HAYWARD, Calif. – Chowbotics, creator of the ‘Sally’ salad-making robot, today introduced Sally 2.0, a new iteration that includes new hardware and software features. In addition to the salad and grain bowl offerings from the original Sally, the new version includes breakfast and snack options such as Açai bowls, fruit and yogurt bowls.

The company first started deploying Sally robots in 2018, and currently has systems in more than 70 locations, including offices, college campuses, and hospitals. New features on Sally 2.0 includes a larger tablet display, a new UI, wheels for increased mobility, and improved servicing features that help reduce operator refill and cleaning time.

The Sally system can create thousands of custom meal and snack options from any combination of up to 22 ingredients, in addition to chef-crafted, pre-programmed bowls. Users can fine-tune the calorie total of their meal by adding or subtracting ingredients. Ingredients are kept sanitary through the use of different canisters, and the bowls are prepared through robotics and sensor technologies.

Enhancements in the new version include:

• New display and interface: The fully redesigned UI aims to improve the way users and operators interact with Sally. The experience is now presented on a larger 15.6-inch tablet display, with easier ways for customers to make personalized or pre-loaded selections.
• New canister system: A new design aims to make restocking and cleaning more efficient for operators, including an easier-to-use on-screen app.
• Portability: By adding casters with swivel and brake functionality, Sally 2.0 gives operators the ability to place in different locations to test where it works best.
• Expanded menu: In addition to the new menu items, the system also offers cuisines such as Mediterranean, Indian, and Latin American options.

Chowbotics said several customers have deployed Sally 2.0, including The Salad Station, a fast-casual salad chain in Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi. “After bringing 11 Sally 1.0s to market, we were thrilled with the positive consumer feedback and return-on-investment,” said Scott Henderson, founder and president of The Salad Station. “We’re excited to announce that we are now rolling out 50 Sally 2.0s across seven states, giving us the ability to expand our fresh food footprint far beyond the reach of our brick-and-mortar stores.”

Additional rollouts include Bonduelle, a French international plant-based food company, which ordered 50 robots for deployment in France in 2019; in the U.S., Oberlin College and Conservatory in Oberlin, Ohio, and ISS Guckenheimer headquarters in San Mateo, Calif., will be deploying the new system. Companies that deployed the Sally 1.0 version have the option to upgrade their robot for an additional cost, Chowbotics said.

“We’ve seen tremendous market interest in Sally 1.0, with revenue doubling every quarter in 2019,” said Deepak Sekar, the founder and president of Chowbotics. “We deployed more than 70 robots in our first year following launch, a pace of growth never seen with even the most popular restaurant concepts. We believe Sally 2.0, with its boost in usability and operational efficiency, will accelerate consumer adoption and excitement even further.”