Robotics

Donatos taps Appetronix for first fully automated pizza kitchen

Photo: Donatos

June 13, 2025

Donatos Pizza has tapped Appetronix, a foodtech company specializing in the development and design of autonomous robotic solutions for commercial restaurant kitchens, for its AI-powered robotic pizza maker at the John Glenn Columbus International Airport, according to a press release.

The opening marks Donatos Pizza's fully autonomous pizza restaurant. The restaurant is operated by HMS Host and will operate 24/7 leveraging state-of-the-art robotics and data science technologies — enabling an efficient experience for customers on everything from placing orders to receiving their pizza. The robot also offers an engaging visual experience, allowing customers an inside look at their pizzas being freshly prepared in real time.

"We've been on this journey for about four, four and a half years and our mission was to create a fully autonomous restaurant that cooks the best tasting, made-to-order meals," Nipun Sharma, co-founder and CEO of Appetronix, said in the press release. "Bringing this first-of-its-kind autonomous kitchen to life in collaboration with Donatos has been an extraordinary journey and marks a defining moment for the future of the restaurant industry. With our state-of-the-art, AI-powered robotic technology, we're delivering hot, fresh pizza with unprecedented precision and efficiency. This is more than innovation — it's a transformative leap for the QSR space, setting a new standard for consistency, speed, and customer satisfaction."

Kevin King, president and CEO of Donatos Pizza, said his brand is excited about the innovation.

"This aligns perfectly with four key pillars: It's about our people, it's about innovation, it's about our brand, and it's about growth," he said in the press release. "This particular fully autonomous kitchen ties right into both innovation and growth. We're so excited about the opportunity and where this innovation will take us over the next several years."