FOOD AND BEVERAGES ORDERING, PREPARATION, MANAGEMENT AND PRICING SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20100280895A1
• Filed: 05/10/2010
• Published: 11/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nuwe Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nuwe Ltd.
• Inventors: Mottola, Sergio Michelangelo
• Application Number:
  US12/776,938
• Publication Number:
  US 20100280895A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.24
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0223 based on inventory
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/12 Hotels or restaurants
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/60 relating to nutrition control, e.g. diets
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 70/60 relating to pathologies

Abstract

A computerized food and beverages ordering apparatus implements an ordering service for meeting requirements of purchasers. A database comprises records representative of a plurality of ingredients, and at least two attributes are associated with each ingredient. One of the attributes associated to each ingredient is a nutritional parameter for a specific amount of the ingredient, and another attribute is a personal parameter. The personal parameter can be a parameter capable of describing the suitability of the associated ingredient in respect of a medical condition of a purchaser, or it can be a parameter capable of describing the suitability of the associated ingredient in respect of a taste requirement of a purchaser. A user interface is operated by, or under the instruction of, a purchaser to input an order for a meal. The meal comprises one or more of said plurality of ingredients, and each ingredient has an associated quantity. An order placement processor is connected to the user interface and to the database, and it is configured to output to the user interface at least two output parameters. One of the output parameters is a total nutritional parameter computed from the total quantities of ingredients comprised in the meal. Another output parameter is a personal parameter.

Claims

1. A computerized method of ordering a meal in combination with calculation and comparison of nutritional values of the meal, the method comprising:

providing a database comprising records representative of;

a plurality of food or beverage items,

values of at least two nutritional principles associated with each food or beverage item of said plurality of food or beverage items for a reference amount of food or beverage item,

a plurality of consumable units, wherein at least one food or beverage item can be associated to each consumable unit of said plurality of consumable units;

using a user interface to receive a selection of at least one consumable unit from said plurality of consumable units in said database;

for each selected consumable unit, using a user interface to receive a user selection of at least one food or beverage item associated with the selected consumable unit, wherein a total of at least two food or beverage items are selected, and wherein each selected food or beverage item has an associated amount;

for each selected food or beverage item, using a processor to access said database to acquire at least two values of nutritional principles, the nutritional principles for which values are acquired corresponding to at least two monitor nutritional principles common to all the selected food or beverage items;

using the processor to calculate at least two total nutritional values, each total nutritional value being given by a summation of terms, each term corresponding to a selected food or beverage item and each term being calculated by multiplying an acquired value of a nutritional principle by an associated amount of selected food or beverage item;

using the user interface to display the total nutritional values; and

using the user interface to receive an order for the meal, the meal comprising the at least two selected food or beverage items.

2. A computerized method of ordering a meal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the database comprises values of at least three nutritional principles associated with each food or beverage item of said plurality of food or beverage items for a reference amount of food or beverage item, the method further comprising:

using the user interface to receive a selection of the at least two monitor nutritional principles.

3. A computerized method of ordering a meal as claimed in claim 1, further comprising using the user interface to visualize a graphical element representative of the total nutritional values of the selection of food or beverage items.

4. A computerized method of ordering a meal as claimed in claim 3, wherein said graphical element comprises at least two shapes, each shape defining an area delimited by a perimeter, wherein each area of each shape is associated with a total nutritional value.

5. A computerized method of ordering a meal as claimed in claim 4, wherein each area of each shape changes as a function of the associated total nutritional value.

6. A computerized method of ordering a meal as claimed in claim 5, wherein the area of each shape of said graphical element changes linearly with the associated total nutritional value.

7. A computerized method of ordering a meal as claimed in claim 4, wherein the at least two shapes of said graphical element are grouped close to each other, a gap being provided between each pair of perimeters of said at least two shapes.

8. A computerized method of ordering a meal as claimed in claim 7, wherein a value measuring said gap is less than one fifth of the value of the perimeter of the shape with the smallest area.

9. A computerized method of ordering a meal as claimed in claim 4, wherein an acronym representative of a nutritional principle is displayed within an associated perimeter.

10. A computerized method of ordering a meal as claimed in claim 4, wherein the database further comprises records representative of target nutritional values for the monitor nutritional principles, the method further comprising:

using the user interface to output the target nutritional values.

11. A computerized method of ordering a meal as claimed in claim 10, further comprising:

for at least one selected consumable unit, using the user interface to confirm or cancel the selection of at least one selected food or beverage item, or to confirm or modify at least one amount of selected food or beverage item.

12. A computerized method of ordering a meal as claimed in claim 10, further comprising:

using the user interface to output an alert signal, if a total nutritional value is higher than a corresponding target nutritional value.

13. A computerized method of ordering a meal as claimed in claim 12, wherein the alert signal is obtained by causing a shape of the graphical element associated with a total nutritional value higher than a target nutritional value to flash with a preset frequency and create a blinking effect.

14. A computerized method of ordering a meal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the user interface is implemented onto a purchaser touch-screen terminal.

