A robot developed by Hamburg-based startup GoodBytz is transforming catering at Tübingen's university hospital, preparing up to 3,000 freshly cooked meals a day and addressing the need for night-shift food options.

Germany's catering industry faces severe labor shortages, with up to 8,000 vacancies due to long hours, low wages, and unpaid overtime, making roles like chefs particularly hard to fill.

GoodBytz's robotic kitchen could cut labor costs by 80%, working around the clock without issues like overtime or sick days, though it still requires human support for tasks like restocking and safety oversight.

Experts view kitchen automation positively, emphasizing that robots can handle repetitive tasks, freeing staff to focus on creativity and quality, rather than fully replacing human workers.

While automation provides solutions, skilled employees remain essential for recipe development, safety, and quality control, ensuring a collaborative future for people and machines in food service.