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Could Dark Kitchens Be The Future of Restaurants?

Dark kitchens come with a few names that you may be familiar with such as ghost kitchen, virtual kitchen, and cloud kitchens, no matter what you call them they are becoming extremely popular around the world.

As Covid-19 cases continue to increase and indoor dining is still limited it makes sense that ghost kitchens are exploding all around the world.

Online food delivery has grown significantly over the course of the pandemic. With this increase, the demand and need for more platforms to deliver food has increased so much.

Let’s see why dark kitchens could be the future of restaurants.

What is a Dark Kitchen?

Dark kitchens are remote spaces that can be rented out by existing restaurants with a variety of brands that offer takeout and delivery orders only. There is no indoor dining with these dark restaurants. Ghost kitchens eliminate so many different overhead costs and are competing with the top of the line restaurants.

Dark kitchens are the future of the food industry. However, you may wonder how is this possible? There are no chairs, tables, waiters, or patrons to dine in at a physical location? However, there are extremely talented chefs who work tirelessly to create gourmet cuisines and delicious meals.

Dark Kitchens are Extremely Flexible

Dark kitchens have so much more flexibility than regular kitchens, and not just during this pandemic. Since the pandemic, many restaurants have struggled to remain in operation. Many can not afford the rent because there are no patrons dining and purchasing food.

Dark kitchens are able to be up and running in a matter of just a few weeks. The location as well is so very flexible. Since there is not a need for high foot traffic, our kitchens could be located just next door to your home and you may never know it.

With traditional restaurants over 65% of their revenue goes to food costs, labor, and rent. This is a large portion of the restaurant’s revenue making it significantly more difficult to remain open.

Dark kitchens just need basic commercial appliances without the extra accessories that restaurants require such as decorations, staff, room for customers to walk around without feeling confined in a space.

Dark Kitchens Expand in Creativity

Rather than investing in a food truck or restaurant that relies on in-person customers, even dark kitchens open the doors to a variety of customers who may not even of being aware of your brand. As our world is adjusting to new norms dark kitchens offer a stable source of food for restaurants to establish or establish their brand with customers.

Where Did Dark Kitchens Originate?

The beginning of dark kitchens originated when restaurants were forced to close their doors each year due to high overhead costs.

Dark kitchens can be comparable to taxis and Ubers. When Uber first pitched their concept to investors no one thought it would be successful. Now the company is a multi-billion dollar company and taxis are almost depleted.

What are the Advantages of a Dark Kitchen?

  • The cost of opening and running a dark kitchen is significantly lower than a traditional kitchen so more money can be spent providing high-quality ingredients for customers to enjoy.
  • The physical location is no longer part of the brand so that money is put into perfecting the delivery and execution of the food.
  • Delivery times are significantly lower than traditional restaurants.

Dark Kitchens are Becoming the New Norm For Large Chain Restaurants

Large chain corporations such as Starbucks and Chick Fil A have already started renting spaces to initiate into a ghost kitchen facility due to popular demand. It is predicted that more large chain restaurants will start operating out of virtual kitchens in the future.

Creating a Safer and Better Dining Experience

Large chain corporations such as Starbucks and Chick Fil A have already started renting spaces to initiate into a ghost kitchen facility due to popular demand. It is predicted that more large chain restaurants will start operating out of virtual kitchens in the future.

 

Creating a Safer and Better Dining Experience

Dark kitchens benefit the restaurant community but also the growth in online food delivery communities. Food delivery services such as Ubereats, Postmates, and Doordash are expected to be worth 24 billion dollars and rising. With the current pandemic, many people prefer to dine at home rather than dine-in at a busy restaurant with fears of contracting the virus.