White Castle Just Hired a New Fry Guy—and It’s a Robot
Flippy can deep fry potatoes, but can it save on labor costs?
Flippy moves on an overhead rail so he can stay out of the way of human employees.
Key insights:
- Many chains have begun looking toward automation because of labor issues.
- Historically, robots have fallen short of companies' starry-eyed expectations.
Founded in Wichita, Kansas, in 1921, White Castle lays a legitimate claim to being the oldest restaurant chain in the United States. You might assume that a 99-year-old burger joint that’s been prosperously making sliders since the Harding administration wouldn’t need to innovate very often, much less be at the cutting edge of any sort of digital technology.
