California Pizza Kitchen Plans 1,000 Automated Kiosks Nationwide

California Pizza Kitchen is accelerating its push beyond traditional restaurant walls with a plan to install up to 1,000 automated retail machines across the United States over the next three years.

The casual-dining brand has signed a partnership with T-ROC Global to deploy kiosks dispensing CPK pizzas and other menu items in airports, universities, hospitals, hotels, office buildings, residential communities, EV charging stations, and sports venues. The machines use TurboChef cooking technology and can serve a pizza in as little as 90 seconds via touchscreen ordering.

Building on early tests

CPK has been piloting the automated retail concept since last year. Kiosks are currently operating at Boston Logan International Airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Dallas Love Field, and Dayton International Airport. The company expects to activate another 15 machines at university locations by the end of 2026.

The expanded rollout will offer more than pizza. Planned menu items include Kung Pao and Bolognese Spaghetti, Mac 'N' Cheese in three varieties (classic, BBQ Chicken, and Burnt Ends), and CPK's signature Butter Cake.

Why it matters

Automated food kiosks represent a capital-efficient distribution channel for restaurant brands seeking growth without the overhead of full-service locations. For CPK—which already operates a retail grocery business reaching over 10,000 stores—the kiosk network creates another revenue stream while placing the brand in venues where traditional restaurants can't operate. The partnership structure offloads operational complexity to T-ROC, allowing CPK to focus on brand and product while its partner handles logistics, maintenance, and site selection.

National infrastructure behind the rollout

T-ROC will manage deployment, replenishment, maintenance, and support using a national infrastructure that includes 32 warehouses, a dedicated van fleet, and thousands of technicians. The initial phase will focus on clusters of at least 20 machines across 30 major U.S. markets, creating regional density as the program scales.

T-ROC will also become the national service provider for CPK's other automated retail operating partners, handling replenishment, repairs, warehousing, logistics, training, kiosk technologies, and venue identification.

"Consumers increasingly expect their favorite brands to meet them where they are, and technology is making that possible in entirely new ways," T-ROC Global CEO and founder Brett Beveridge said.

CPK Global president Michael Beacham noted the company has been meeting consumers in non-traditional channels for years, including through its grocery store presence spanning 25 years. "Our automated retail strategy, now accelerated through a partnership with T-ROC, introduces CPK to entirely new occasions and venues where consumers desire quality food on the go," he said.

The expansion follows CPK's acquisition a few months ago by an ownership group consisting of Consortium Brand Partners, Eldridge Industries, Aurify Brands, and Convive Brands. Founded in 1985, CPK operates around 120 U.S. restaurant locations.

These details were first reported by FSR Magazine.