Cargill teams up with Frontline International on automated cooking oil management system

Cargill has announced that it has joined with Frontline International to develop the Kitchen Controller end-to-end, automated oil management system, for use in the foodservice industry.

The state-of-the-art solution leverages Cargill’s foodservice experience and oil quality knowledge with Frontline International’s Smart Oil Management equipment expertise and customer relationships, providing foodservice operators with an integrated, intelligent approach to oil management.

“Proper oil management can have a huge impact on product quality and production costs. Identifying the best times to safely filter and replace oil has significant benefits, yet too often, kitchen staff end up guessing when to do these critical tasks,” says Mike Christensen, foodservice category leader for Cargill’s global edible oils business. “The Kitchen Controller system will be the first of several solutions we’re working on to address industry challenges and help shape foodservice kitchens of the future.”

The Kitchen Controller system automates the oil filtering and replacement process. A fry vat sensor gathers oil quality data, which is then analyzed by the Kitchen Controller proprietary software and fed to a touchscreen pad. Kitchen staff use green, yellow and red on-screen indicators on the touchpad to take action with the oil, ensuring consistency and quality of fried foods and improves profitability.

“The collaboration between Frontline International and Cargill is a critical component of a multiyear strategic plan for business growth driven by our ongoing investment in emerging technology in commercial foodservice,” says John Palazzo, president and chief executive officer, Frontline International. “Value is achieved when cooking oil is viewed as more than a commodity, but a key driver of brand value and bottom-line benefit. The Kitchen Controller system literally puts operators in control of their investment in cooking oil.”

The Kitchen Controller oil management system is the first digital solution offered to foodservice operators under the new Cargill Serve umbrella, an initiative to help customers streamline kitchen management. Other Cargill Serve tools are already in development, including the Kitchen Trainer oil management training program designed for foodservice employees and the Kitchen Advisor app that recommends prescriptive oil management actions to kitchen staff, both of which will be available to foodservice customers later this year.