Metafoodx Integrates With Illumia (formerly Transact + CBORD) Platform to Cut Food Waste
Updated: 3 days ago
New integration links NetMenu planning data with Metafoodx scanning technology to reduce overproduction and improve planning
San Jose, Calif., March 19, 2026 – Metafoodx announced a new platform integration with Illumia (formerly Transact + CBORD), bringing food waste tracking and production insights to dining operations across higher education, healthcare, and senior living.
Food waste remains a persistent challenge for large foodservice operations. According to ReFED, more than 12.7 million tons of surplus food were generated by the U.S. foodservice sector in 2023, representing over 17 percent of total food waste. One reason food waste adds up is that it is hard to see what food is actually prepared, left over, or discarded during service.
Metafoodx customers have reported results including a 500%+ return on investment at Pomona College. The combined solution supports batch cooking, buffet service, catering, and retail dining, enabling operators to review menu-item-level trends and identify items that consistently generate excess leftovers.
The integration further simplifies the operation's workflow with Metafoodx pulling data and staying aligned with menu plans from NetMenu. By pairing NetMenu planning, recipe, and nutrition data with real-world production and waste data, kitchens can identify overproduction and plan menus more accurately, without adding work for staff.
“Dining teams already rely on NetMenu to plan menus and manage nutrition, compliance, and costs,” said Fengmin Gong, co-founder and CEO of Metafoodx. “This integration connects those plans to actual outcomes from the service line and the plate, helping teams reduce overproduction, improve planning accuracy, and realize measurable cost savings over time.”
Designed for high-volume dining environments, the integration fits into existing workflows without requiring teams to change how they plan menus or manage costs. By keeping planning data aligned and adding visibility into production outcomes, the combined solution helps operators make incremental improvements over time, rather than relying on guesswork or manual tracking.
“Our customers are looking for solutions that fit into existing operations and deliver clear value,” said Chris Setcos, SVP, Partnerships and M&A. “By connecting Illumia data with Metafoodx, dining teams gain a more complete picture of food production outcomes without added administrative burden."
The NetMenu and Metafoodx integration is now available to all clients.
Related reading: Metafoodx is Headed to Transact Campus and CBORD 2026 · Food Waste on College Campuses · College Dining Food Waste · Plate Waste Tracking: What Guests Leave Behind
About Metafoodx
Metafoodx is a patented, AI-powered food operations platform that helps commercial kitchens reduce food waste, optimize production, and support sustainability through real-time data and automation. Trusted by Fortune 500 companies, leading universities, and foodservice providers, Metafoodx delivers measurable results, including a 500%+ return on investment at Pomona College. Metafoodx is a recipient of multiple industry honors, including the 2025 Kitchen Innovations Award from the National Restaurant Association, the 2025 AI for Good Award from The Cloud Awards, the 2025 Next Big Things in Tech Award from Fast Company, the Editor’s Top Pick for Industry Innovation Leaders from Food & Beverage Magazine and the City of San José AI Incentive Grant.
About Illumia
Illumia (formerly Transact + CBORD), a business unit of Roper Technologies (Nasdaq: ROP), powers the payments, access, foodservice, and credentialing systems that more than 10,000 higher education, healthcare, and senior living institutions depend on every day. Its unified platform delivers the stability, security, and reliability these environments demand—where downtime is not an option. Illumia transforms the experiences organizations deliver to their communities while modernizing how those organizations operate. For more information, visit illumiatech.com.
Metafoodx is a food operations intelligence platform that captures the food journey from prep to plate, so foodservice teams can lower food cost, produce more accurately, and prevent waste before it happens. Ready to see how we can help transform your food service operation? Book a demo with our team today.
