Ghost kitchens also known as cloud kitchens, delivery-only kitchens, virtual kitchens and dark kitchens, are on the rise these days. Ghost kitchens are quite a new concept that has surfaced in the last year. Due to Covid-19, ghost kitchen restaurants have become a preferred substitute to setting up a physical restaurant.
Ghost kitchens are basically spaces without dining areas that only provide delivery and takeout. They usually use third-party delivery services to receive orders and deliver meals to customers. The ghost kitchen delivery concept has helped restaurateurs cope with difficult times due to the pandemic. Ghost kitchen spaces are just like physical spaces allowing operators to prepare meals for off-premises consumption.
This ultimate guide will help you understand the entire concept of ghost kitchens and perhaps even help you set up a new one.
Also Read: Why Virtual Kitchens Have Increased in Popularity
What Exactly Is a Ghost Kitchen?
Ghost kitchens are restaurants without a dining area. They concentrate on selling and delivering online food orders using either third-party applications or through their own delivery operation. They do not have a visible storefront.
You can structure a new ghost kitchen in several common ways such as:
1. Using Shared Commissary Spaces
Since ghost kitchen facilities are not situated within the premises, they stick to the delivery-only option. Different brands can use a shared kitchen space simultaneously, or there might be more than one in-house brand operated by just one management team.
2. Renting Regular Restaurant Kitchens
Many physical restaurants are now renting their spaces to accommodate virtual kitchen brands that need the equipment and space, this allows them to generate additional revenue for organizations that might be going through lower volume due to the pandemic.
3. Introducing Virtual “Spin Off’ Brands
Many dine-in restaurants and cafes are now introducing ghost kitchen delivery, and are leveraging their existing kitchens in order to do so. They are also introducing ‘spin off’ restaurants with different concepts.
Advantages Of Ghost Kitchens
1. Quick Opening
Ghost kitchens can start their operations by simply renting out spaces with existing facilities, and reducing the time to launch a brand.
2. Low Overhead
Ghost kitchens do not have to put in a ton of money setting up a dine-in experience such as decor, furniture and of course, menu printing costs.
3. Additional Revenue Streams
Already existing restaurants have the opportunity to produce additional revenue by renting out kitchen space to third-party ghost kitchen brands or by introducing the delivery-only option from their own kitchen space.
4. Convenience
The concept of delivery-only makes it convenient and easy for customers to enjoy restaurant-quality meals, particularly during the pandemic when people were supposed to stay at home.
5. Flexibility
It is really easy for ghost kitchens to adapt quickly as customer preferences or market conditions change.
Set Up Your Ghost Kitchens with These Basic Steps
1. Do Your Research
There isn’t much to do when setting up a ghost kitchen. Get advice from teams who have been there and make your decisions based on their success. Another alternative is to get professional advice. We, at Q-Zn, are a team of professionals who can help you set up your own ghost kitchen space in no time and run it successfully.
2. Find Your Space
You should look for spaces that are suited for cooking, be it a shared kitchen space, an existing kitchen space for rent, or even your own facility. If you have multiple vendors using your space, you must make sure there is enough room for comfortable cooking conditions and the equipment you need to start your commercial restaurant kitchen.
3. Define Your Concept
Location and ambiance are not the factors you need to worry about. The main thing you need to focus on is your menu. Your menu should be designed in a way that makes you stand out and can help you make your food-to-go friendly.
4. Design A Marketing Plan
Once you are done establishing your brand and concept, you must come up with a well-thought-out marketing plan with a major digital focus. Digital ads, social media, and an excellent website will help you with this movement.
We are certain that this guide will help you if you are all set to start up a ghost kitchen and run it successfully. After all, the pandemic has sped up the adoption life cycle, making ghost kitchens globally acceptable and making them an excellent choice for a successful business model.
