Appetronix Acquires Cibotica to Scale Robotic Kitchen Systems

Appetronix expands automation capabilities with Cibotica acquisition

Appetronix, a developer of robotic kitchen systems, has acquired food robotics company Cibotica in an undisclosed transaction designed to broaden its automation capabilities beyond pizza preparation. The acquisition adds Cibotica's automated ingredient dispensing and portioning technology to Appetronix's existing platform.

The deal centers on Cibotica's Remy robotic system, which automates bowl and salad assembly. According to Appetronix, the technology will enable faster development of robotic kitchen concepts across multiple cuisine types and foodservice formats.

Why it matters

The acquisition signals consolidation in the food robotics sector and demonstrates a path to liquidity for early-stage automation companies. For operators in high-volume environments like airports and hospitals, the combined technology stack could address labor shortages while maintaining consistency across diverse menu formats that extend beyond single-category automation.

Technical capabilities and deployment scale

Cibotica's Remy platform can assemble up to 300 bowls per hour using machine-learning-based dispensing technology designed to handle varied ingredient types. The system integrates with existing point-of-sale, ordering, and back-of-house infrastructure while reducing food waste through automated portion control.

Appetronix currently operates robotic pizza kitchens through a partnership with Donatos, including an autonomous location at John Glenn Columbus International Airport. The company says Cibotica's dispensing technology will support expansion into food formats requiring precise ingredient portioning.

"This acquisition represents far more than just expanding our technology stack. It's about elevating the entire food robotics ecosystem," said Nipun Sharma, CEO of Appetronix. Sharma noted that Appetronix had worked closely with Cibotica for years, observing the company's technology development and market deployment through a partnership with MOTO Pizza in Seattle.

Funding and market strategy

The acquisition follows Appetronix's recent seed funding round, which brought the company's total funding to more than $12 million. Ashkan Mirnabavi, co-founder of Cibotica, said the transaction "validates that approach and signals that the food robotics ecosystem is ready to deliver real outcomes for the industry."

The combined companies plan to accelerate deployment across airports, hospitals, universities, entertainment venues, and other high-traffic environments. Soroush Sefidkar, co-founder of Cibotica, cited Appetronix's operational track record with Donatos as evidence of execution capability.

The financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Details of the transaction were first reported by Robotics and Automation News.