Ghost Kitchens, sometimes called virtual restaurants, dark kitchens, or cloud kitchens, are food facilities without dining areas. The operation is set up exclusively for carryout or delivery, and the concept has seen incredible growth. The United States is estimated to have 1,500 ghost kitchens and many brands are setting up shop now as a virtual kitchen. The startup costs are low and carry a high-profit margin.
Previous ghost kitchen articles
Observations from 2nd ghost kitchen conference
Editor's note: Last week, OnTrend Concepts held the 2nd annual Ghost Kitchen and Virtual Restaurant Conference in Dallas. There was a lot of discussion about the future of ghost kitchens and virtual brands. As well, people talked about where ghost kitchens and virtual...
Ghost kitchens are disrupting the restaurant business
Incredibly, 80% of restaurants shut down in their first year. That’s because running a restaurant is capital intensive and involves complicated operations. COVID-19 only made the restaurant industry more volatile, and dealt a devastating blow. During the first 13...
JustKitchen offering direct delivery to corporate office
With people returning to the office, more opportunities exist in the business lunch marketplace. To that end, ghost kitchen company Just Kitchen has started a pilot project with Panasonic. The business-to-business pilot project with Panasonic Taiwan will provide food...
Saladworks expands through ghost kitchens
Saladworks has partnered with ghost kitchen company Combo Kitchen and is opening 20 new locations through ghost kitchens. They are scheduled to open on March 25 across Central Florida. "We are excited to expand our brand into Central Florida through our partnership...
Krispy Kreme looks to expand through delivery
Donut company Krispy Kreme is looking to expand through delivery in the United States and Mexico, according to a transcript of the company's earnings call. The company wants to expand its e-commerce capabilities and started a pilot delivery project in the UK through...
Dog Haus set to grow virtual brand
Dog Haus plans to grow its virtual brands in 2022. Founded in 2010 in Pasadena, Calif., Dog Haus' traditional brick and mortar locations focus on premium hot dogs. But in 2020, the company moved into the virtual restaurant space to expand and diversify its...
Kitchen United adds storage lockers at two locations
Apex Order Pickup Solutions and ghost kitchen company Kitchen United have expanded a partnership and are now offering self-serve, automated food lockers at two additional locations. They are in Garden City, N.Y. and Torrance, Calif. Through the arrangement, customers...
Virtual brand Wow Bao expands into Canada
Asian virtual brand Wow Bao is now available in Canada through a partnership with Ghost Kitchen Brands. The virtual brand started in 2003 in Chicago is now available at more than 600 locations across the U.S. The company often works with restaurants and helps them...
Kitchen United buys software company Zuul
Ghost kitchen company Kitchen United has acquired software and ghost kitchen developer Zuul. The agreement marks Kitchen United’s first acquisition and strengthens the company's position in the restaurant delivery industry. Terms were not disclosed. “As one of the...