Marc Lore’s Wonder Unveils Automated Bowl-Making Tech Aimed at Revolutionizing Fast-Casual Dining
Entrepreneur Marc Lore, founder of food-tech startup Wonder, highlighted the company’s “infinite bowl-making machine” at the Fortune Brainstorm Tech conference, claiming it can produce 500 customized salads, Tex-Mex, and poke bowls per hour with precision. “A human worker can’t compare,” Lore said, citing a maximum of 30-45 bowls per hour for a single employee. The technology, acquired from salad chain Sweetgreen, uses a turntable system to dispense ingredients based on orders from an online app, ensuring “no errors” in customization, according to Lore.
How the Infinite Bowl Machine Works and Its Impact on Operations
The automated system, already deployed in 32 Sweetgreen locations, will debut in Wonder’s first dedicated kitchen next month. Each bowl is assembled with exact specifications, including personalized macros, reducing waste and labor costs. Lore emphasized that the technology allows Wonder to operate 26 restaurant brands—from Bobby Flay’s steakhouse to Chinese and Thai food—in a single kitchen, lowering prices by consolidating profit pools. A 10-ounce steak, for instance, costs $36, while bowls are priced under $10.
“We can stay open until 2 a.m. in the suburbs with three people,” Lore said, explaining that one staff member handles calls, another finishes dishes, and a third manages delivery handoffs. This model targets areas without the population to support traditional fast-casual chains like Chipotle, according to the company.
Wonder’s Expansion Strategy and AI-Driven Restaurant Creation
Wonder’s acquisition of GrubHub in 2025 for $650 million—though the deal’s details remain unclear—aims to streamline delivery, while its “Wonder Create” platform lets users design restaurant concepts via AI prompts. Describing the tool as “Shopify on steroids,” Lore said users can generate branded concepts, menus, and pricing in two minutes for a $10 monthly fee. “You don’t have to do anything,” he claimed.
The company is also developing an “infinite sauce machine” capable of blending 500 sauces per hour from 152 ingredients and an “infinite beverage machine” slated for 2024. These innovations, Lore argued, create a “competitive moat” against AI disruption, though the exact technical specifications remain unverified.
Public Company Ambitions and Market Challenges
Lore, who previously sold Diapers.com and Jet to Amazon and Walmart for $3.8 billion, is pursuing an IPO for Wonder, though he acknowledged market conditions will influence timing. “We are going to be ready to go public early next year,” he said, without specifying a date. The company’s $650 million GrubHub acquisition, however, has not been independently confirmed, raising questions about its financial structure.
Analysts note Wonder’s model faces hurdles, including regulatory scrutiny of its consolidation strategy and competition from established players. “The key will be proving scalability in underserved markets,” said Sarah Lin, a food industry analyst at Bernstein. “But the automation angle could attract investors looking for efficiency gains.”
Why This Matters for the Future of Food Service
Wonder’s approach reflects a broader trend in food-tech, where automation and AI aim to cut costs and personalize dining. However, challenges remain, including consumer trust in fully automated kitchens and the environmental impact of high-volume production. The company’s success could set a precedent for how fast-casual chains adapt to labor shortages and shifting demand.
As Lore envisions a “household name” for Wonder, the startup’s next steps—particularly its IPO and expansion of automated systems—will be closely watched by investors and competitors alike.