15. A computerized apparatus for ordering a meal and calculating nutritional values of the meal, the apparatus comprising:

a database;

a processor connected to said database;

an input device connected to said processor; and

an output device connected to said processor;

wherein the database comprises records representative of;

a plurality of food or beverage items comprised in the meal;

values of at least two nutritional principles associated with each food or beverage item of said plurality of food or beverage items for a reference amount of food or beverage item;

a plurality of consumable units, wherein at least one food or beverage item can be associated to each consumable unit of said plurality of consumable units;

wherein the input device is configured to receive a selection comprising at least one consumable unit comprising at least one food or beverage item of said plurality of food or beverage items, wherein at least two food or beverage items are selected, and is configured to transmit said selection to the processor for processing;

wherein the processor;

is programmed to receive said selection,

is programmed to access said database to acquire at least two values of nutritional principles for each food or beverage item comprised in the selection,

the nutritional principles for which values are acquired corresponding to monitor nutritional principles common to all the selected food or beverage items,

is programmed to calculate at least two total nutritional values, each total nutritional value being given by a summation of terms, each term corresponding to a food or beverage item and each term being given by multiplying an acquired value by a corresponding amount of food or beverage item, and

is programmed to output the total nutritional values to the output device;

wherein the output device is configured to display the total nutritional values; and

wherein the input device is operable to receive an order for the meal, the meal comprising at least two selected food or beverage items.

16. A computerized apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the database comprises values of at least three nutritional principles associated with each food or beverage item of said plurality of food or beverage items for a reference amount of food or beverage item, and wherein the input device is further configured to receive a selection of the at least two monitor nutritional principles.

17. A computerized apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the processor is further programmed to generate a graphical element representative of the total nutritional values of the selection of food or beverage items, and is programmed to transmit said graphical element to the output device, and wherein the output device is configured to display the graphical element.

18. A computerized apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the graphical element comprises at least two shapes, each shape defining an area delimited by a perimeter, wherein each area of each shape is associated with a total nutritional value.

19. A computerized apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the database further comprises records representative of target nutritional values for the monitor nutritional principles, wherein the processor is further programmed to acquire from said database the target nutritional values corresponding to the monitor nutritional principles and to send to the output device the acquired target nutritional values, and wherein the output device is further configured to output the target nutritional values.

20. A computerized apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the processor is further programmed to generate an alert if a total nutritional value is higher than a target nutritional value, and is further programmed to transmit said alert to the output device, and wherein the output device is further configured to output said alert.

21. A computerized apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein either or both the input device;

and

the output device;

is or are implemented on a touch-screen terminal.

22. A computerized food and beverages ordering apparatus for implementing an ordering service for meeting nutritional requirements of purchasers, the apparatus comprising:

a database comprising records representative of a plurality of ingredients, wherein at least two attributes are associated with each ingredient, one of the at least two attributes being a nutritional parameter for a specific amount of ingredient, and another of the at least two attributes being a personal parameter, said personal parameter being;

a parameter capable of describing the suitability of each ingredient associated with a medical condition of a user;

or

a parameter capable of describing the suitability of each ingredient associated with a taste requirement of a user;

a user interface operable by, or under the instruction of, a purchaser to receive an order for a meal, the meal comprising one or more of said plurality of ingredients, each ordered ingredient having an associated quantity; and

an order placement engine connected to said user interface and to said database, the order placement engine configured to send to an output user interface at least two output parameters, one of the at least two output parameters being a total nutritional parameter computed from the or a total quantity of respectively the or an ingredient comprised in the meal, and another output parameter of the at least two output parameters being a personal parameter.

23. A computerized food and beverages ordering apparatus as claimed in claim 22, the apparatus further comprising the output user interface and wherein the user interface and the output user interface are integrated into an input/output user interface.

24. A computerized food and beverages ordering apparatus as claimed in claim 23, wherein the input/output user interface is implemented onto a touch-screen terminal.

25. A computerized food and beverages ordering apparatus as claimed in claim 24, further comprising a staff user interface connected to said touch-screen terminal and configured to receive the order for the meal.

26. A computerized food and beverages ordering apparatus as claimed in claim 25,

wherein the database further comprises a record representative of the meal, said record comprising a set of instructions for preparing the meal by cooking, or assembling, or preparing the ingredients comprised in the meal in any other way, and the apparatus further comprising:

an order fulfilment engine connected to the database and configured for retrieving said set of instructions from the database;

wherein the staff user interface is connected to said order fulfilment engine to receive said set of instructions for preparing the meal, and is configured to output the order for the meal and corresponding set of instructions to operators of the food and beverages ordering apparatus.

27. A computerized food and beverages ordering apparatus as claimed in claim 26, the apparatus further comprising:

a stock database comprising records representative of ingredients, each record comprising a value representative of a stocked total quantity of respective ingredient available to be ordered,

wherein the stock database is connected to the user interface, and

wherein each associated total quantity of each ingredient comprised in the meal is comprised in the stocked total quantity of corresponding ingredient.

28. A computerized food and beverages ordering apparatus as claimed in claims 26, the apparatus further comprising:

a stock database comprising records representative of ingredients, each record comprising a value representative of a stocked total quantity of respective ingredient available to be ordered,

wherein the stock database is connected to the user interface, and to the order fulfilment engine,

wherein each associated total quantity of each ingredient comprised in the meal is comprised in the stocked total quantity of corresponding ingredient, and

wherein the order fulfilment engine is configured to update, in the stock database, at least one value representative of a stocked total quantity of an ingredient comprised in the meal.

29. A computerized food and beverages ordering apparatus as claimed in claim 28, wherein the order fulfilment engine is configured to perform the update of the at least one value representative of a stocked total quantity of an ingredient comprised in the meal by subtracting therefrom the associated total quantity of corresponding ingredient.

