Kitchen robots set to reshape F&B operations

KUALA LUMPUR: Kitchen robots, artificial intelligence (AI) and automation could become standard equipment in Malaysia's commercial kitchens by 2028 as food and beverage (F&B) operators grapple with labour shortages, rising costs and the need for consistent food quality.

Ethan Choong Wai Hon, chief executive officer of Kitchen Arena operator Ping Edge Technology Bhd, said automation is increasingly viewed as a solution to persistent operational challenges.

"Today the question is: 'I can't find people. My costs keep going up. How do I keep my food the same across five outlets?

"That is the real problem in our industry today," he said in a statement during the launch of Taste & Trade 360 (TT360) 2026.

Choong said robots could take on hot, heavy and repetitive tasks, allowing operators to deploy workers more effectively.

"No robot will replace a good chef," he said, adding that AI, robotics and automation could eventually become as commonplace in commercial kitchens as combi ovens and ice machines.

Tourism Malaysia director Datin Christina Toh Lai Fong said labour shortages, higher operating costs and rising expectations for service quality were also pushing hotels to explore technology.

She said automation could ease staffing pressures while allowing employees to focus more on customer service and guest experiences.

Meanwhile, Gene Tech Sdn Bhd director Brian Ding Kuoi Jean said technology could also address inconsistent food quality, training challenges and food wastage.

"Today is not only about robots cooking food. It is about how technology can help conventional food businesses move forward," he said.

Data, sensors, automation and continuous learning could help businesses replicate cooking processes more consistently across outlets and teams, he added.

TT360 2026, organised by Brilliant Exhibitions Sdn Bhd, will be held from Nov 5-7 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.

Its Battle of the Bots: Culinary Edition 2026 will feature 10 robot cooking machines competing on taste, creativity, complexity and presentation.

The event will feature 260 booths across 4,832 square metres and target 25,000 visitors, with 30 foreign exhibitors confirmed from China, South Korea, Japan, Singapore and Italy as of Sept 29.