How new technologies impact your business

Most recent technological developments have aimed to reduce cooking or baking times: for example, microwaves, steam ovens and infrared grills. In addition, blenders and food processors allow for rapid preparation. And when the baking is done, a powerful dishwasher makes it possible to clean up the mess in no time. So it’s safe to say technology saves time.

It might take a few years before you have a robo-chef as a colleague. But robots in the kitchen or workplace are definitely coming. They will enable you to work faster while maintaining the same quality. As consumers increasingly want to be served as quickly and conveniently as possible, we expect to see more robots in the future that can improve speed and convenience.

Take for instance Sally the salad robot that was recently launched by Chowbotics. This robot, that can be loaded with 21 ingredients, can prepare 1000 different salads in the blink of an eye and without any waste. It prepares salads containing fewer than seven ingredients in less than 60 seconds.
On the consumer market, there has also been a cooking robot available for some time now. Robot Moley can accurately imitate a chef’s actions. Moley is a complete robotic kitchen, equipped with a double robot arm, kitchen equipment, cabinets, pans, sensors, a camera and a computer system. After cooking your dinner, it also cleans up your mess. So what do you think: will you have a Moley or a Sally on your future team?

Technology makes it possible to customise and personalise food. Think, for example, of soft-drink mixers that mix your guests’ all-time favourite drinks, or smoothie blenders that create personalised green and healthy smoothies.

The biggest revolution in personalising and customising food has probably been the food printer. The possibilities seem endless. From simple edible sheets for decorating cakes, to 3D food printing in institutions, where the composition of vitamins, fats, proteins and minerals can be adapted to specific individual needs.

With the whole world going mobile, apps on smartphones and tablets are also likely to impact bakers, patissiers and chocolatiers in their workplaces. Think of apps that warn you when the expiration date of an ingredient is approaching, or when finished products have been in the fridge or freezer too long. Or is your interactive refrigerator going to tell you first? The latter is also likely to tell you when ingredients are missing or almost out of stock. It might even order them for you. If you can dream it, it will be possible in the future.

At Puratos, we see innovation as the only way forward. To meet the future expectations of consumers, we invest 2.5% of our total revenue in R&D. If you’re interested in how innovation is structured in the day-to-day business of Puratos, contact your local Puratos representative to find out what our innovation efforts can do for you.