30. A user interface operable by, or under the instruction of, a purchaser to receive an input of an order for a meal, the user interface for use with:

a database comprising records representative of a plurality of ingredients comprising each ingredient comprised in the meal, the meal comprising at least one ingredient, each ingredient having an associated quantity, wherein at least two attributes are associated with each ingredient, one of the at least two attributes being a nutritional parameter for a specific amount of each ingredient, and another of the at least two attributes being a personal parameter, said personal parameter being;

a parameter capable of describing the suitability of each ingredient associated with a medical condition of a user;

or

a parameter capable of describing the suitability of each ingredient associated with a taste requirement of a user; and

the user interface for use with an order placement engine connected to the database and configured to retrieve at least one output parameter in response to an order for a meal, each output parameter being a total nutritional parameter calculated from each quantity of ingredient comprised in the meal and respective nutritional parameter for a specific amount of ingredient stored in said database, or a personal parameter,

wherein the user interface is configured to transmit the order for the meal to the order placement engine, is configured to receive from the order placement engine at least one output parameter, and is configured to output to the purchaser each output parameter, and

wherein the user interface is configured to receive a confirmation or modification of the order for the meal in response to the output to the purchaser of each output parameter.

31. A user interface as claimed in claim 30, wherein the user interface is configured to receive a selection of at least one desired output parameter, each desired output parameter being a total nutritional parameter computed from each quantity of ingredient comprised in the meal and from respective nutritional parameter for a specific amount of ingredient stored in said database, or a personal parameter, is configured to transmit to the order placement engine a request of each desired output parameter, is configured to receive from the order placement engine each desired output parameter and is configured to output to the purchaser each desired output parameter;

and

wherein the user interface is configured to receive a confirmation or modification of the order for the meal in response to the output to the purchaser of each desired output parameter.

32. A user interface as claimed in claim 31, wherein the database further comprises records representative of a plurality of values of purchaser target output parameters, each purchaser target output parameter being associated with a respective output parameter, and wherein the user interface is further configured to receive back from the order placement engine a value of a purchaser target output parameter for each selected desired output parameter, and is configured to output to the purchaser each value of each received purchaser target output parameter, and wherein the user interface is configured to receive a confirmation or modification of the order for the meal in response to the output to the purchaser of each value of each purchaser target output parameter.

33. A user interface as claimed in claim 32, for use also with:

a card reader and a purchaser loyalty card,

wherein at least one among;

the order for the meal,

a desired output parameter, and

a value of a purchaser target output parameter,

is stored in the purchaser card, and

wherein the interface is configured to receive an upload from the card reader of at least one among;

the order for the meal,

a desired output parameter, and

a value of a purchaser target output parameter.

34. A user interface as claimed in claim 30 for use also with:

a stock database comprising records representative of ingredients, each record comprising a value representative of a stocked total quantity of respective ingredient available to be ordered,

wherein the user interface is further connected to the stock database and is further operable by, or under the instruction of, a purchaser to receive up to a maximum total quantity of each ingredient comprised in the meal, each maximum total quantity being comprised in the stocked total quantity of corresponding ingredient in the stock database.

35. A computerized method of ordering food and beverages according to personal requirements, the method comprising:

providing a database comprising records representative of a plurality of ingredients, wherein at least two attributes are associated with each ingredient, one of the at least two attributes being a nutritional parameter for a specific amount of each corresponding ingredient, and another of the at least two attributes being a personal parameter, said personal parameter being;

a parameter capable of describing the suitability of each ingredient associated with a medical condition of a user;

or

a parameter capable of describing the suitability of each ingredient associated with a taste requirement of a user;

using a user interface to receive a proposed order for a meal, the meal comprising one or more ingredients, each ingredient having an associated quantity;

using the user interface to select at least one desired output parameter, the desired output parameter being a total nutritional parameter computed from each quantity of ingredient comprised in the meal and from respective nutritional parameter for a specific amount of ingredient stored in the database, or a personal parameter;

using an ordering processor to retrieve information about the proposed order, said information comprising at least the desired output parameter and to output said information to the user interface.

36. A computerized method of ordering food and beverages according to claim 35, further comprising:

using the user interface to receive a change in at least one ingredient in the proposed order;

using the ordering processor to retrieve information about the proposed order based on the changed proposed order;

using the ordering processor to output said information about the changed proposed order to the user interface; and

transmitting the proposed order or the changed proposed order to a staff user interface for fulfilment of the transmitted order.

37. A computerized food and beverages preparation station for preparing a meal, the meal comprising one or more ingredients, each ingredient having an associated quantity, the station comprising:

a meal preparation unit comprising quantities of a plurality of ingredients and equipment required for preparing meals, said quantities comprising each quantity of each ingredient comprised in the meal,

a database comprising records representative of said quantities of a plurality of ingredients stocked at the meal preparation unit, and records representative of recipes, each recipe comprising a set of instructions for preparing a meal, said recipe records comprising at least one record representative of a recipe for preparing the meal; and

a meal preparation engine, the meal preparation engine connected to the database, and configured to output a recipe for the meal to a staff user interface for an operator of the meal preparation unit, wherein each record representative of each quantity of each ingredient comprised in the meal is configured for being updated in the database by the meal preparation engine when the meal is prepared at the meal preparation unit.

38. A computerized food and beverages preparation station as claimed in claim 37, wherein the database further comprises records representative of an expiry time of said quantities of a plurality of ingredients stocked at the meal preparation unit, and wherein the meal preparation engine is further configured to output an alert to the staff user interface for an operator of the meal preparation unit when at least one ingredient comprised in the meal is expired.

39. A computerized food and beverages preparation station as claimed in claim 37, wherein the database further comprises records representative of minimum quantities of said quantities of a plurality of ingredients stocked at the meal preparation unit, and wherein the meal preparation engine is further configured to generate a replenishment order and to output said replenishment order to the staff user interface for an operator of the meal preparation unit when a quantity of an ingredient of said plurality of ingredients stocked at the meal preparation unit is below an associated minimum quantity.

