Labor shortages and labor costs continue to plague the restaurant and foodservice industry since the height of the pandemic. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and as reported by the National Restaurant Association, eating and drinking places are still hovering around 1.5 million jobs – or 12% – which is below pre-pandemic employment levels.
The limited-service category was especially hit hard; as of April 2021, federal data showed that the quick-service and fast casual segments were down 143,000 jobs (3%) from pre-pandemic levels.
To put things in more perspective, the BLS listed the national “quit rate” at about 3% last year; for foodservice jobs the quit rate was 5.4% in July alone. Indeed, a survey by the Association last year found that 72% of operators rated recruitment and retention of workforce as their top challenge.
While the numbers don’t lie, operators need not fret. Many equipment manufacturers, such as Welbilt, remain focused on innovating and developing solutions to deal with unskilled labor or less labor overall. Enhanced automation is key, but we’re not just talking about robots slinging salads or tossing pizza. Even more modest levels of automation can greatly enhance kitchen operations, including Frymaster’s latest PowerRunner Fryer with TouchWheel – the mid-size fryer of choice!
What Does Automation Mean in the Foodservice Industry?
Automation is nothing new for other industries —machines have been making and assembling cars for years. Most large-scale crops are planted and maintained by platforms that use Artificial Intelligence (AI). Computerized systems even take some of the guesswork out of flying airplanes.
In commercial kitchens, state-of-the-art hood systems use infrared technology to adjust for increasing temperatures. There are systems now that allow managers to monitor equipment from their phones—with alerts when pieces go down or when the walk-in door’s left open. For commercial kitchens, the combi oven was perhaps the first higher-tech piece of equipment on the market that could be programmed with recipes and produce food at just the touch of the button. Now, even fryers can be pre-loaded with those instructions.
Introducing the TouchWheel Controller
Frymaster, a leading Welbilt brand for commercial fryers, just rolled out a new, enhanced controller option that combines proven technologies as well as new innovations to tackle labor challenges. The Dean PowerRunner™ fryer’s new TouchWheel Controller, to be introduced in July 2022, allows operators to pre-program 12 recipes to produce a wide array of foods with just the touch of a button. The new technology uses actual characters instead of numbers as in previous models to show the full name of the recipes on the touch screen. In addition, the controller will support up to six languages, including Spanish and French, to prevent language barriers between the equipment and operator. For chain restaurants looking to streamline new openings, fryers can come pre-programmed directly from the factory. Recipes can also be uploaded via a USB port by a manager on-site.
This latest PowerRunner fryer will replace previous models (Super Marathon fryers and Decathlon D50 fryers) with the more controller choice. In addition to the new TouchWheel controller, there is a dual mode option so operators can choose which baskets work in pre-programmed mode, or momentarily switch back to digital timer mode to work manually. In the automated mode, the controller will alert the user to take out the end product and display the next cook on deck, taking much of the guesswork out of the process.
Other labor-saving benefits include built-in filter options to make filtration quick, convenient, and reliable as well as extend oil life, reduce operating expense and preserve food quality.
The large, 50-pound frypot capacity is also designed for high-volume food production and the demands of a varied menu. The new controller can be programmed to fry everything from classic French fries to bone-in chicken thighs and wings, breaded fish and other specialty foods.
Operators can count on the durability and versatility of Dean PowerRunner.™ For more information, visit Frymaster.com.
