Ghost kitchen, dark kitchen, virtual brand, cloud kitchen. All names for the delivery-only kitchen model that became popular in the height of COVID-19. While overall in-venue dining traffic dropped by 22% in March of 2020, delivery orders increased by almost 70%. Though in-person dining is back on the rise these days, ghost kitchens aren’t going anywhere, with the industry projected to hit $1 trillion in revenue by 2030. Flexibility, lower operating costs, and higher visibility within target audiences make opening a ghost kitchen a popular choice for restauranteurs.
Opening a ghost kitchen is a daunting task for even a seasoned professional, but you don’t have to go it alone. Parent companies like The On Demand Company, Virtual Dining Concepts, and Nextbite are virtual restaurant groups that turn your ghost kitchen dreams into a reality. Check out these restaurant groups and some of the top kitchens they operate.
Ali’s Gyro Lab by The On Demand Company
Bbot partner The On Demand Company (TODC) is a group of marketing experts and restaurateurs. They boost growth for existing restaurants by turning sections of their menu into separate virtual brands. Integrating with third-party delivery apps, TODC focuses on developing these virtual brands and backing them with a solid marketing strategy to maximize revenue and success.
Ali’s Gyro Lab is one of TODC’s virtual kitchen concepts, operating out of parent restaurant Fresco Pizza and Schwarma. Fresco’s bottom was beginning to dwindle as more guests began to choose delivery over dining in. When TODC stepped in, they pared Fresco’s menu down to a few select items available for delivery under the name “Ali’s Gyro Lab.” Still operating out of Fresco’s kitchen using the same staff and ingredients, Fresco saw over a 300% increase in online ordering within just the first six weeks of launching the virtual brand.
Grilled Cheese Society by Nextbite
Nextbite is a restaurant solution that connects its restaurant partners with delivery services such as UberEats, Postmates, and GrubHub. Nextbite combines data with menu design and culinary expertise to deliver virtual restaurant concepts across the United States. The company’s goal is to find kitchens with extra space and give them the tools to add delivery-only restaurant concepts to maximize revenue and meet consumers where they are: online
Founded in 2017, Grilled Cheese Society was the first restaurant concept within Nextbite's virtual restaurant portfolio. The ghost kitchen partners with local restaurants that offer up part of their existing kitchens for Grilled Cheese Society to use. Operating in cities across the US, Grilled Cheese Society delivers a cheesy menu through popular 3rd party delivery apps.
Fuku by REEF Technology’s NBRHD Kitchens
NBRHD (Neighborhood) Kitchens is a concept developed by REEF Technology. Their mission is to transform underused urban spaces into neighborhood hubs that connect guests to locally-made food. Typically setting up shop in areas like empty parking lots, the NBRHD Kitchens are unique due to their financial and operational self-sufficiency. Reef manages all the staffing, site selection, and stock management on the restaurant owner’s behalf so the owners and chefs can focus on serving their community the food they love.
Fuku is a fried chicken ghost kitchen from chef David Chang. Chang sandwich got its start as just an item on another company’s menu. REEF Technology stepped in and helped Chang expand into self-sufficient NBRHD kitchens, delivering the fried chicken sandwich and more to neighborhoods across the US.
