P R O C E S S PIONEER SET TO SHAKE UP FOOD ROBOTICS American food robotics company Chowbotics has appointed global food industry pioneer in automation and robotics Dorothy Cudia to develop disruptive technologies in the push for advanced food technology. Company founder and chief executive Dr Deepak Sekar says Cudia – who has 25 years’ domestic and global experience – will catapult growth for the company because of her advocacy for change and innovation which will increase performance, quality and profit. Cudia – who will become vice president of engineering – has held leadership roles at Nabisco Brands, the McDonald’s Corporation and Darden Restaurants. Most recently, she was vice president of automation for the Middleby Corporation, where she was building out a vertical around robotics and food, targeting potential acquisitions for the largest food equipment manufacturer in the world. Her hunt for best-in-class companies directed her to Chowbotics. “This role marks a dramatic shift in my career path, and I couldn’t be more excited,” she says. “In a few months, Chowbotics has already established itself as a leader in the food robotics industry, and with my background at some of the largest companies in food service, I am eager to propel the company and its innovations to even greater heights.” Cudia’s accomplishments include food manufacturing expertise in automation and process control at Nabisco Brands, as well as leading a variety of innovation efforts across supply chains for food, energy and capital equipment at Darden. In her engineering role at the McDonald’s Corporation, she was known as a results-oriented dynamo who pushed industry-leading products from ideas through product devel- 28 OCTOBER 2017 opment and deployment, followed by sales support. One major capstone was the automated beverage machine now installed in tens of thousands of McDonald’s restaurants across the globe. Cudia is a cum laude graduate of Manhattan College with a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. Chowbotics develops robots for food service and by automating repetitive tasks, aims to increase productivity and enable creativity, both in and out of the kitchen. The company’s first product, Sally the Salad Robot, allows users to create custom salads. Proprietary technology ensures precise caloric counts and protects the integrity of ingredients, keeping them fresh, sanitary and separate. Future robots will offer breakfast as well as Mexican and other ethnic foods. Working in the F&B industry? We do too, that‘s why we‘ve got all the right approvals! German quality Sensors & Cables, ex. stock NZ. We look forward to working with you! www.ifm.com/nz Free phone: 0800 289 436 ifm Advert 67x230mm_Ecolab.indd 1 7/04/17 1:41 PM FT285
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