"Does it wash automatically too? Can you change the recipes?"
At the Samsung Welstory "Food Festa" held at aT Center in Yangjae-dong, Seoul on January 8, buyers bombarded staff with questions after watching an automated stir-fry robot installed in the smart kitchen cook pasta in just three minutes. Running through January 10, the event is a B2B food and beverage expo presenting solutions for the entire food service and institutional catering industry beyond food ingredient distribution.
Samsung Welstory put automation and robotics technology at the forefront, presenting cost improvement solutions for the food service industry's labor and ingredient expenses. Now in its eighth year, Food Festa saw pre-registrations increase more than 30 percent compared to last year, reflecting strong interest from industry professionals.
The biggest draw was the smart kitchen set up in the K-Catering Hall. Thirty types of automated equipment incorporating artificial intelligence and robot technology were assembled, covering the entire catering operation process from ingredient receiving to preprocessing, cooking, serving, and dishwashing. Machines perform repetitive cooking tasks, and standardized workflows and processes reduce labor dependency. Equipment for each process, from large pot stirring to frying, stir-frying, and dishwashing, was arranged along actual cooking workflow paths. Visitors watched demonstrations and asked about implementation costs and operational methods.
At the "360 Solution" booth, food service operators seeking consultations on new brand launches or store renewals lined up. The 360 Solution is a program that integrates 10 functions including marketing, information technology, sales cooperation, overseas expansion support, product research and development, and menu and operations consulting. It was introduced to reduce inefficiencies throughout the entire business process and improve profitability. Samsung Welstory also presented nine key keywords for the food service industry this year along with related cases and data, making them available for actual business strategy development.
"This event provides practical solutions to problems facing the food and beverage industry while simultaneously exploring new growth opportunities," said Song Kyu-jong, CEO of Samsung Welstory. "We hope it becomes a meaningful time to share industry insights and discover new technologies and opportunities."
The event also includes side programs such as the "2026 Korea Burger Championship" finals on January 9 and the "K-Food Service Seminar" on January 10.