Press Release

Dubai, UAE, 15 December 2022: Americana Restaurants, the largest out-of-home dining and quick service restaurant operator in the Middle East, North Africa and Kazakhstan, has re-launched beloved burger brand, Wimpy, in the UAE. Wimpy’s inaugural location at the Dubai Mall food court will showcase a first-of-its-kind robot, Flippy 2, cooking in the kitchen.

Designed by Miso Robotics, a US-based company transforming the restaurant industry through robotics and intelligent automation, Flippy 2 is a customizable robotics solution that can automate a range of cooking tasks in restaurants and support in consistency and accuracy efforts at the fry station. The innovative robotic solution is deployed at Wimpy’s new location as part of the restaurant’s vision to become the leading, tech-first burger brand in the Middle East.

Amarpal Sandhu, CEO of Americana Restaurants, commented:

“We are very excited to be reintroducing burger lovers in the UAE to Wimpy, one of the world’s pioneering American burger joints. Wimpy’s strategy is simple: serve great-tasting burgers and chicken sandwiches fast, at an affordable price and thanks to our scale we can do that without compromising on quality. Wimpy is a true disruptor in the specialty smash burger segment – we jokingly say that consumers in the UAE can now enjoy delicious juicy burgers without breaking the bank”.

Mike Bell, CEO of Miso Robotics, said:

“Americana Restaurants’ push to scale robotics in their operations is a testament to their superb operating capability in the MENA region. The time is now to take Flippy global, and Americana Restaurants’ commitment to our technology will be a gamechanger for customers and operators alike.”

Wimpy aims to disrupt the industry with great tasting burgers at affordable prices. Using 100% fresh beef, hand-breading the chicken fillet, and making every sandwich fresh on order are just a part of what sets Wimpy apart from the competition. All About You is not just the slogan, it’s the brand ethos and way in which each customer served from the moment they walk through the doors or click to order online, to the moment they enjoy their food.

Wimpy currently has 25 restaurants across Egypt, Kuwait and now the UAE, with plans to expand further in the Gulf region. Wimpy is part of Americana Restaurants’ diverse portfolio of beloved iconic brands, which includes KFC, Pizza Hut, Hardee’s, Krispy Kreme, TGI Friday’s, Costa Coffee, Peet’s Coffee and Baskin Robbins.

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About Americana Restaurants
A master franchisee known for bringing iconic global brands such as KFC, Pizza Hut, Hardee’s, Krispy Kreme, Wimpy and TGI Friday’s to the Middle East and North Africa, Americana Restaurants is a leading F&B operator with a diverse network of quick- and full-service restaurants across twelve countries.

About Wimpy
In Bloomington Indiana, back in 1934, Edward Gold created Wimpy. A burger joint inspired by the Popeye cartoon character, Wimpy quickly expanded outside the US making a name for itself in the UK, South Africa and the Middle East. In 1969, Wimpy launched in Kuwait and introduced the region to good old American burgers. Wimpy currently has 25 restaurants across Egypt, Kuwait and now the UAE, with plans to expand further in the Gulf region.

About Miso Robotics
Miso Robotics is revolutionizing commercial foodservice through intelligent automation solutions that solve some of the largest gaps in back-of-house kitchen operations. Ready to make an immediate financial impact on a restaurant’s bottom line, Miso’s AI-driven platform incorporates robotics, machine learning, computer vision and data analytics to power and develop its breakthrough products, including: Flippy 2, CookRight and Sippy.

With real industry knowledge and learnings accrued through brand partnerships over its first five years, Miso’s products are constantly evolving to drive consistency, increase productivity, reduce costs and improve the overall dining experience. Miso is now accepting new investors for its Series E round. To invest in the future of restaurant automation, visit: https://invest.misorobotics.com.

Americana Press Contact
Sarah Al Kandari
salkandari@americana-food.com

Miso Robotics Press Contact
Joey Telucci, Golin
(650) 291-0086
jtelucci@golin.com