A first-of-its-kind, fully automated breadmaking machine will be unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas this week. Conference-goers will be able to experience how ‘The BreadBot’ – a machine that goes from flour to loaf all on its own – harnesses the marvels of modern technology to take us back to the old world with its artisan bread that is tasty and nutritious.

 

The firm behind the new innovation is The Wilkinson Baking Company, a family-owned business based in the US that says it’s “transforming the world of baking one loaf at a time” through its innovations. The BreadBot – located throughout the week at Booth #31803 in the High-Tech Retailing area of South Hall 3 at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) – produces loaves that are fresher, healthier, preservative free and eco-friendly. The BreadBot mixes, forms, proofs, bakes and cools ten loaves of bread per hour – all on its own and is capable of making most varieties of bread that require dry ingredients – including white, wheat, wholewheat, nine-grain, sourdough and honey oat. The bread can even be organic, if preferred.

 

Bread produced with “theatre and engagement”

 

“Bread is a staple of American life. But in most supermarkets today, it has lost its emotional connection with the shopper,” said Randall Wilkinson, CEO of The Wilkinson Baking Company. “In the age of home delivery, The BreadBot attracts consumers back to the store because it delivers fresh, delicious bread that is produced with theatre and engagement. We're so excited to bring CES back to basics with The BreadBot this year and to demonstrate how we have increased a retailers' bread sales by more than 30 per cent while also decreasing the environmental impact." 

 

Potential 20-fold lift in bottom line

 

Retailers using The BreadBot can benefit from a potential 20-fold lift in bottom line profit margins through the elimination of the costly current bread distribution process, as well benefiting from increased consumer interest and maximised employee productivity. 

 

Grocers can get a head start on their daily production demands by scheduling The BreadBot to start baking hours before they open. And, as nearly half of topline revenue of a commercial baker is spent on the process of transport from factory oven to store shelf and related out-of-date product waste, The BreadBot is disrupting commercial baking and helping the environment through the elimination of bricks-and-mortar facilities and distribution overhead.

 

Most food providers – including grocery stores, convenience stores, schools, the military and more – can benefit from the compact 22-square-foot BreadBot, which is more automated than a $75 million bread factory.  

 

Randall Wilkinson will be speaking at the following CES sessions in LVCC's North Hall:

•    Jan 9, 10:00-10:20AM – Robotics in Aisle 5 

•    Jan 10, 11:30-12:30PM – On the Menu: Robotics Cook Up Fast Food 

 

By numbers – How the BreadBot measures up

•    Produces 10 loaves per hour 

•    Time to first completed loaf is 90 minutes 

•    New loaves produced every six minutes 

•    Operates up to a 24-hour duty cycle 

•    Yields a maximum of 235 loaves per day 

•    Requires about 30 minutes for daily cleaning