Technology

From prep to profit: How honeygrow is tackling rising costs with AI automation

Honeygrow recently turned to back-of-house AI to streamline its operations and tackle the challenges of managing a busy kitchen.

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Photo: PreciTaste

February 14, 2025 by Fast Casual

AI is continuing to make big waves in restaurants. While some are using it for drive-thru voice integration, others are adopting it for operations, to improve efficiency and deliver a better overall experience. One such restaurant that has adopted AI in a big way in honeygrow, a fast-casual restaurant chain with 50+ locations

The chain recently turned to back-of-house AI to streamline its operations and tackle the challenges of managing a busy kitchen. Known for its fresh, made-to-order stir-fry, salads, and honeybars, the company set out to improve its operational efficiency as it continues to scale. Initially, John Paul Thomas, VP of Operations Services at honeygrow, was cautiously optimistic about adopting new automation technology. However, after experiencing the positive impact firsthand, he quickly decided to roll it out across all their locations.

"We were looking for a solution to improve our managers' workflow, and PreciTaste's Prep Assistant was the perfect fit," Thomas explains. "It took care of the manual prep tasks, which boosted crew productivity, allowing managers to focus on customer experience, and providing me with valuable insights into performance across our locations."

While many restaurant operators tend to prioritize front-of-house improvements, the real challenges often lie in the back-of-house. Inefficiencies in the kitchen—such as inaccurate food prep or poor communication among staff—can lead to slower service, food waste, and lost revenue. As a result, more operators are focusing on enhancing kitchen productivity. According to recent reports, 52% of restaurant operators are investing in back-of-house technology.

PreciTaste's Prep Assistant is one such solution. It uses AI to generate accurate, data-driven prep forecasts each day, eliminating guesswork from the equation. By analyzing a variety of data points, the system predicts exactly what ingredients need to be prepped and breaks down the menu items by component. It then automatically generates task lists for the crew. Managers can assign these tasks with just a few clicks, and employees follow a clear, organized list, making for a more efficient and less stressful shift.

"Since implementing the Prep Assistant, honeygrow has saved four to five hours of prep time per location daily," Thomas added. "On top of this, we are also seeing a dramatic decrease in the amount of food that goes to waste."

The impact of the Prep Assistant goes beyond efficiency. By incorporating AI into its kitchen operations, honeygrow has significantly reduced food waste. The precise forecasts help ensure that only the necessary amount of food is prepared daily, cutting down on excess. This has led to substantial savings in ingredients and labor costs, making a meaningful difference to the bottom line. With 97% of restaurant operators identifying rising food costs as a major concern for 2025, back-of-house technology presents a promising solution to address these challenges.

PreciTaste, in partnership with Intel, continues to push the boundaries of kitchen automation, offering a range of AI-driven solutions accelerated by Intel that address every aspect of kitchen operations from ingredient prep to grilling. As food and labor costs rise, there's no better time for restaurant operators to embrace technology and bring their kitchens into the digital age. By doing so, they can improve both efficiency and sustainability, while enhancing the overall dining experience.

To take a deeper dive into how PreciTaste has helped honeygrow optimize their kitchen operations, check out the full case study.