40. A computerized food and beverages preparation station as claimed in claim 37, wherein the database further comprises records representative of an expiry time of said quantities of a plurality of ingredients stocked at the meal preparation unit, wherein the database further comprises records representative of minimum quantities of said quantities of a plurality of ingredients stocked at the meal preparation unit, and wherein the meal preparation engine is further configured to generate a replenishment order and to output said replenishment order to the staff user interface for an operator of the meal preparation unit when:

at least one ingredient comprised in the meal is expired;

or

when a quantity of an ingredient of said plurality of ingredients stocked at the meal preparation unit is below an associated minimum quantity.

41. A computerized food and beverages ordering and preparation apparatus for ordering and preparing a meal, the apparatus comprising:

a meal preparation unit comprising quantities of a plurality of ingredients and equipment required for preparing meals;

a database comprising records representative of said quantities of a plurality of ingredients stocked at the meal preparation unit, and records representative of recipes, each recipe comprising a set of instructions for preparing a meal, said recipe records comprising at least one record representative of a recipe for preparing the meal, wherein at least one attribute is associated with each ingredient of said plurality of ingredients, each attribute being a nutritional parameter for a specific amount of ingredient, or a personal parameter, said personal parameter being;

a parameter capable of describing the suitability of each ingredient associated with a medical condition of a user;

or

a parameter capable of describing the suitability of each ingredient associated with a taste requirement of a user,

the apparatus further comprising;

a user interface operable by, or under the instruction of, a purchaser to input an order for the meal, the meal comprising one or more stocked ingredients, each ordered ingredient having an associated quantity comprised in the quantities of the plurality of ingredients stocked at the meal preparation station;

an order placement engine connected to said user interface for receiving the order for the meal and connected to said database, the order placement engine configured to send to an output user interface at least one output parameter, each output parameter being a total nutritional parameter computed from each total quantity of each stocked ingredient comprised in the meal, or a personal parameter; and

a meal preparation engine, the meal preparation engine connected to the database, and configured to send a recipe for the meal to a staff user interface for an operator of the meal preparation unit, wherein each record representative of each quantity of each ingredient comprised in the meal is updated in the database by the meal preparation engine when the recipe for the meal is sent to the staff user interface.

42. A computerized food and beverages ordering and preparation apparatus as claimed in claim 41, wherein the records representative of the quantities of stocked ingredients are updated in the database by subtracting the value of each total quantity of each ingredient comprised in the meal from the value of the quantity of the corresponding ingredient stoked at the meal preparation station.

43. A computerized food and beverages ordering and preparation apparatus as claimed in claim 41, wherein the user interface and the output interface are integrated into an input/output interface.

44. A computerized food and beverages ordering and preparation apparatus as claimed in claim 41, wherein the database further comprises records representative of an expiry time of said quantities of a plurality of ingredients stocked at the meal preparation unit, and wherein the user interface is operable to receive an order for the meal, the meal comprising one or more stocked ingredients having an expiry time later than a time when the order for the meal is transmitted from the user interface to the order placement engine.

45. A computerized food and beverages ordering and preparation apparatus as claimed in claim 43, further comprising the staff user interface, the staff user interface being connected to said input/output interface and configured to receive the order for the meal.

46. A user interface operable by, or under the instruction of, an operator of a meal preparation station to process an order for a meal, the user interface for use with:

a database comprising records representative of a plurality of quantities of ingredients stocked at the meal preparation station, said records comprising at least one record representative of one quantity of one ingredient stocked at the meal preparation station and comprised in the ordered meal, the ordered meal comprising at least one ingredient, each ingredient having an associated quantity, and the ordered meal comprising at least one ingredient stocked at the meal preparation station, and records representative of recipes, each recipe comprising a set of instructions for preparing a meal, wherein at least one record of recipe comprises a set of instructions for preparing the ordered meal;

a meal preparation engine connected to the user interface and connected to said database, the meal preparation engine configured for receiving the order for the meal, and configured to retrieve from the database a recipe for the ordered meal and to update in the database each quantity of each stocked ingredient comprised in the meal;

wherein the user interface, in response to a command from the operator to process the order for the meal, is configured to transmit the order for the meal to the meal preparation engine, and is configured to receive, in response thereto, from the meal preparation engine, a recipe for the meal and to display the received recipe to the operator of the meal preparation station, and

wherein each record representative of a quantity of a stocked ingredient comprised in the meal is updated in the database by the meal preparation engine when the ordered meal is processed.

47. A user interface as claimed in claim 46, wherein the database further comprises at least one record representative of an expiry time of a quantity of a stocked ingredient comprised in the meal, and wherein the meal preparation engine is further configured to output, in response to the receipt of the order for the meal, an alert to the user interface when at least one stocked ingredient comprised in the meal is expired, wherein the user interface is configured to receive and output the alert in response to the transmission of the order for the meal to the meal preparation engine.

48. A user interface as claimed in claim 46, wherein the database further comprises a record representative of a minimum quantity of ingredient and a record representative of instructions for replenishing said minimum quantity of ingredient for each record of a quantity of ingredient stocked at the meal preparation station, and wherein the meal preparation engine is further configured to generate a replenishment order and to transmit said replenishment order to the user interface for the operator of the meal preparation station when a quantity of an ingredient stocked at the meal preparation station is below an associated minimum quantity, wherein the user interface is configured to receive said replenishment order and, in response to a command from the operator to process the replenishment order, is configured to transmit the replenishment order to the meal preparation engine, and is configured to receive, in response thereto, from the meal preparation engine, the associated instructions for replenishing said below-minimum quantity of stocked ingredient.

