California Pizza Kitchen plans to deploy up to 1,000 automated pizza-making kiosks through a partnership with T-ROC Global, a retail technology company, according to an emailed press release. This move is expected to help the brand reach more consumers and potentially reverse its decline in store count.
The partnership will target real estate with high foot traffic, such as hospitals, hotels, and sports venues, where opening a full-sized restaurant would be impractical.
Early deployments will take place in clusters of at least 20 units across roughly 30 major U.S. markets. T-ROC will operate the automated kiosks.
CPK has lost restaurants consistently since at least 2021, when it had 167 total locations. At the start of 2026, after 10 net closures in 2025, it was down to 121 restaurants, according to its franchise disclosure documents for 2026 and 2024.
Related: Jack in the Box Names New President
This decline has been concentrated in company-operated units, while its franchised system has been relatively stable in the last half decade, never dropping below 13 or exceeding 15 stores. They have maintained a steady number of franchised locations.
The automated kiosks use Turbo-chef equipment and “data-driven intelligence” to cook restaurant-quality CPK pizzas in about 90 seconds, according to the press release. This speed, combined with a widespread rollout, will allow CPK and T-ROC to reach consumers in new locations.
CPK already has vending machines operating in several airports, and the new deal would significantly expand its ability to reach new customers, said Brett Beveridge, T-ROC’s CEO. Beveridge noted that it would introduce CPK to new occasions and venues.
“Consumers increasingly expect their favorite brands to meet them where they are, and technology is making that possible in entirely new ways,” Beveridge said in the press release.
Related: Tropical Smoothie Cafe Prioritizes Customer Experience
By combining CPK’s brand, food, and loyal following with T-ROC’s nationwide infrastructure and technology capabilities, the companies have an opportunity to build a new national distribution channel at a meaningful scale, Beveridge added. This partnership is a key part of CPK’s growth strategy.
CPK’s president, Michael Beacham, said the brand’s work on vending machines “accelerated through a partnership with T-ROC, introduces CPK to entirely new occasions and venues where consumers desire quality food on the go.”
CPK has looked to franchising as a key part of its growth strategy for years, adding a domestic program in 2021, opening itself up to refranchising in 2023, and signing a multi-unit franchise deal in Nevada last year. But these efforts have yet to result in a significant expansion.
They will continue to focus on their growth strategy, using technology to expand their reach.