{
  "id": 11842967,
  "title": "Kitchen robots set to reshape F&B operations",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/04/kitchen-robots-set-to-reshape-f-b-operations",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-04T04:28:38.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/business/corporate/2026/10/1547329/kitchen-robots-set-reshape-fb-operations"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "KUALA LUMPUR: Kitchen robots, artificial intelligence (AI) and automation could become commonplace in Malaysia's commercial kitchens by 2028, as food and beverage (F&B) operators struggle with labour shortages, rising costs and maintaining consistent food quality. Ethan Choong Wai Hon, CEO of Kitchen Arena operator Ping Edge Technology Bhd, believes automation is increasingly seen as a solution to these operational challenges. In a recent statement, he highlighted that operators are now facing the question of how to maintain consistent food quality across multiple outlets with a dwindling labor force and increasing operational costs.\n\nChoong explained that robots could handle hot, heavy, and repetitive tasks, allowing human workers to be deployed more effectively. He emphasized that no robot will replace a skilled chef, but AI, robotics, and automation could eventually be as common in commercial kitchens as other kitchen equipment like combi ovens and ice machines.\n\nTourism Malaysia's Datin Christina Toh Lai Fong echoed similar sentiments, stating that labour shortages, higher operating costs, and rising expectations for service quality are pushing hotels to explore technology. She highlighted that automation could help alleviate staffing pressures, enabling employees to focus more on customer service and guest experiences.\n\nGene Tech Sdn Bhd's Brian Ding Kuoi Jean added that technology could address issues of inconsistent food quality, training challenges, and food wastage. He emphasized that technology is not just about robots cooking food but helping traditional food businesses move forward. Continuous learning, data, sensors, and automation can help businesses replicate cooking processes more consistently across outlets and teams.\n\nThe TT360 2026 exhibition, organized by Brilliant Exhibitions Sdn Bhd, will be held from November 5-7 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. The event will feature 260 booths across 4,832 square meters and expect around 25,000 visitors. As of September 29, 30 foreign exhibitors from China, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, and Italy have been confirmed. The event will also host the Battle of the Bots: Culinary Edition 2026, where 10 robot cooking machines will compete in categories such as taste, creativity, complexity, and presentation.",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR: Kitchen robots, artificial intelligence (AI) and automation could become standard equipment in Malaysia’s commercial kitchens by 2028 as food and beverage (F&B) operators grapple with labour shortages, rising costs and the need for consistent food quality.",
  "key_points": [
    "Kitchen robots, AI, and automation may become common in Malaysia's commercial kitchens by 2028",
    "Ethan Choong believes automation can address labor shortages, rising costs, and food quality issues"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The increasing adoption of kitchen robots and automation in Malaysia's commercial kitchens means F&B operators can alleviate labour shortages, improve food quality consistency, and redeploy human workers more effectively.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}