Ghost kitchens (also sometimes called cloud kitchens, dark kitchens, or virtual kitchens) are also only available online, but they don't work in an existing restaurant. They often don't have any physical counterpart. Instead, they are left without space leased to a third party. Unlike a ghost kitchen, virtual restaurants work in conjunction with traditional restaurants.
They have their own established physical locations and use their existing kitchens to create additional exclusive menus with delivery through their virtual restaurant concepts. The key difference between ghost kitchens and virtual restaurants is that the former may not have their physical counterpart at all. A ghost kitchen can only exist on the digital platform without an offer of collection or self-service. The only way to order food from them is through the websites or apps of their food delivery partners.
As a chef, restaurant owner, or gastronomic entrepreneur, choosing between a virtual restaurant or a ghost kitchen can be a difficult decision. While both offer digitally rendered takeaway options for their guests, ghost kitchens don't usually work at all from a traditional restaurant. Ghost kitchens provide restaurant operators with the equipment and space needed to prepare their meals at a much lower cost than opening a physical restaurant. In addition, independent restaurants and restaurant chains are taking advantage of ghost kitchens to offer their menu only with home delivery in a location other than their physical restaurant.
Restaurateurs, chefs and entrepreneurs usually launch their virtual brands through a ghost kitchen or as a virtual restaurant that works in conjunction with their traditional concept. In addition, established independent restaurants and restaurant chains use ghost kitchens to reach more customers in different locations without having to build a new physical restaurant. Therefore, ghost kitchens allow startups or companies looking for delivery stations to expand without the expense of a permanent location. While many aspiring restaurant owners flock to ghost kitchens as the most available solution, this fuels a monopolistic market that lacks regulations and protections for workers and customers.
A Ghost Kitchen is a professional kitchen facility that exists for chefs and restaurant operators to launch a virtual brand that only offers home delivery. That said, you can start a ghost kitchen even when you're successfully running your traditional restaurant. Low operating costs: With a much smaller staff and lower costs associated with a physical location with a lot of traffic, ghost kitchens could save on operating costs compared to physical and virtual restaurants. Plus, if you're in the early stages of your restaurant business, a ghost kitchen may be the option for you.
Therefore, if you plan to enter the ghost kitchen market and manage your own food delivery services, you must adopt a solution that helps you plan multiple deliveries without much trouble. Since you don't need a spacious space or luxurious decor, the initial investment in ghost kitchens is much lower than that of a traditional restaurant. Ghost kitchens can work both with virtual brands and, as Bon Appetit reported in April, with established brands such as Wendy's, since they want to ensure that customers who order food at home receive their food more quickly.
