Mellow Mushroom, renowned for its unique stone-baked pizzas and eclectic dining atmosphere, is taking a major step to enhance its kitchen operations and guest experience by partnering with QSR Automations, a kitchen automation solution provider. This collaboration will see the nationwide integration of QSR’s ConnectSmart Kitchen® technology. This tech is designed to streamline kitchen workflows and enhance order accuracy across all Mellow Mushroom locations.
Optimizing Operations for Growth
With over 160 locations across 16 states, Mellow Mushroom is no stranger to high-volume operations. The integration of ConnectSmart Kitchen promises to make these operations more efficient by reducing the chaos that can be associated with busy kitchens. Known for its seamless integration with more than 80 point-of-sale systems, ConnectSmart Kitchen is set to optimize everything from order flow to ticket times. This will allow Mellow Mushroom to maintain its high standards for service quality as it continues to grow.
“Our ConnectSmart Kitchen technology is streamlining kitchens for iconic brands, such as Mellow Mushroom,” said Angela Leet, CEO of QSR Automations. “This new partnership will help reduce ticket times, increase guest satisfaction, and help Mellow Mushroom continue to innovate in the pizza sphere.”
Enhancing the Guest Experience
Mellow Mushroom’s secret dough recipe and signature red sauce have earned the brand a devoted following. But, according to Mellow Mushroom’s Head of Strategy, Ahsan Jiva, the pizza experience begins in the kitchen.
“At Mellow Mushroom, we pride ourselves on delivering a unique dining experience, which begins in the kitchen,” Jiva said. “ConnectSmart Kitchen offers the perfect blend of advanced technology and seamless integration, allowing us to focus on what we do best—crafting delicious, memorable hand-tossed pizzas for our guests. We’re thrilled to see how this partnership will enhance our operations and support our growth.”
By simplifying communication within the kitchen and reducing the complexity of managing orders during peak times, ConnectSmart Kitchen ensures that each pizza arrives at the table freshly made and exactly as ordered. This technology-driven approach is expected to elevate the dining experience for Mellow Mushroom’s guests. This tech will also make life a little easier for the kitchen staff.
ConnectSmart® Kitchen by QSR Automations Features
We reviewed the ConnectSmart features and the implications they can have for a restaurant. Here’s a summary of some primary features for ConnectSmart® Kitchen by QSR Automations:
- Improve Order Accuracy: The system automates kitchen operations through a Kitchen Display System (KDS), which reduces food waste by pacing orders efficiently with delayed routing. This ensures orders are accurate and minimizes the need to remake dishes, saving time and inventory.
- Eliminate Paper Tickets: Going paperless eliminates the need for printing, handling, and sorting tickets. This reduces printer costs for ink and paper while allowing staff to focus more on food preparation instead of managing physical tickets.
- A More Efficient Team: ConnectSmart® Kitchen helps increase kitchen productivity by automating tasks, allowing staff to concentrate on preparing food. This can lead to a reported 10% boost in productivity per kitchen staff member.
- Improve Your Food Quality: Delayed routing allows the kitchen to prioritize cooking times so that all dishes are ready simultaneously. This ensures that guests receive their food fresh and perfectly timed for the best dining experience.
- Increase Your Service Speed: The system’s customizable routing and pacing capabilities reduce ticket times, with reported reductions of 2 to 20 minutes. This supports the kitchen to turn tables faster and serve more guests.
- Capacity Management: Real-time data from the kitchen helps manage order flow based on workload. This dynamic capacity management system adjusts order intake during busy periods, preventing kitchen overload and improving overall efficiency.
Setting the Standard for Operational Excellence
This partnership between Mellow Mushroom and QSR Automations represents a forward-thinking approach to restaurant operations. As Mellow Mushroom continues to expand, the ability to deliver consistently high-quality food and service will be critical to maintaining its reputation. ConnectSmart Kitchen is set to become an integral part of this strategy. A strategy that ensures that each location operates at peak efficiency without compromising the guest experience.
With both brands committed to innovation, this partnership is likely to set new standards for operational excellence in the restaurant industry. Mellow Mushroom’s blend of distinctive pizza offerings and QSR Automations’ cutting-edge kitchen technology is a winning combination poised to make waves in the fast-casual dining sector. It sparks the questions for many franchisors: are you happy with your tech stack?