49. A user interface as claimed in claim 46, wherein the database further comprises a record representative of an expiry time of a quantity of ingredient for each record of a quantity of ingredient stocked at the meal preparation station, wherein the database further comprises a record representative of a minimum quantity of ingredient and a record representative of instructions for replenishing said minimum quantity of ingredient for each record of a quantity of ingredient stocked at the meal preparation station, and wherein the meal preparation engine is further configured to generate a replenishment order and to transmit said replenishment order to the user interface for the operator of the meal preparation station when:

at least one ingredient comprised in the meal has expired;

or

when a quantity of an ingredient stocked at the meal preparation station is below an associated minimum quantity,

an wherein the user interface is configured to receive said replenishment order and, in response to a command from the operator to process the replenishment order, is configured to transmit the replenishment order to the meal preparation engine, and is configured to receive, in response thereto, from the meal preparation engine, the associated instructions for replenishing said below-minimum or expired quantity of stocked ingredient.

50. A computerized method of processing an order for a meal, the method comprising:

providing a user interface and using the user interface to receive the order for the meal, the meal comprising at least one ingredient, each ingredient having an associated quantity;

providing a meal preparation station comprising quantities of a plurality of ingredients and equipment required for preparing meals, said quantities comprising each quantity of each ingredient comprised in the meal;

providing a database connected to said user interface comprising records representative of the plurality of quantities of ingredients stocked at the meal preparation station, and records representative of recipes, each recipe comprising a set of instructions for preparing a meal, said recipe records comprising at least one record representative of a recipe for preparing the meal;

providing an order fulfilment processor connected to said database and connected to said user interface, the order fulfilment processor configured to receive the order for the meal, configured to retrieve from said database said recipe for the meal, and configured to update in said database each record of each stocked ingredient comprised in the meal;

using the user interface to transmit said order for the meal to the order fulfilment processor;

using the order fulfilment processor to retrieve said recipe for the meal;

using the user interface to visualize said recipe;

preparing the meal according to said visualized recipe; and

using the order fulfilment processor to update in the database the record or records representative of the quantity or quantities of the stocked ingredient or ingredients comprised in the meal after the order for the meal has been transmitted to the order fulfilment processor.

51. A computerized method as claimed in claim 50, wherein the database further comprises a record representative of an expiry time for each quantity of said quantities of a plurality of ingredients stocked at the meal preparation station, and the method further comprising:

using the order fulfilment processor to output an alert when at least one quantity of ingredient comprised in the meal is expired.

52. A computerized method as claimed in claim 50, wherein the database further comprises a record representative of a minimum quantity for each quantity of said quantities of a plurality of ingredients stocked at the meal preparation unit, the method further comprising:

using the order fulfilment processor to generate a replenishment order when at least one quantity of an ingredient stocked at the meal preparation station is below an associated minimum quantity; and

using the order fulfilment processor to output said replenishment order to the user interface;

using the user interface to receive said replenishment order and to output said replenishment order.

53. A computerized method as claimed in claim 50, wherein the database further comprises a record representative of an expiry time of a quantity of ingredient for each of said quantities of a plurality of ingredients stocked at the meal preparation unit, wherein the database further comprises records representative of a minimum quantity for each quantity of ingredient stocked at the meal preparation station, the method further comprising:

using the order fulfilment processor to generate a replenishment order when at least one quantity of an ingredient stocked at the meal preparation station is below an associated minimum quantity or when at least one quantity of ingredient stocked at the meal preparation station is expired;

using the order fulfilment processor to output said replenishment order to the user interface;

using the user interface to receive said replenishment order and to output said replenishment order.

54. A computerized method of ordering and preparing a meal according to personal requirements, the method comprising:

providing an ingredients database comprising records representative of a plurality of ingredients, wherein at least two attributes are associated with each ingredient, one of the at least two attributes being a nutritional parameter for a specific amount of each corresponding ingredient, and another of the at least two attributes being a personal parameter, said personal parameter being;

a parameter capable of describing the suitability of each ingredient associated with a medical condition of a user;

or

a parameter capable of describing the suitability of each ingredient associated with a taste requirement of a user;

providing a user interface and using the user interface to receive an input of a proposed order for a proposed meal, the proposed meal comprising one or more proposed ingredients, each ingredient having an associated proposed quantity;

providing an ordering processor connected to said interface and to said ingredients database;

transmitting the proposed order for the proposed meal to the ordering processor;

using the ordering processor to generate information about the proposed meal, said information comprising at least one output parameter, said output parameter being a total nutritional value computed from at least one quantity of proposed ingredient comprised in the proposed meal and from respective nutritional parameter for a specific amount of ingredient, or a personal parameter;

using the ordering processor to transmit said information about the proposed meal to the user interface;

using the user interface to visualize said information;

providing a meal preparation station comprising quantities of a plurality of ingredients and equipment required for preparing meals, said quantities comprising each quantity of ingredient comprised in the meal, the meal comprising at least one ingredient, each ingredient having an associated quantity;

providing a stock database connected to said user interface and comprising records representative of the plurality of quantities of ingredients stocked at the meal preparation station, and records representative of recipes, each recipe comprising a set of instructions for preparing a meal, said recipe records comprising at least one record representative of a recipe for preparing the meal;

providing an order fulfilment processor connected to said stock database and connected to said user interface, the order fulfilment processor configured to receive the order for the meal, configured to retrieve from said stock database said recipe for the meal, and configured to update in said database each record of each stocked ingredient comprised in the meal;

using the user interface to receive an input to finalize the proposed order for the proposed meal into an order for the meal and transmitting said meal order to the order fulfilment processor;

using the order fulfilment processor to retrieve said recipe for the meal;

providing a staff user interface and using the staff user interface to visualize said recipe for the meal;

preparing the meal according to said visualized recipe; and

using the order fulfilment processor to update in the database the record or records representative of the quantity or quantities of the stocked ingredient or ingredients comprised in the meal after the order for the meal has been transmitted to the order fulfilment processor.

