Introducing the Matt 85: Smart Kitchen Labelling for Today’s Kitchens
In modern foodservice operations, compliance, traceability, and efficiency are more important than ever. Whether in restaurants, cafés, central kitchens or catering hubs, kitchens need robust systems to label, track and maintain food safety standards. The Matt 85 printer from DayMark is designed specifically to meet those needs — bridging the gap between digital recipe/ingredient management and printed shelf-life, allergen and grab-and-go labels.
On , the Matt 85 is marketed as a direct thermal label printer built for the kitchen environment, and tightly integrated with DayMark’s MenuPilot / MenuCommand platform.
Below is a look into what it does, how it works, and why kitchens are adopting it.
What Is the Matt 85 Printer?
At its heart, the Matt 85 is a direct thermal label printer (i.e. it prints by heating special thermal label media, so no ink cartridges are needed) that is Bluetooth-enabled and works in concert with DayMark’s software ecosystem.
Some key features include:
Seamless wireless printing (via Bluetooth to a tablet) without requiring a wired data link.
Integration with MenuPilot / MenuCommand: label designs, menu data, ingredients, use-by/thaw dates, allergen info etc. are managed centrally and synced to the printer/tablet system.
Die-cut label compatibility (i.e. pre-cut label formats) for various label sizes and adhesives.
No ink or toner maintenance (just thermal media rolls).
Cloud updates and synchronisation — when menu data or ingredient lists are changed centrally, those updates can push to tablets/printers across locations.
On , the Matt 85 is pitched as a turnkey solution for compliance (including Natasha’s Law) and food rotation labeling.
How It Works in Practice (Kitchen Workflow)
Here’s a typical workflow when a kitchen implements the Matt 85 + MenuPilot solution:
Setup & Data Input
All your recipes, ingredient lists, allergens, shelf life / use-by times, thaw-by times, and menu items are entered into the MenuPilot / MenuCommand back office system (web portal).
Tablet & Printer Sync
That data is then synced to the tablets used in the kitchen, which are paired with the Matt 85 printer. The tablet acts as a control interface: you select an item or batch, and hit “print label.” The tablet communicates via Bluetooth to the Matt 85.
Label Printing
The printer produces a label that might include:
Product name / batch label
Use-by / expiry / thaw by date
Allergens / ingredient details
QR codes or barcodes (if used)
Branding or kitchen logo (if configured)
Application & Usage
Labels are affixed to containers, trays or grab-and-go packs. As stock moves, staff can see the printed use-by information and reduce errors.
Updates & Changes
If a recipe changes, or shelf life is updated, the central system pushes those updates. All tablets/printers in locations get the update so label data remains consistent.
This workflow removes manual label printing (writing by hand) or manual calculation of expiry dates, thereby reducing human error and improving traceability.
Advantages & Benefits
1. Compliance & Food Safety
With regulations like Natasha’s Law requiring full ingredient and allergen labeling on certain food items, kitchens must ensure they label accurately and consistently. The Matt 85 system helps enforce that by making label generation systematic and tied to the data you’ve input.
2. Efficiency & Speed
Because the printer is Bluetooth-enabled and controlled via a tablet, kitchens can print on demand without moving between workstations or manually writing labels.
3. Reduced Errors
Automating label creation from a centralized database minimizes mistakes (e.g. wrong use-by date, missing allergen, transcription errors) that can happen when writing labels manually.
4. Scalability & Multi-Location Support
For businesses with multiple kitchens or branches, updates to menus or ingredients push to all locations. This ensures consistency across sites.
5. No Ink or Toner Costs
Because it’s a thermal printer, there’s no need for ink, toner or ribbons—just label media rolls.
6. Flexibility in Label Formats
DayMark offers various die-cut label sizes and adhesive types (permanent, removable, dissolvable etc.) to suit different packaging or container types.
Considerations & Limitations
Media Costs & Dependency
You’ll need to purchase Original Daymark thermal label rolls as consumables. Should your label media supply be interrupted, printing may halt.
Bluetooth Range / Reliability
As communications rely on Bluetooth between tablet and printer, placement matters. Interference or distance may affect printing reliability in some kitchen layouts.
Learning Curve & Training
Staff will need minimal training to use the tablets, software, and printer, especially to ensure correct label selection and placement. The system is very intuitive and
Initial Setup & Data Input Time
The value depends heavily on accurate initial setup of ingredient, shelf life, and allergen data in the MenuPilot system. That takes effort and discipline.
Dependency on the Software Ecosystem
Using the Matt 85 without MenuPilot / MenuCommand loses much of its advantage. The system is optimized when the data infrastructure is in place.
Hardware Wear & Environment
Kitchens are harsh (heat, humidity, grease). The physical durability of the printer must be considered; protect it from spills, steam, etc.
Use Cases & Ideal Applications
Here are some situations where the Matt 85 is especially useful:
Central kitchens or commissaries preparing food in bulk for several outlets.
Grab-and-go / deli packaging where ready meals require full labeling with ingredient/allergen information.
Cloud kitchens or delivery hubs where traceability and food safety matter but space is tight.
Retail + foodservice hybrids (e.g. cafés with food-to-go items) needing consistent labelling.
Multiple-branch food brands that want standardization across sites.
Final Thoughts
The DayMark Matt 85 printer is more than a mere label printer—it’s a node in a larger kitchen automation and food safety ecosystem. For businesses that take labeling, allergen compliance and traceability seriously, the Matt 85 (with MenuPilot) represents a compelling solution to automate and standardize what is often a manual, error-prone process.