HAYWARD, CA - One of the biggest questions rippling through both foodservice and retail in the months since COVID-19 has spiked has been about self-serve and salad bar options. Now, a startup company looks to be quickly shaking hands—so to speak—with grocers as it offers a robotic solution with a catchy name: Sally.

Sally, according to creator Chowbotics’ website, uses groundbreaking robotics to provide the most hygienic custom salad bar experience available on the market.

“We happened to have the right product at the right time when the pandemic hit, and it increased demand significantly for what we do,” Rick Wilmer, CEO of Chowbotics, shared in an interview with Cheddar.

That demand looks to have been throughout the grocery sector. Several news sources have reported both Wakefern-owned ShopRite and Ohio-based Heinan’s have inked deals for Sally to take up residence in stores, and while Wilmer was not at liberty to say who else might be interested, he did assure that there are more banners to come.

“We have a number of other grocery stores where we’ll be deploying here soon. I’m not in a position to disclose them by name, but I can tell you demand is very high. We’ve sold now well over 200 robots throughout the country and in Eastern Europe,” Wilmer continued.

While salads are getting the spotlight, and thankfully so, Wilmer added that Sally’s capabilities are endless. Customers can build meals at the tap of a button, resulting in customized dishes protected in an airtight, refrigerated container. The innovative technology is specifically geared to safely serve custom meals in grocery stores, hospitals, and college campuses.

Is this the future we have been headed toward? AndNowUKnow will continue to report.

Chowbotics ShopRite Heinan's