55. A computerized method as claimed in claim 54, the method further comprising:

using the user interface to receive a selection of at least one desired output parameter, the desired output parameter being a total nutritional parameter generated by the ordering processor from each quantity of ingredient comprised in the proposed meal and from respective nutritional parameter for a specific amount of ingredient, or a personal parameter;

transmitting said selection to the ordering processor;

using the ordering processor to generate each desired output parameter and to output each desired output parameter to the user interface; and

using the user interface to display each desired output parameter.

56. A computerized food and beverages label printing apparatus for producing personal labels for a meal, the apparatus comprising:

a database comprising records representative of a plurality of ingredients, wherein at least one attribute is associated with each ingredient, each attribute being a nutritional parameter for a specific amount of each ingredient or a personal parameter, said personal parameter being;

a parameter capable of describing the suitability of each ingredient associated with a medical condition of a user;

or

a parameter capable of describing the suitability of each ingredient associated with a taste requirement of a user,

a user interface operable by, or under the instruction of, a purchaser to receive an order for the meal, the meal comprising one or more ingredients, each ingredient having an associated quantity;

a printing processor connected to said user interface and to said database, the printing processor configured to transmit to a label printer at least one printing parameter, each printing parameter being a total nutritional parameter computed from at least one quantity of ingredient comprised in the meal and from respective nutritional parameter for a specific amount of ingredient, or a personal parameter; and

a label printer connected to said printing engine, the label printer configured to print each output parameter.

57. A computerized food and beverages label printing apparatus as claimed in claim 56, further comprising a card reader for use with a purchaser loyalty card, wherein at least one between:

the order for the meal, and

a printing parameter,

is stored in the purchaser card, and wherein the card reader is configured to upload at least one between;

the order for the meal, and

a printing parameter,

to the user interface.

58. A method of printing a personalized label for a meal, the method comprising:

providing a database comprising records representative of a plurality of ingredients, wherein at least one attribute is associated with each ingredient, each attribute being a nutritional parameter for a specific amount of each ingredient or a personal parameter, said personal parameter being;

a parameter capable of describing the suitability of each ingredient associated with a medical condition of a user;

or

a parameter capable of describing the suitability of each ingredient associated with a taste requirement of a user,

receiving via a user interface an order for the meal, the meal comprising one or more ingredients, each ingredient having an associated quantity;

using a printing processor connected to said user interface and to said database to receive the order for the meal and to transmit to a label printer at least one printing parameter, each printing parameter being a total nutritional parameter computed from at least one quantity of an ingredient comprised in the meal and from respective nutritional parameter for a specific amount of ingredient, or a personal parameter;

transmitting from the user interface the order for the meal to the printing processor;

using the printing processor to generate the at least one printing parameter and to transmit each printing parameter to a label printer; and

using the label printer connected to said printing processor to print a personalized label for the meal.

59. A as claimed in claim 58, further comprising:

providing a card reader and a purchaser loyalty card, wherein at least one between;

the order for the meal, and

a printing parameter,

is stored in the purchaser card, and wherein the card reader is configured to upload at least one between;

the order for the meal, and

a printing parameter,

to the interface;

using the loyalty card and card reader to upload to the interface at least one between;

the order for the meal, and

a printing parameter.

60. A computerized apparatus for ordering a meal in combination with performing price and nutritional calculations, the apparatus comprising:

a database;

a processor connected to said database;

an input device connected to said processor; and

an output device connected to said processor;

wherein the database comprises records representative of;

a plurality of food or beverage items, comprising each food or beverage item comprised in the meal, the meal comprising at least one consumable unit and each consumable unit comprising at least one food or beverage item, the meal comprising at least two food or beverage items;

values of at least one nutritional principle associated with each food or beverage item of said plurality of food or beverage items for a reference amount of food or beverage item;

values of at least one profit margin and at least one cost parameter associated with each food or beverage item of said plurality of food or beverage items for a reference amount of food or beverage item;

a plurality of consumable units, wherein at least one food or beverage item can be associated to each consumable unit of said plurality of consumable units;

wherein the input device is configured to receive an input comprising each consumable unit and each food or beverage item comprised in the meal, and is configured to select at least one monitor nutritional principle;

wherein the input device is configured to transmit said input to the processor for processing;

wherein the processor;

is programmed to receive said input,

is programmed to access said database to acquire a nutritional value for each selected monitor nutritional principle for each food or beverage item comprised in the meal,

is programmed to access said database to acquire values of a profit margin and a cost parameter for each food or beverage item comprised in the meal,

is programmed to calculate a total nutritional value for each selected monitor nutritional principle, each total nutritional value being given by a summation of terms, each term corresponding to a food or beverage item and each term being given by multiplying an acquired nutritional value by a corresponding amount of food or beverage item,

is programmed to calculate a total price of the meal given by a summation of terms, each term corresponding to a food or beverage item and each term being given by multiplying a difference between an acquired value of a profit margin and a cost parameter by a corresponding amount of food or beverage item, and

is programmed to output each total nutritional value and the total price of the meal to the output device;

wherein the output device is configured to display each total nutritional value and the total price of the meal; and

wherein the input device is operable to place an order for the meal.

