The restaurant labor shortage does not appear to be going anywhere anytime soon. The underlying issues that have caused the crisis — low wages, poor benefits, unpredictable hours — remain largely in place, as restaurants struggle to come up with a financially feasible option to address would-be workers’ concerns. Now, reports are coming in that several Chick-fil-A restaurants are closing dining rooms, unable to meet demand.
“We, along with many businesses, are in the middle of a hiring crisis,” posted one location of the chain in Calera, Alabama to its Facebook page. “We are seeing far less job applicants, people not showing up for their interviews, or accepting a job only to resign within their first couple weeks. The restaurant industry has suffered from a hiring perspective during the pandemic and unfortunately Chick-fil-A is not immune to this labor shortage.”
The post went on to state that dining room and curbside orders would no longer be available, though the drive-thru channel would remain in operation. A couple of other Alabama locations — one in Bessemer and one in Madison — made similar announcements, and Newsweek reports that dining room closures have also been spotted in Elizabeth Town, Kentucky and in San Antonio, Texas. Chick-fil-A did not respond to a request for comment.
Of course, dining room closures are far from ideal, and they are certainly not a long-term solution. With an eye toward long-term labor trends, fast-casual salad chain Sweetgreen announced Tuesday (Aug. 24) that it has acquired Spyce, a Boston restaurant that prepares salads and bowls in its automated “Infinite Kitchen,” which assembles orders in three minutes. In terms of hardware, Spyce’s kitchen features a 450°F carbon steel plancha and a 300°F steamer.
“The Infinite Kitchen sears proteins until they’re caramelized … steams grains to al dente perfection, and measures dressings, sauces, and toppings for consistent flavor and crunch,” the company’s tech FAQ explains.
Sweetgreen declined a request to comment on how specifically it is interested in utilizing Spyce’s technologies, though salad chain Co-founder and CEO Jonathan Neman said in a statement Spyce’s technology will help “create healthy fast food at scale for the next generation.” Additionally, the news release states that the salad chain is considering ways to utilize Spyce’s automation tools to “generate faster and more consistent orders,” to switch keep staff focused on preparing the foods and on hospitality, and to expand its menu.
Kitchen automation has been accelerating in the recent past, with the rise in digital ordering creating demand. Robotic solutions have been emerging to cook orders, to vend meals, and even to serve tables at restaurants. Clayton Wood, CEO at robot-as-a-service (RaaS) company Picnic, explained to PYMNTS how part of the labor shortage, and consequently the need for more robotic solutions, results from the digital shift.
Read more: Kitchen Automation Turns Digital Order Volume From Challenge To Opportunity
New Robots Emerge To Automate Every Stage Of Restaurant Operations
“Digital orders means that you can get many, many more orders instantaneously than you could ever get with a walk-in, a call-in, or a sit-down customer base,” Wood said. “It’s an operational challenge … but it’s an opportunity for those who can get the right technology applied.”
Additionally, digital ordering has not only spurred demand for automated labor solutions, but also eliminated some of the barriers that may have come from skeptical consumers.
See also: Hyphen’s Restaurant Robotics Fend Off Delivery Giants
“I’d say partially automated or semi-automated food production — that’s going to be the norm within five to 10 years, no doubt,” Stephen Klein, co-founder and CEO and of kitchen automation company Hyphen, told PYMNTS in a recent interview. “If you’re ordering from your phone, and the only interaction you’re having with the restaurant is through that digital device, it really doesn’t matter who’s making your food, as long as it’s fresh, fast and consistent.”
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NEW PYMNTS DATA: 58 PERCENT OF MULTINATIONAL FIRMS ARE USING CRYPTOCURRENCY
About: In spite of their price volatility and regulatory uncertainty, new PYMNTS research shows that 58 percent of multinational firms are already using at least one form of cryptocurrency — especially when moving funds across borders. The new Cryptocurrency, Blockchain and Global Business survey, a PYMNTS and Circle collaboration, polls 500 executives looks at the potential and the pitfalls facing crypto as it moves into the financial mainstream.
