Juniper
(left to right)
Brian Ding, Director of Gene Tech Sdn. Bhd.; Datin Christina Toh Lai Fong, Director of Tourism Malaysia; Lee Kim Seong, Managing Director Strategic Alliance Emerging Business Division at OCBC Bank; Ethan Choong, Chief Executive Officer of Ping Edge Technology Berhad (Kitchen Arena); Edwin Lai, Director of Brilliant Exhibitions Sdn Bhd
Malaysia’s restaurant, hotel and commercial kitchen operators will get a first-hand look at how robotics, automation and new foodservice solutions could improve productivity, consistency and day-to-day operations when Taste & Trade 360 (TT360) 2026 returns for its third edition at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) from 5–7 November 2026, bringing Malaysian manufacturers, distributors and
solution providers together with international technology players under one roof.
Supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC), TT360 2026 will give businesses the opportunity to experience emerging technologies first-hand, meet the companies behind them and assess how these solutions could fit their own operations. Organised by Brilliant Exhibitions Sdn Bhd, TT360 2026 will place robotics and automation at the centre of this year’s exhibition, reflecting growing interest in improving productivity, consistency and efficiency across commercial kitchens.
Ethan Choong, Chief Executive Officer of Ping Edge Technology Berhad (Kitchen Arena), the main sponsor of TT360 2026, said, “F&B operators are hearing a lot about automation, but the more important question is what it can actually do for their businesses. Advanced kitchen equipment and innovative technology play an important role in helping foodservice operators achieve greater consistency, higher food quality and more efficient high-volume production, while also helping address labour shortages, reduce dependency on skilled manpower and improve overall kitchen productivity.
“Through TT360, we aim to introduce a wider range of advanced kitchen solutions and technologies to chefs, kitchen professionals and restaurant operators in Malaysia, while giving local manufacturers, distributors and solution providers a stronger platform to demonstrate their capabilities. As robotics and automation take on more repetitive, time-consuming and highly standardised tasks, people can focus on areas where judgement, creativity and service create greater value. Ultimately, TT360 is about empowering kitchens through technology, efficiency and consistency.”
Visitors will see this in practice through Battle of the Bots: Culinary Edition 2026, TT360’s robotic cooking competition taking place on 6 November 2026. The competition will test robotic cooking in a distinctly Malaysian context. The competition will feature X-Bot, a robotic cooking system developed by Gene Tech Sdn Bhd. The initiative brings together Gene Tech, Ping Edge and UOW Malaysia to explore how automated cooking could be applied in real foodservice environments.
Dishes will be assessed by established Malaysian culinary professionals with international competition experience, based on criteria such as taste, creativity, complexity and presentation. For restaurant owners, hoteliers and chefs, the competition will address a practical question: can emerging cooking technologies handle the flavours, techniques and operational requirements of Malaysian kitchens?
Beyond robotics, TT360 2026 will also feature an EV Food Truck, demonstrating how battery-powered vehicles could support mobile F&B operations while potentially reducing reliance on separate generators for lighting and selected onboard equipment. Together, the showcases form part of TT360’s wider focus on giving F&B businesses practical exposure to technologies, equipment and solutions that could influence how they operate, grow and compete in the years ahead.
Taste & Trade 360 2026 will take place from 5–7 November 2026 at Halls 1 and 2, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC). Trade visitor registration is available at https://register.tt360.com.my/TNT360/TradeVisitor. For more information, follow Taste & Trade 360 on Facebook at @Taste & Trade 360.
