Crave Robotics earns NAMA listing for CraveBot hot food kiosk
Crave Robotics said its Model CKV21501 “CraveBot” hot-food automated retail vending kiosk has been listed by the National Automatic Merchandising Association through its machine evaluation program. The MEP is a NAMA program that certifies that listed machines meet both the FDA Food Code and NAMA design and construction standards.
Why this matters for convenience services operators
- The Machine Evaluation Program listing gives operators a recognized, third-party reference point when presenting CraveBot to locations and inspectors.
- Selecting equipment that is already MEP listed can help operators shorten sales cycles and site approvals.
- Operators can cite the NAMA MEP listing when clients ask about food safety design standards.
- A NAMA-listed platform can make it easier to roll out hot-food vending across multiple locations where inspection expectations vary by jurisdiction.
- With the NAMA listing in place, operators may be more comfortable expanding CraveBot placements to capture additional dayparts.
The Machine Evaluation Program is used by public health agencies and other stakeholders to identify vending machines that meet recognized public health requirements, with many agencies requiring food, beverage, and water vending equipment to meet national standards. NAMA notes that “many governmental and military foodservice regulations require that all food, beverage and water vending machines meet recognized national public health standards,” and certification via the MEP program accomplishes that.
Crave Robotics said the CraveBot is designed to dispense prepared frozen meals and heat them for service, making it suited for unattended foodservice. It holds up to 36 meal selections and up to 144 single servings. According to Crave Robotics, the unit maintains frozen holding at about -0.4°F, then heats prepared meals from frozen to ready-to-serve in under 4 minutes in most cases. Crave Robotics also describes CraveBot as an IoT-connected machine that monitors equipment status and inventory.
About the Author
Linda Becker
Editor-in-Chief
Linda Becker is editor-in-chief of Automatic Merchandiser and VendingMarketWatch.com. She has more than 20 years of experience in B2B publishing, writing, editing and producing content for magazines, websites, webinars, podcasts, newsletters and eBooks, primarily for manufacturing and process engineering audiences. Since joining Automatic Merchandiser and VendingMarketWatch.com, Linda has developed a new appreciation for the convenience services industry and the essential role it plays. She is dedicated to serving readers by covering the latest news in the vending, office coffee service and micro market industry. She can be reached at 262-203-9924 or [email protected].