Danish SaaS platform for canteen operations launches AI: “Chefs don’t become chefs by sitting in front of spreadsheets”
Today, Aarhus-based scaleup Kanpla introduces a new AI platform to modernize operations in canteens around the world. Under the name Kai, a digital helper is launched that combines artificial intelligence with five years of experience from the industry. The company announced this in a press release.
Kai is designed to handle some of the most time-consuming and data-intensive processes in modern canteen operations, such as forecasting demand, planning menus and engaging guests through targeted communication. According to Kanpla, the goal is to free up time and resources so that kitchen staff can focus on the dining experience itself.
“Used correctly, AI can remove a lot of the administrative work, make the complex simple – and give chefs and canteens time for what really matters: creating great meals and experiences,” says Jonas Gøttler, COO and co-founder of Kanpla.
AI to replace spreadsheets and gut feelings
The first features of Kai include an intelligent planner that can estimate exactly how much food to make, an agent that supports marketing, and a menu assistant that analyzes feedback, prices and trends to suggest adjustments. All features are designed to combine data-driven recommendations with human creativity in the kitchen.
“Chefs don’t become chefs to sit in front of spreadsheets. They want to cook, develop new ideas and create experiences,” says Robert Wolf, CTO and co-founder of Kanpla.
He adds:
“With Kai, we want to remove the repetitive tasks, turn data into insights – and give them back the time to do what they love.”
Created by industry experience and technology scaling
According to Kanpla, the AI solution is already in pilot with selected canteen customers and more features will be rolled out during 2026.
Since its inception in 2020, Kanpla has focused on digitizing the canteen world with a platform that is currently used in over 4,500 locations. With more than 500,000 users and a team of over 55 employees, the company bills itself as the largest dedicated software team in Europe focused on canteen operations.
With Kai, the company marks the next step in a strategy to make AI an integral part of everyday life in kitchens around the world.
“We’ve only just scratched the surface of what’s possible. But we’re convinced that AI will be crucial to the future of canteen operations – and we look forward to developing that future together with the industry,” says Jonas Gøttler.