Renowned chef Heston Blumenthal has joined UK-based robotics startup Karakuri as a board advisor. He will provide the company with insight and advice on how its automated food preparation systems can deliver hyper-personalised meals.
This is the first time Blumenthal has worked directly to advise a tech startup. He joins Karakuri’s advisory board alongside ARM, Ocado, Imperial College, Bristol Robotics Lab and Edinburgh Centre for Robotics.
The board’s mix of experts from the robotics, retail and food worlds will aid Karakuri’s development of technologies and help define how they can be used to impact how consumers eat in restaurants or on-the-go.
“I’ve always been excited by the capabilities of robots,” said Blumenthal. “In recent years, the robotics industry has shifted greatly from being the workhorses of manufacturing into many other areas of our lives. Karakuri is part of a new vanguard of companies focusing on the use of robots in the food, beverage and hospitality space and I am really looking forward to helping be part of this growth.”
Barney Wragg, CEO and co-founder of Karakuri, added: “From when we first came up with the initial concept of Karakuri, Simon [Watt] and I dreamed that Heston would join us. He is constantly questioning how can we push the boundaries of food and its preparation. We are delighted to have access to this insight as we develop Karakuri’s new and smart ways to prepare and deliver fresh meals.”
Karakuri currently advertises two products that provide localised micro-manufacturing within existing restaurants, retail spaces or commercial kitchens. Both systems prepare personalised meals onsite in real time to the specific requirements of each customer.
Its DK-One robot is described as “the world’s first robotic solution for high throughput, fast turnaround, 100% individualised and portion-controlled high-volume catering applications” such as restaurants, cafeterias, and central kitchens. Measuring 2m x 2m, DK-One can be configured with up to two Universal Robots UR10e main manipulator arms, three UR5e pick and place/piston pump arms and 48 ingredient dispensers to serve up to 360 bespoke meals per hour.
The company’s Marley robot is described as a “lower cost, lower throughput alternative to DK-One, providing customisation on a smaller scale”. It can be utilised for novel applications such as robotic candy dispensing, custom-made ice creams, and cocktails. Measuring 1.5m x 1.5m, Marley features one main manipulator arm (an Automata Eva or Universal Robots UR5e) and 12 ingredient dispensers to serve up to 120 bespoke meals per hour.
In May 2019, Karakuri secured a £7m investment, led by Ocado, with Hoxton Ventures, Firstminute Capital and Taylor Brothers. Ocado expects to take delivery of the first Karakuri machine in late 2019.
