Las Iguanas introduces “innovative” services robots to fuel future growth

Latin American restaurant chain Las Iguanas has revealed a series of “innovative” initiatives to improve guest experience and support its team members.

First up is the introduction of service robots at two restaurants. Through a trial partnership with Cambridge based Soft Bank Robotics, six new bots have been introduced to the new restaurant at Center Parcs Elveden Forest, while two robots have been added to the brand’s Cambridge restaurant.

The robots will support team members with everyday tasks such as delivering food and drinks to tables, and returning used dishes to the kitchen, allowing team members to spend more time interacting with guests and delivering an optimum experience.

The trial follows a similar pilot at another Big Table Group brand, Bella Italia, in partnership with Pudu Robotics, which saw retrieving robots being trialled in its restaurants in Dudley, and at Center Parcs Whinfell Forest, which was specifically chosen due to its large footprint, with longer distances between kitchen and tables.

On average, each day the robots travel 6.2km, complete 257 tasks, and ‘work’ for five and a half hours. Since launch, the Bots at the Whifnell Forest site have travelled more than 1,000km in total.

Alan Morgan, managing director, Las Iguanas, and CEO, The Big Table Group, said: “Las Iguanas is a fun, vibrant and innovative brand, and we’re always looking for progressive ways to deliver the best possible experience for our guests, whether that’s by exploring new technologies, or through new product development.

“With the robots quite literally doing the heavy lifting, our serving staff will have more time to do what they love, engaging with customers and delivering amazing experiences, which in turn will lead to bigger tips and better guest feedback.”

With “great demand” for Las Iguanas across the country, the business is looking to capitalise on the popularity of the brand by opening as many as 30 new restaurants in the next three years. The business is proactively speaking with landlords in a number of towns and cities about further opportunities to expand the thriving brand.

Recent openings at Elveden and Canterbury will be joined this autumn by a new site in Peterborough, with a 160-cover restaurant, bar and terrace spread across 4,500 sq ft in a historic Grade II listed building in the heart of the city centre, and early next year by a 269-cover restaurant and bar in Center Parcs Sherwood Forest.

By Matthew Neville – Correspondent, Bdaily

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