Ricoh USA, Inc. has partnered with Hyphen, a food-service automation company, to accelerate the adoption and expansion of robotics across the U.S. food-service sector. Through its RICOH Service Advantage lifecycle management solution, Ricoh will help emerging technology companies overcome the challenges of rapid growth by providing support for technology deployment, ongoing maintenance, and service management.
The global market for restaurant robotics, including automated food-preparation systems, is expected to triple from $2 billion in 2026 to $6 billion by 2033, with North America as the primary driver.
While we’ve seen tremendous interest in the potential of robotic technology to improve operations and provide a superior, more consistent customer experience, the ability to scale has hampered traction in this industry. Our partnership with Ricoh is a game changer, enabling us to quickly ramp up, train, and implement solutions for restaurants that wish to deploy chainwide.
-Shawn Lange, Senior Vice President of Go-To-Market, Hyphen
The supported technology includes the Hyphen Automated Makeline, backed by both Chipotle and Cava. This system receives digital drive-thru, online, and kiosk orders then automatically assembles rice and salad bowls under-the-counter while team members focus on in-house customers and serve them from the top-of-counter as always.
“Restaurant operators are turning to technology to improve the top line by delivering a differentiated and consistent brand experience, as well as the bottom line by driving down costs. Pairing Hyphen’s robotic solutions with Ricoh’s world-class service promise will enable more food-service providers to gain a competitive edge in a highly competitive industry.”
– Steve Sanders, Vice President, Service Advantage, Ricoh North America
The National Restaurant Association’s latest industry report found that more than 90% of operators cite food, labor, insurance and inflation-related costs as significant challenges. As restaurants look for ways to improve efficiency and manage rising expenses, partnerships that combine automation with scalable deployment and service capabilities are becoming increasingly important.
Hyphen automates meal production and augments labor to increase profitability and efficiency in foodservice. Hyphen’s automated makeline produces over 200 meals an hour while eliminating order defects and cross-contamination. Through its CulinaryOS, Hyphen’s platform allows restaurants to create recipes in seconds, fulfill multiple orders from digital channels, and assist with kitchen-specific tasks. Customers include some of the world’s most innovative restaurant chains, virtual brands, and co-packers.
Ricoh is a global integrator in workplace transformation, operating in approximately 200 countries and regions and headquartered in Tokyo. Supporting customers’ value creation, Ricoh offers workplace services and solutions that empower organizations to work smarter through advanced technologies—including AI—together with long-standing expertise rooted in printing. Ricoh also operates commercial and industrial printing businesses and delivers new solutions leveraging inkjet technology. In the financial year ended March 2026, Ricoh Group had worldwide sales of 2,608 billion yen.
For 90 years, Ricoh has remained dedicated to its founding purpose: enriching lives by helping people find fulfilment in their work. Today, we continue to embrace this vision by reimagining and improving the way people work, unlocking human potential, inspiring creativity, and building a more sustainable future for generations to come.
