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
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...
Media company exec. launches delivery only concept
Virtual brand entrepreneur Robert Earl has partnered with Barstool Sports CEO Dave Portnoy on a virtual brand and delivery-only concept. Called Barstool Bites, the concept offers sandwiches, spicy chicken wings, dips and buckets of flavored popcorn. “We’re going to...
Instacart offers one-hour delivery at Dollar Tree
Speed continues to be the name of the game in grocery delivery. Instacart and Dollar Tree are working together to offer one-hour delivery at locations across the country. "When it comes to major household expenses, we know every dollar counts," said Instacart...
Kroger opens first ghost kitchen in Calif.
Kroger has opened its first ghost kitchen at a Ralphs in Los Angeles. The company expects to expand the project to Texas in the near future. The company is working with Kitchen United to open the ghost kitchen. "When our customers think of food, they think of Kroger,"...
Brinker starts Italian virtual brand
Brinker International has found success with the It's Just Wings virtual brand and is now implementing a second virtual brand — Maggiano's Italian Classics. The company uses its brick-and-mortar locations, like Chili's as ghost kitchens, and sells the food for takeout...
Kroger, Kitchen United partner on ghost kitchens
Kroger is opening several ghost kitchens with Kitchen United. Each location will feature six restaurant brands. Customers can order from multiple brands with one order. The first kitchen center is expected to open this fall at a Ralphs store in Los Angeles. Additional...
Wendy’s set to open 700 ghost kitchens
Wendy's has hitched a ride on the ghost kitchen wagon in a big way. The Ohio-based chain has signed a deal with REEF Technology to open 700 ghost kitchens in the U.S., Canada and the UK. Reef and Wendy's began working together in 2020 in Canada, as the hamburger chain...
Nathan’s Famous tops 200 ghost kitchens
Nathan's Famous has been pushing hard into the ghost kitchen trend and announced recently that it now has 223 ghost kitchens in 18 countries. A large number of the locations serve its virtual brand Wings of New York. The company has doubled the number of ghost...
GoPuff establishes kitchen operation across the country
Speedy grocery delivery company goPuff has joined the ghost kitchen and prepared meals trend. The service, called Gopuff Kitchen, will deliver made-to-order meals to customers along with their delivery of household items. Customers can order breakfast, lunch, dinner...