Foodservice Mattson Launches Chef Insights AI & ProtoThink AI for Innovation
Innovation firm Mattson is proud to introduce the foodservice industry to Chef Insights AI, a purpose-built artificial intelligence model designed to revolutionize culinary innovation. This powerful AI tool includes 40 chef personas, each possessing decades of experience across various foodservice sectors, from quick-service restaurants (QSR) and fast-casual dining to non-commercial operations and bars. Chef Insights AI provides invaluable guidance and exploration in multiple areas, including:
- Instant collaboration with 40 highly experienced chefs
- Global culinary and trend insights
- Innovative concept development for menus, foodservice, and consumer packaged goods (CPG) products
- Flavor exploration
- Naming of menu items and products
With its expansive capabilities, Chef Insights AI is set to become an essential tool for menu innovation, operational strategies, and foodservice development.
One of the core challenges in foodservice innovation has always been the ability to gather deep insights from a broad range of culinary professionals. Historically, engaging with a diverse group of operators has been both time-consuming and costly. Recruiting, scheduling, and gathering insights from a representative sample of chefs across various sectors is logistically complex. This is where Mattson’s Chef Insights AI fills a critical gap.
As a Silicon Valley-based company, Mattson has been a leading force in food and beverage innovation for over 47 years. With a strong history of serving the foodservice sector, the firm is now leveraging AI to enhance the industry’s ability to innovate more effectively. Their AI tools are designed to support professionals ranging from chefs and menu developers to marketers and insight analysts.
To showcase the transformative power of Mattson’s AI capabilities, the company will be hosting an exclusive event at the Mattson Innovation Center in Chicago. The event, titled “Meet the Chefs of Mattson Chef Insights AI,” will take place during the same week as the National Restaurant Association Show. Industry professionals will have the opportunity to experience firsthand how Chef Insights AI, in conjunction with ProtoThink Foodservice AI, can enhance the ideation and conceptual development process.
At the event, guests will participate in a hands-on demonstration of Chef Insights AI and ProtoThink Foodservice AI. These AI-driven tools will help attendees generate insights for creating new food or beverage products and menu items. The event will also serve as an opportunity to highlight Mattson’s continued commitment to foodservice innovation since launching its AI services in 2024.
“We’ve been a trusted partner to the foodservice industry for more than 47 years,” said Barb Stuckey, a 28-year veteran at Mattson. “Now, with our new AI tools, we’re able to support foodservice professionals responsible for driving innovation—including both operators and suppliers. We welcome them all to explore what’s possible with Chef Insights AI.”
What makes this event truly unique is that attendees will get to experience AI-driven menu development in action. The food and beverage offerings served at the event will be curated using Chef Insights AI and brought to life by Mattson’s culinary team. This immersive experience will provide a literal taste of how AI can influence and enhance food and beverage creation.
One of the standout advantages of Chef Insights AI is its ability to provide expert-level guidance in real time, eliminating the typical constraints of human scheduling and consultation fees. This AI-driven model is unmatched in terms of speed, engagement, and cost-effectiveness. It offers a revolutionary way to gain deeper insights into guest preferences, operator behaviors, and industry trends—all in a fraction of the time and cost required by traditional market research methods.
Mattson’s AI models pull from a vast array of data sources, including websites, blogs, social media, scientific papers, and recipes. This enables the AI to generate rapid and comprehensive intelligence tailored to foodservice needs. The integration of such expansive data allows for holistic market insights that would be otherwise unattainable through conventional research approaches.
Steve Gundrum, Mattson’s Chief AI Officer, has dedicated the past eight years to demystifying artificial intelligence for Mattson clients and the broader food and beverage industry. As a recognized subject matter expert in AI, Gundrum has been instrumental in developing custom AI models for Mattson’s clientele across both CPG and foodservice sectors.
“Chef Insights AI is the first innovation service specifically leveraging AI for the culinary and menu development needs of foodservice operators and suppliers,” said Gundrum. “This AI model is built to empower foodservice professionals with unprecedented access to expert insights, enabling them to create, refine, and optimize food and beverage offerings like never before.”
In combination with Mattson’s ProtoThink Foodservice AI, Chef Insights AI is poised to revolutionize menu strategy, product development, and restaurant concept creation. ProtoThink Foodservice AI serves as an additional layer of intelligence, amplifying the insights derived from Chef Insights AI and translating them into actionable innovation strategies.
Mattson’s AI-driven approach is designed to help clients refine their ideation processes, enhance competitive analysis, and develop more effective innovation strategies. According to Justin Shimek, CEO and Chairman of the Board at Mattson, leveraging AI in this way fosters greater opportunities for growth.
“This approach enables our clients to develop well-informed ideation strategies, improve their competitive positioning, and drive forward-thinking innovation,” said Shimek. “Using AI in this way provides an unparalleled advantage, delivering the fuel necessary for future growth.”
As AI continues to evolve, its role in foodservice innovation will only expand. Mattson’s introduction of Chef Insights AI marks a significant milestone in how technology is applied to culinary creativity, menu development, and operational strategy.
The upcoming event in Chicago is a key opportunity for foodservice professionals to see these AI models in action. Attendees will gain direct experience with AI-driven food and beverage development and have the chance to interact with Mattson’s team of experts. This event will not only highlight AI’s potential but also demonstrate how Chef Insights AI can serve as a valuable asset for industry leaders looking to stay ahead of the curve.
For those interested in pushing the boundaries of foodservice innovation, Chef Insights AI offers an exciting glimpse into the future. By combining decades of culinary expertise with cutting-edge AI technology, Mattson is paving the way for a new era of smarter, faster, and more impactful menu and product development.
Stay tuned for more updates from Mattson as they continue to redefine foodservice innovation through AI.
