CPK plans hundreds of automated pizza kiosks at U.S. military bases

California Pizza Kitchen plans to deploy hundreds of automated pizza kiosks at U.S. military installations through a partnership with Ranger Group, expanding the restaurant chain's presence in unattended foodservice, according to a press release. The initiative will bring self-service pizza machines to installations serving the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. The rollout will begin at domestic bases, with potential expansion to overseas military facilities.

The kiosks will use touchscreen ordering technology and TurboChef-powered ovens to prepare freshly baked pizzas in as little as 90 seconds.

Designed for locations where conventional restaurants may not be practical, the machines will provide military personnel and their families with convenient access to hot meals. The deployment is part of California Pizza Kitchen's broader strategy to introduce up to 1,000 automated retail machines nationwide over the next three years, including installations at airports, universities, hospitals and other high-traffic locations.

Ranger Group, led by CEO and U.S. Army Ranger veteran Mark "Ranger" Jones, will work with California Pizza Kitchen and military representatives to coordinate installations, logistics and ongoing operational support.

Michael Beacham, president of California Pizza Kitchen Global, said in the release the partnership reflects the company's commitment to expanding access to its products while recognizing military service members. Jones said the initiative is personally meaningful because of his military background and the opportunity to provide convenient food options to service members and their families.

The military deployment represents another step in California Pizza Kitchen's expansion beyond traditional restaurants and packaged food products into automated retail. The company said the machines will be introduced in phases, although it did not identify specific bases, installation dates or the number of units planned for the initial rollout. The initiative also reflects growing interest among restaurant brands in using automated foodservice equipment to reach customers in locations where staffing, operating hours and available space can limit conventional dining options.

In August, CPK announced a partnership with T-ROC to deploy and operate as many as 1,000 automated retail machines around the U.S. over the next three years.