61. A computerized apparatus as claimed in claim 60, wherein the database further comprises records representative of target nutritional values, wherein the processor is further programmed to acquire from the database a target nutritional value for each selected monitor nutritional principle and to output to the output device each acquired target nutritional value, and wherein the output device is further configured to display each acquired target nutritional value.

62. A computerized apparatus as claimed in claim 61, wherein the processor is further programmed to generate an alert if a total nutritional value is higher than a target nutritional value, and is further programmed to transmit said alert to the output device, and wherein the output device is further configured to output said alert.

63. A computerized method of ordering a meal in connection with price and nutritional calculations, the method comprising:

providing a database comprising records representative of;

a plurality of food or beverage items,

values of at least two nutritional principles associated with each food or beverage item of said plurality of food or beverage items for a reference amount of food or beverage item,

values of at least one profit margin and at least one cost parameter associated with each food or beverage item of said plurality of food or beverage items for a reference amount of food or beverage item,

a plurality of consumable units, wherein at least one food or beverage item can be associated to each consumable unit of said plurality of consumable units;

providing a user interface connected to said database and using the user interface to receive a selection of at least one consumable unit from said plurality of consumable units;

for each selected consumable unit, using the user interface to receive a selection of at least one food or beverage item associated with the selected consumable unit, wherein a total of at least two food or beverage items are selected, and wherein each selected food or beverage item has an associated quantity;

using the user interface to receive a selection of at least one monitor nutritional principle;

providing at least one processor, each processor connected to said interface and to said database;

for each selected food or beverage item, using a processor to access said database and to acquire a value of a nutritional principle for a reference amount of food or beverage item for each selected monitor nutritional principle;

for each selected food or beverage item, using a processor to access said database to acquire values of a profit margin and a cost parameter for a reference amount of food or beverage item;

using a processor to calculate a total nutritional value for each selected monitor nutritional principle, each total nutritional value being given by a summation of terms, each term corresponding to a selected food or beverage item and each term being calculated by multiplying an acquired nutritional principle for a reference amount of food or beverage item by a corresponding amount of selected food or beverage item;

using a processor to calculate a total price of the selected food or beverage items given by a summation of terms, each term corresponding to a selected food or beverage item and each term being given by multiplying a difference of acquired values of a profit margin and a cost parameter by a corresponding amount of food or beverage item;

using the user interface to display each total nutritional value and the total price of the selected food or beverage items; and

using the user interface to receive an order for the meal, the meal comprising at least one selected consumable unit and each consumable unit comprising at least one selected food or beverage item, the meal comprising at least two selected food or beverage items.

64. A computerized method as claimed in claim 63, the method further comprising:

in the database, providing further records representative of target nutritional values;

using a processor to acquire from the database a target nutritional value for each selected nutritional principle;

using a processor to transmit to the user interface each acquired target nutritional value; and

using the user interface to display each acquired target nutritional value.

65. A computerized method as claimed in claim 64, the method further comprising:

using a processor to generate an alert if a total nutritional value is higher than a target nutritional value;

transmitting said alert to the output device; and

using the user interface to output said alert.

66. A computerized apparatus for discounting a price of a meal, the apparatus comprising:

a database;

a processor connected to said database; and

an input device connected to said processor;

wherein the database comprises records representative of;

a plurality of food or beverage items, said records comprising at least one record of food or beverage item comprised in the meal having an associated discount parameter;

wherein the input device is configured to receive an input comprising each consumable unit and each food or beverage item comprised in the meal, the meal comprising at least one consumable unit and each consumable unit comprising at least one food or beverage item;

wherein the input device is configured to transmit said input to the processor for processing;

wherein the processor;

is programmed to receive said input;

is programmed to access said database to acquire at least one discount parameter associated with a food or beverage item comprised in the meal, and

is programmed to calculate a total discount applicable to the meal.

67. A computerized apparatus as claimed in claim 66, wherein each record of food or beverage item comprised in the meal further has an associated value representing a stocked total quantity of ingredient, and wherein the associated discount parameter is linked to said associated value of stocked total quantity.

68. A computerized apparatus as claimed in claim 67, wherein the processor is further programmed to access the database and update each value representing a stocked total quantity of each of food or beverage item comprised in the meal.

69. A computerized apparatus as claimed in claim 66, wherein the associated discount parameter depends on a requirement of a user of the apparatus.

70. A method of discounting a price of a meal, the method comprising:

providing a database comprising records representative of a plurality of food or beverage items, said records comprising at least one record of food or beverage item comprised in the meal having an associated discount parameter;

providing a processor connected to said database; and

providing an input device connected to said processor;

using the input device to receive an order for each consumable unit and each food or beverage item comprised in the meal, the meal comprising at least one consumable unit and each consumable unit comprising at least one food or beverage item;

transmitting said input to the processor for processing;

using the processor to receive said input, to access said database to acquire at least one discount parameter associated with a food or beverage item comprised in the meal, and to calculate a total discount applicable to the meal.

71. A method as claimed in claim 70, wherein, in the database, each record of food or beverage item comprised in the meal further has an associated value representing a stocked total quantity of ingredient, and wherein the associated discount parameter is linked to said associated value of stocked total quantity, the method further comprising:

using the processor to update each value representing a stocked total quantity of each of food or beverage item comprised in the meal.

72. A method as claimed in claim 70, wherein, in the database, the associated discount parameter depends on a user requirement, the method further comprising:

using the input device to input the user requirement to determine the associated discount parameter.

