Explore More Than Just This Free Article

This article is a glimpse of the exclusive insights we provide daily to industry leaders. Dive deeper into our industry-specific reports and uncover the strategic information you need.

Chicago-based pizza chain Slice Factory to install custom-designed version of Nala Robotics' autonomous chef, Pizzaiola, at newest outlets; voice-controlled chef can make Slice Factory's jumbo 28-inch pizzas, box pizzas, service drive-thru, online orders

CHICAGO , June 30, 2022 (press release) –

Nala Robotics has signed an agreement to deploy a custom-designed version of its autonomous chef, Pizzaiola, at the newest outlets of Chicago-based Italian pizza restaurant chain Slice Factory.

Pizzaiola is a seven-axis robotic chef and kitchen that is claimed to help restaurateurs customise a pizzeria-style eatery with the inclusion of additional items, such as pasta, salads, burgers and wings.

It was launched by Nala Robotics, a US-based artificial intelligence (AI) technology firm, earlier this month.

The automated voice-controlled chef will have the capacity to make Slice Factory's 28-inch pizzas along with its Chicago-style stuffed pizzas. It will also be equipped to cook the restaurant's pasta dishes and an assortment of chicken wings.

Currently, Slice Factory runs 12 restaurants in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs.

The chain plans to expand its reach across the nation, and the technology from Nala Robotics is said to support this strategy.  

Nala Robotics cofounder and CEO Ajay Sunkara said: "Our partnership with Slice Factory, the first of many in the pipeline, represents another important milestone for Nala Robotics and the adoption of our restaurant-as-a-service platform.

"Our custom solution will help Slice Factory expand production to meet rising demand for the jumbo slice craze it created in the Chicagoland area, plus offer a wide variety of food options to keep customers happy, while also saving on labour costs."

Once a pizza order is placed, Pizzaiola automatically selects, presses and stretches the dough, then adds sauce, cheese and toppings, and cooks the pizza. Depending on customer requirements, it can also box the pizza.

Furthermore, the robot chef can fulfil individual jumbo slice and online orders for pickup at the restaurant's flagship Slice Thru drive-through.
Slice Factory founder and president Dom DiDiana said: "We're known for our jumbo pizzas and jumbo slices, and this partnership with Nala Robotics will help us improve production exponentially as we expand locations and service areas.

"What's really exciting is that we now have the capability to run fully autonomous pizzeria-style restaurants with lots of menu items, while keeping our family recipes consistent with the same great taste and exceptional food quality our customers have loved for many years."

(c) 2001-2016 MarketLine. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without prior written consent. MarketLine shall not be liable for errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.

* All content is copyrighted by Industry Intelligence, or the original respective author or source. You may not recirculate, redistrubte or publish the analysis and presentation included in the service without Industry Intelligence's prior written consent. Please review our terms of use.

See our dashboard in action - schedule an demo with Chelsey
Chelsey Quick
Chelsey Quick
- VP Client Success -

We offer built-to-order transformation & innovation coverage for our clients. Contact us for a free consultation.

About Us

We deliver market news & information relevant to your business.

We monitor all your market drivers.

We aggregate, curate, filter and map your specific needs.

We deliver the right information to the right person at the right time.

Our Contacts

1990 S Bundy Dr. Suite #380,
Los Angeles, CA 90025

+1 (310) 553 0008

About Cookies On This Site

This website stores cookies on your computer. These cookies are used to improve your website experience and provide more personalized services to you, both on this website and through other media. To find out more about the cookies we use, see our Privacy Policy. We won't track your information when you visit our site. But in order to comply with your preferences, we'll have to use just one tiny cookie so that you're not asked to make this choice again.