See full Kanpla AI reveal

AI is coming to contract catering - but not the way you think.

Margins are shrinking. Admin is rising. Food waste is eating profits. And every year, caterers are expected to do more with less.

Contract catering has always been about people - chefs, operators, and the guests they serve. But even the most dedicated teams are constrained by the same reality: limited time, tight budgets, and data complexity.

Because for the majority of Caterers data is spread across many disconnected system and at a quantity & complexity including daily changing menus, cost prices, contract requirements etc. that means it is unmanageable in spreadsheets and that the huge value of the data is rarely utilized.

Kai (Kanpla AI) was built to solve these issues and go in and create measurable impact on the bottom line.

What We’re Building

Kai is not a single product. It’s a family of AI-powered tools designed to help caterers run smarter, more profitable operations.

We’re building three key layers of AI into the Kanpla ecosystem:

1. The Kai Agents – focused on everyday challenges like forecasting, marketing, and menu planning.

2. Improved Modules – infusing AI into our existing tools across POS, app, menus, signage, and hospitality.

3. Catering OS – the long-term vision: one system where caterers can interact with their entire tech ecosystem through chat, data, and automation.

Together, they redefine what’s possible in contract catering.

Kai Agents: AI That Works Like a Teammate

Each Kai Agent has a clear mission: reduce waste, boost margins, and free up time for what really matters.

Kai Demand Planner

Every kitchen faces the same question: how much should we cook?

The Kai Demand Planner forecasts consumption by combining historical data, menus, seasonal trends, and even weather patterns. The result is smarter production and less food waste - helping caterers protect their margins while serving with confidence.

“Most chefs still plan demand on gut instinct. Some days it works, other days it backfires. We lose money, we waste food, and it drains time. AI gives us the chance to plan ahead properly - to save time, reduce stress, and focus on cooking. That’s what chefs are here for.” - Sebastian Price, Executive Chef.

Impact: reduce waste by up to 20–25%, while increasing accuracy and consistency across locations.

Kai Marketing Agent

Marketing in contract catering is often overlooked - but it’s one of the most powerful levers for engagement and sales.

“Caterers are often juggling multiple brands, menus, and clients, all with different expectations. Combined with limited budgets and time, it’s almost impossible to go deep on every location. The result is that little marketing actually gets done - and lots of opportunities to engage guests are missed.” - Anna Heath, Head of Content at Kanpla.

Kai Marketing Agent changes that. It automates campaign creation, tailors messages for each location, and measures results - bringing the sophistication of high-street brands to workplace dining.

Impact: increase engagement and sales by 5–10%, while saving hours of manual work.

Kai Menu Agent

Behind every menu lies a balancing act - between creativity, cost, nutrition, and guest satisfaction.

“Kai Menu Agent helps chefs plan smarter. It combines cost and nutrition data with insights on sales, feedback, and trends. The chef still makes the creative decisions, but AI helps spot opportunities they might miss.” - Robert Wolf, CTO and Co-founder of Kanpla.

From suggesting menu swaps that improve margins, to recommending dishes that align with health goals, Kai Menu Agent brings data-driven creativity to every kitchen.

Impact: increase customer satisfaction by up to 10%, boost gross margins by 2–4%.

AI Infused Across all Kanpla Modules

AI isn’t limited to the new Kai Agents. It’s becoming part of every Kanpla module - from the guest app and menus to signage, POS, and hospitality.

“Every part of the Kanpla experience will benefit from AI. From writing on-brand dish descriptions to translating menus and tagging items automatically, we’re making sure AI helps caterers deliver faster, more personal experiences - without adding complexity.” - Toby Bonnett, Head of Innovation.

This means a Kanpla-powered location will continuously get smarter over time.

Menus will be able to automatically suggest tags and allergens, generate appealing descriptions in seconds & translate the menu into any language instantly.

The guest app becomes more personalized too - learning preferences, recommending meals with AI-upselling, and even helping guests track health goals when they buy food from their restaurant.

Hospitality modules gain smart recommendations for meeting orders, events, and catering setups - transforming booking into an assistant-driven experience.

It’s all designed around one principle: speed, accuracy, and personalization for every customer interaction.

Catering OS: The Future of Digital Catering

The next step in this journey is Catering OS - the system that connects every part of catering technology in one place.

“We’ve spent years building tools that help caterers sell, serve, and operate better. Now, we’re bringing them together into one connected system. Catering OS is where every piece of data, every action, and every decision comes together — giving caterers the full picture in real time.” - Jonas Gøttler, COO & Co-founder at Kanpla

Catering OS brings everything together:

• A single homepage for chefs, site managers, and operators.

• Smart shortcuts that make daily work faster.

• Chat-based commands that let users interact directly with data: “How did my revenue look last week?” or “Can you help me create a new promotion?”

It’s the bridge between data and action - built to help caterers move from insight to impact in a single step.

Looking Ahead

The first Kai Agents are rolling out with beta customers now. More features and a full Catering OS launch are planned for 2026.

“We’re only scratching the surface. But we believe AI will be vital for the future of catering - and we’re excited to shape that future together with the industry.” - Jonas Gøttler, COO and Co-founder of Kanpla.