The restaurant labor scarcity doesn’t look like going wherever anytime quickly. The underlying points which have induced the disaster — low wages, poor advantages, unpredictable hours — stay largely in place, as eating places battle to provide you with a financially possible choice to deal with would-be staff’ considerations. Now, stories are coming in that a number of Chick-fil-A eating places are closing eating rooms, unable to satisfy demand.
“We, together with many companies, are in the midst of a hiring disaster,” posted one location of the chain in Calera, Alabama to its Fb web page. “We’re seeing far much less job candidates, folks not exhibiting up for his or her interviews, or accepting a job solely to resign inside their first couple weeks. The restaurant trade has suffered from a hiring perspective through the pandemic and sadly Chick-fil-A just isn’t resistant to this labor scarcity.”
The publish went on to state that eating room and curbside orders would not be obtainable, although the drive-thru channel would stay in operation. A few different Alabama areas — one in Bessemer and one in Madison — made comparable bulletins, and Newsweek stories that eating room closures have additionally been noticed in Elizabeth City, Kentucky and in San Antonio, Texas. Chick-fil-A didn’t reply to a request for remark.
After all, eating room closures are removed from ideally suited, and they’re definitely not a long-term answer. With a watch towards long-term labor traits, fast-casual salad chain Sweetgreen introduced Tuesday (Aug. 24) that it has acquired Spyce, a Boston restaurant that prepares salads and bowls in its automated “Infinite Kitchen,” which assembles orders in three minutes. By way of {hardware}, Spyce’s kitchen incorporates a 450°F carbon metal plancha and a 300°F steamer.
“The Infinite Kitchen sears proteins till they’re caramelized … steams grains to al dente perfection, and measures dressings, sauces, and toppings for constant taste and crunch,” the corporate’s tech FAQ explains.
Sweetgreen declined a request to touch upon how particularly it’s desirous about using Spyce’s applied sciences, although salad chain Co-founder and CEO Jonathan Neman mentioned in a press release Spyce’s know-how will assist “create wholesome quick meals at scale for the following era.” Moreover, the information launch states that the salad chain is contemplating methods to make the most of Spyce’s automation instruments to “generate sooner and extra constant orders,” to modify maintain workers targeted on getting ready the meals and on hospitality, and to develop its menu.
Kitchen automation has been accelerating within the latest previous, with the rise in digital ordering creating demand. Robotic options have been rising to prepare dinner orders, to vend meals, and even to serve tables at eating places. Clayton Wooden, CEO at robot-as-a-service (RaaS) firm Picnic, defined to PYMNTS how a part of the labor scarcity, and consequently the necessity for extra robotic options, outcomes from the digital shift.
Learn extra: Kitchen Automation Turns Digital Order Quantity From Problem To Alternative
New Robots Emerge To Automate Each Stage Of Restaurant Operations
“Digital orders means you can get many, many extra orders instantaneously than you may ever get with a walk-in, a call-in, or a sit-down buyer base,” Wooden mentioned. “It’s an operational problem … however it’s a possibility for individuals who can get the precise know-how utilized.”
Moreover, digital ordering has not solely spurred demand for automated labor options, but in addition eradicated a number of the limitations that will have come from skeptical shoppers.
See additionally: Hyphen’s Restaurant Robotics Fend Off Supply Giants
“I’d say partially automated or semi-automated meals manufacturing — that’s going to be the norm inside 5 to 10 years, little doubt,” Stephen Klein, co-founder and CEO and of kitchen automation firm Hyphen, informed PYMNTS in a latest interview. “For those who’re ordering out of your cellphone, and the one interplay you’re having with the restaurant is thru that digital system, it actually doesn’t matter who’s making your meals, so long as it’s recent, quick and constant.”
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NEW PYMNTS DATA: 58 PERCENT OF MULTINATIONAL FIRMS ARE USING CRYPTOCURRENCY
About: Regardless of their worth volatility and regulatory uncertainty, new PYMNTS analysis reveals that 58 % of multinational companies are already utilizing not less than one type of cryptocurrency — particularly when transferring funds throughout borders. The brand new Cryptocurrency, Blockchain and World Enterprise survey, a PYMNTS and Circle collaboration, polls 500 executives seems on the potential and the pitfalls going through crypto because it strikes into the monetary mainstream.
