish with a crisper plate, with no turntable. It lists at $449.99 in the US. It's Ninja's first microwave, aimed at replacing two countertop appliances with one.
Two new tools join KitchenAid's Go Cordless system, which shares one removable battery across its appliances. The Go Grater, Slicer and Shredder (£149) swaps between three blade cylinders for cheese, nuts, fruit and vegetables; the Go Handheld Vacuum Sealer (£179) comes with containers and bags and includes a wine-bottle sealer. Both are on sale in the UK now, and the battery is sold separately.
Announced in the UK on Oct 31, Smeg's MultiGrill switches between contact, oven and BBQ modes, and in BBQ mode each plate can run at its own temperature. It sears at up to 250°C, ships with separate waffle plates and has burger, waffle and panini presets. It costs £299.95 from Smeg in cream or black.
Marc Lore's Wonder said on Nov 5 it has confidentially submitted draft IPO paperwork to the SEC; share count and price range aren't set. The delivery-first food hall company, which owns Grubhub, Blue Apron and Tastemade, runs about 170 East Coast sites with 20 to 30 concepts each and plans to enter Texas next year. It says robotics and AI will automate its kitchens to make delivery cheaper.
DoorDash's new meal boxes cost a flat $12 with no delivery fee, and DoorDash says they averaged 30% below the participating restaurants' usual entree price, with 65% of orders coming from first-time customers. It also expanded DoorDash Catering to 10 metros for groups of 10 to 150+, waiving delivery fees on orders booked up to two weeks ahead. Announced Nov 2.
On its Nov 4 earnings call, Uber said AI assistants such as Meta's Muse and OpenAI's Dots originated only about 500 Uber Eats orders in a week of roughly 320 million rides and deliveries, and its CFO called traction very early. Uber is building its own agents and, like DoorDash, says it will keep working with outside ones. For restaurants, agent ordering is still a sliver of digital sales.
Amazon and Uber have launched a Prime perk that waives Uber Eats delivery fees in nearly 10,000 US cities, covering hundreds of thousands of restaurants from Chipotle and Wingstop to local independents. Members order with their Amazon login and payment, with no separate Uber account, and get $20 off their first two $25+ orders in the first 14 days. For operators already on Uber Eats, it opens the app to Amazon's Prime base.
Starbucks will add delivery to its own app in the second quarter of 2027, with Rewards members earning and redeeming points on those orders. It is also testing AI to help baristas take drive-thru orders, and plans drive-thrus that recognize customers on arrival with personalized digital menus. Starbucks Rewards reached 36 million active members in its fourth quarter; the company gave no figures yet for the AI tests.
The owner of Taco Bell, KFC and Pizza Hut says voice AI now takes orders at over 900 of its restaurants, and it credits the technology with a 6% improvement in drive-thru performance. Its CFO said Yum's AI work is moving from testing to scaling.
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