73. A storage medium storing computer readable code for implementation by a computer or network of computers, the code comprising:

code to provide a database comprising records representative of;

a plurality of food or beverage items,

values of at least two nutritional principles associated with each food or beverage item of said plurality of food or beverage items for a reference amount of food or beverage item,

a plurality of consumable units, wherein at least one food or beverage item can be associated to each consumable unit of said plurality of consumable units;

code to provide a user interface to receive a selection of at least one consumable unit from said plurality of consumable units in said database and, for each selected consumable unit, to receive a user selection of at least one food or beverage item associated with the selected consumable unit, wherein a total of at least two food or beverage items are selected, and wherein each selected food or beverage item has an associated amount;

code to, for each selected food or beverage item, provide access to said database to acquire at least two values of nutritional principles, the nutritional principles for which values are acquired corresponding to at least two monitor nutritional principles common to all the selected food or beverage items;

code to calculate at least two total nutritional values, each total nutritional value being given by a summation of terms, each term corresponding to a selected food or beverage item and each term being calculated by multiplying an acquired value of a nutritional principle by an associated amount of selected food or beverage item;

code to display the total nutritional values and to receive an order for a meal, the meal comprising at least two selected food or beverage items.

74. A storage medium storing computer readable code for implementation by a computer or network of computers, the code comprising:

code to provide a database comprising records representative of a plurality of ingredients, wherein at least two attributes are associated with each ingredient, one of the at least two attributes being a nutritional parameter for a specific amount of each corresponding ingredient, and another of the at least two attributes being a personal parameter, said personal parameter being;

a parameter capable of describing the suitability of each ingredient associated with a medical condition of a user;

or

a parameter capable of describing the suitability of each ingredient associated with a taste requirement of a user;

code to provide a user interface to receive a proposed order for a meal, the meal comprising one or more ingredients, each ingredient having an associated quantity, and to select at least one desired output parameter, the desired output parameter being a total nutritional parameter computed from each quantity of ingredient comprised in the meal and from respective nutritional parameter for a specific amount of ingredient stored in the database, or a personal parameter; and

code to retrieve information about the proposed order, said information comprising at least the desired output parameter and further programmed to output said information to the user interface.

75. A storage medium storing computer readable code for implementation by a computer or network of computers, the code comprising:

code to provide an ingredients database comprising records representative of a plurality of ingredients, wherein at least two attributes are associated with each ingredient, one of the at least two attributes being a nutritional parameter for a specific amount of each ingredient, and another of the at least two attributes being a personal parameter, said personal parameter being;

a parameter capable of describing the suitability of each ingredient associated with a medical condition of a user;

or

a parameter capable of describing the suitability of each ingredient associated with a taste requirement of a user;

code to provide a stock database comprising records representative of a plurality of quantities of ingredients stocked at a meal preparation station, and records representative of recipes, each recipe comprising a set of instructions for preparing a meal,

code to provide a user interface to receive an input for a proposed order for a proposed meal, the proposed meal comprising one or more proposed ingredients, each proposed ingredient having an associated proposed quantity, and programmed to transmit the proposed order for the proposed meal to an ordering processor;

code to generate information about the proposed meal, said information comprising at least one output parameter, said output parameter being a total nutritional value computed from at least one quantity of proposed ingredient comprised in the proposed meal and from respective nutritional parameter for a specific amount of proposed ingredient, or a personal parameter, and programmed to transmit said information about the proposed meal to the user interface, wherein the user interface is further programmed to visualize said information;

code to visualize said information;

code to receive an order for a meal;

code to store in the stock database a recipe for the meal;

code to retrieve from said stock database said recipe for the meal;

code to update in said stock database each record of each stocked ingredient comprised in the meal;

code to receive an input to finalize the proposed order for the proposed meal into the order for the meal, the meal comprising at least one ingredient, each ingredient having an associated quantity, and to transmit said meal order to the order fulfilment processor;

code to retrieve said recipe for the meal and transmit it to a staff user interface;

code to update in the database the record or records representative of the quantity or quantities of the stocked ingredient or ingredients comprised in the meal after the order for the meal has been transmitted to the order fulfilment processor; and

code to visualize said recipe for the meal on the staff user interface.

76. A computerized method of ordering a meal in a food and beverages retail outlet according to nutritional information about the meal provided to a user of the outlet, the method comprising:

providing a database comprising records representative of;

a plurality of food or beverage items available at the retail outlet, values of at least two nutritional principles associated with each food or beverage item of said plurality of food or beverage items for a reference amount of food or beverage item,

a plurality of consumable units, wherein at least one food or beverage item can be associated to each consumable unit of said plurality of consumable units;

using a user interface at the retail outlet to receive a selection of at least one consumable unit from said plurality of consumable units in said database;

for each selected consumable unit, using the user interface at the retail outlet to receive a user selection of at least one food or beverage item associated with the selected consumable unit, wherein a total of at least two food or beverage items are selected and wherein each selected food or beverage item has an associated amount;

for each selected food or beverage item, using a processor to access said database to acquire at least two values of nutritional principles, the nutritional principles for which values are acquired corresponding to at least two monitor nutritional principles common to all the selected food or beverage items;

using the processor to calculate at least two total nutritional values, each total nutritional value being given by a summation of terms, each term corresponding to a selected food or beverage item and each term being calculated by multiplying an acquired value of a nutritional principle by an associated amount of selected food or beverage item;

using the user interface to display the total nutritional values to the user at the retail outlet; and

ordering the meal at the food and beverages retail outlet, the meal comprising the at least two selected food or beverage items.