Food robotics startup Appetronix has acquired fellow Canadian food automation company Cibotica, adding robotic makeline technology to its growing portfolio of autonomous restaurant systems.
Appetronix CEO Nipun Sharma told The Spoon the acquisition gives the company an entry point into a segment it had previously chosen not to pursue on its own: robotic makelines designed to automate portions of existing restaurant kitchens.
“They developed something pretty profound,” Sharma said of Vancouver-based Cibotica. “We thought maybe we join forces. Now we can provide this service to the people that have been asking for it.”
Formerly known as SJW Robotics, Appetronix has focused its business on building fully autonomous restaurant systems rather than back-of-house kitchen automation. The company’s primary strategy centers on robotic restaurant platforms for captive-audience venues like airports, hospitals, and universities. Sharma says the company’s primary business models is to deploy autonomous foodservice units at these venues and share revenue of food sold (Appetronix generally takes 20-30% of revenue).
Cibotica, founded in 2021, developed a robotic makeline platform called Remy designed to automate bowl and salad assembly. The company’s first commercial deployment launched in Vancouver in 2024, where its system could assemble up to 300 salads per hour.
According to Sharma, the acquisition will help Appetronix accelerate the development of a new Mexican burrito bowl concept slated for launch this fall, while also giving the company the technology it can offer customers looking to automate existing kitchens rather than deploy standalone autonomous units.
“It was a matter of convenience and expediting both R&D,” Sharma said.
The deal also brings Appetronix relationships with several of Cibotica’s existing and prospective customers, including Seattle-based pizza chain MOTO Pizza and salad concepts already in Cibotica’s pipeline.
Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Sharma said Appetronix has raised roughly $12 million to date and plans to raise a Series A round later this year.
The acquisition comes as food robotics startups continue to consolidate following a difficult few years for the sector, with numerous independent robotic restaurant and kiosk companies shutting down or struggling to scale. Sharma said Appetronix believes its focus on selling food rather than robotics hardware differentiates it from many earlier entrants.
“We don’t sell machines, we sell food,” said Sharma. “That’s our business model.”
