Nathan’s Famous has partnered with Ghost Kitchen Brands to offer the chain’s hotdogs, wings and other items as a virtual brand. The goal is to have 100 locations in Canada and the United States by the end of 2020.
Many of these operations will be inside Walmart stores and offer some seating. In March, Ghost Kitchen Brands and Walmart announced an agreement to add ghost kitchens at several locations in Canada.
All locations in the deal between Nathan’s Famous and Ghost Kitchen Brands will have carry-out and third-party delivery.
“We’re excited to continue our expansion across the U.S. and Canada, and this partnership with Ghost Kitchen Brands grows our footprint even more,” said James Walker, senior vice president of restaurants at Nathan’s Famous. “We look forward to beginning this journey with GKB in their current kitchens and cities, with hopes of continued expansion over the coming years.”
Nathan’s Famous hopes to reach 150 virtual locations by 2021. The company is following a similar path as other restaurant chains that are looking to expand through virtual brands and ghost kitchens. Many large national chains have embraced the ghost kitchen concept as a way to move into areas that are not currently served through their brick-and-mortar locations.
“We are thrilled to partner with Nathan’s Famous, an iconic brand synonymous with American tradition and the flavor of New York,” said George Kottas, founder and CEO of Ghost Kitchen Brands. “As we continue to grow and reinvent the restaurant industry with our unique restaurant concept, we take pride in helping iconic brands scale to reach and serve more customers, allowing customizations and combinations with other brands, all in the convenience of one order.”
