Bay Area-based, Blendid, is opening a new location at Sonoma State University’s Charlie Brown Cafe. Blendid’s state-of-the-art, fully autonomous food robotics kiosk combines software, hardware, advanced robotics, and artificial intelligence to offer healthy, fresh, and delicious smoothies, called Blends. This partnership will offer a technologically-advanced, convenient, and cost-effective way for university community members to get access to customized beverages that are both tasty and nutritious.
“This new location is really exciting for our whole team as it expands on our kiosk availability and brand mission to provide quick, healthy, and cost-effective food for everyone,” says Vipin Jain, CEO and Co-founder of Blendid. “Right off the bat, we knew that Sonoma State University was a perfect partner for us as they are an innovative and health conscious university that was not only open, but very excited about the positive change Blendid could bring to their campus and community.”
Blendid’s stand-alone kiosk includes a robotic arm, blenders, a refrigeration system, and numerous dispensers that store and dispense a variety of fresh ingredients including solids (such as fruits and vegetables), liquids (such as kefir and coconut water), and superfoods (such as chia, flax, and ginger). Blendid’s robot, known as Chef B, processes the orders and payment, quickly selects and measures the ingredients, blends, pours, and serves up each customized smoothie Blend. A skilled multitasker, Chef B is designed to make up to 45 drinks an hour and nine drinks simultaneously (including cleaning).
“We are delighted to be the first public university to have Blendid on campus,” says Don Cortes, Executive Chef for University Culinary Services at Sonoma State University. “In our current market, consumers want healthy, fast, and convenient food, which requires us to be innovative in order to be efficient. I’ve always believed food and innovation go hand in hand as this will keep customers coming back. Bringing Blendid to the SSU community helps us respond to what customers want. It also provides advanced technology that allows consumers to make a curated healthy smoothie without sacrificing quality and flavor.”
Blendid’s expert team of nutritionists and chefs have created a variety of Blend recipes for Sonoma State University’s community, including:
- The Classic (vegan) – Traditional strawberry-banana flavor with no added sugar, that includes flax for fiber and healthy fats. This Blend works well as a tasty lower-calorie meal replacement or snack.
- Banana Jolt – With a winning combination of bananas, coconut water, whole grain oats, and coffee, this flavor-packed smoothie Blend is perfect for a morning or afternoon pick me up.
- Modern Lassi – This updated interpretation of a lassi-style beverage includes mango, kefir, and coconut water for a thirst-quenching and delicious Blend. And, at only 162 calories, it’s a great light way to brighten up your meal.
To accompany the kiosk, Blendid has also hired several Sonoma State University student ambassadors, who will be available to answer any questions, hand out Blend samples, restock the ingredients periodically, and manage on-site customer service. By hiring student ambassadors Blendid is promoting their success by not only providing new employment options, but also the opportunity to grow their career skills and experience for their future.
The Blendid kiosk in Sonoma State University’s Charlie Brown Cafe will be open Monday – Thursday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Customers can place orders in person at the kiosk or via the Blendid app (iOS and Android) for a cost of $6 per 12-ounce drink.
