CPK Deploys Automated Pizza Kiosks at U.S. Military Bases

By Daniel Okafor

California Pizza Kitchen plans to place hundreds of automated pizza kiosks on U.S. military installations, serving the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. The machines use Turbochef-powered cooking and touch-screen technology to bake a fresh CPK pizza in as little as 90 seconds. Service members get a hot meal on base or at sea.

CPK is running the deployment with Ranger Group, led by CEO Mark "Ranger" Jones, a U.S. Army Ranger veteran. Ranger Group will coordinate with CPK and military stakeholders on installation logistics and ongoing operational support.

"As a veteran myself, I'm personally proud to bring our restaurant-quality pizzas directly to the places where our service members work and train," said Michael Beacham, president of California Pizza Kitchen Global. "This initiative is both an expression of our gratitude and a meaningful step forward in our mission to make the California Pizza Kitchen experience more accessible wherever people are."

How the rollout works

The deployment is phased. It starts with domestic installations and could expand to additional military locations, including overseas facilities. Ranger Group handles the coordination work: getting machines placed, keeping them running, and managing relationships with base stakeholders.

Jones framed the deal in personal terms.

"As a former U.S. Army Ranger, I know how much a great meal made with quality ingredients can mean to service members and their families after a long day of training or duty," Jones said. "This partnership with California Pizza Kitchen is personal to me. We are bringing an iconic American brand to the places where military personnel and their families work, live and serve, giving them convenient access to quality food and showing our appreciation for their sacrifice."

What does this change for CPK's retail strategy?

It extends a bigger automation bet. CPK aims to operate up to 1,000 machines nationwide over the next three years in airports, universities, hospitals and other high-traffic locations. The military program adds a channel with captive, high-frequency audiences — and one where fresh hot food has been scarce. For a brand built on restaurants and grocery shelves, the kiosks push CPK into automated retail at scale.

The company has practice reaching shoppers outside its dining rooms. Founded in 1985 and based in Costa Mesa, California, CPK operates restaurants in 25 U.S. states and nine countries and territories. It has been a premium brand in the frozen pizza grocery aisle for more than 25 years, and it sells branded salad dressings and noodle sauces. Refrigerated salads are headed to the aisle in 2027.

Why the 90-second machine matters

Speed is the mechanism here. A Turbochef oven plus a touch screen turns a full-service restaurant brand into a vending product. No kitchen, no staff on site, no wait. That combination fits the constraints of a military base — tight schedules, limited dining hours, remote posts — better than almost any conventional format.

The domestic installations come first. If the model performs there, overseas facilities are next in line, and CPK moves closer to its 1,000-machine target.