Circus SE and REWE Region West launch pilot partnership involving deployment of CA-1 cooking robots.
Circus SE, a specialist in AI software and robotics for the food service industry, has announced an exclusive pilot partnership with REWE Markt, West Regional Branch.
This will see the autonomous cooking robot CA-1 being deployed in several REWE supermarkets in Germany, together with the cloud-based Circus Software Suite. The pilot will begin during the autumn and is pitched as the world’s first integration of autonomous food production in grocery retail.
Under the agreement, REWE Region West will receive three CA-1 units along with a software package that includes ordering systems, kitchen control, and AI driven production management. The eight-month pilot phase includes joint operations, training, marketing activities, and a performance evaluation based on customer satisfaction, technical performance, and operational feasibility.
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“The combination of cutting-edge robotics and our customer focus is an exciting step toward a forward looking, sustainable shopping experience,” said Lars Klein, Chairman of the Management Board, REWE Region West. “We are especially focused on acceptance, customer feedback, and real-world operational insights.”
“This partnership is a milestone not only for Circus but for the entire retail sector,” said Nikolas Bullwinkel, CEO at Circus SE. “For the first time, customers will experience freshly prepared meals in supermarkets that are cooked entirely autonomously by robots. We are proud to bring this world first to life together with REWE and look forward to what lies ahead.”
During the eight-month pilot phase, Circus will serve as the exclusive provider of AI powered food robotics in REWE stores. The outcome of the pilot will serve as the basis for a potential extended collaboration between the two companies.
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