A “ghost kitchen” is a trend in the restaurant industry that has become more prominent than ever in recent times. But what exactly does operating a ghost kitchen entail, and is it the right choice for your business?
What is a “Ghost Kitchen”, and how can it benefit you?
If there’s one thing that we can be almost certain about, it’s that the pandemic has changed the way that the food-service industry operates. Your bar or restaurant has likely implemented new services. Maybe you offer online or mobile ordering, curbside pickup, or touchless ordering and payment options. But there’s another innovative trend that you might not have heard of. More than a handful of restaurants have implemented ghost kitchens in order to help their businesses thrive.
So, what is a ghost kitchen?
Essentially, a ghost kitchen is a restaurant that doesn’t truly exist in a physical form. There’s no dining room for you to enter, and the only way to order your meals is virtually through meal delivery apps. This means that you could realistically run four or five different restaurants out of the same kitchen. You can even use the same one that one physical restaurant uses. This allows you to expand offerings from one menu to as many as you can handle.
Ghost kitchen can also be a term used for a kitchen that’s used to prepare food for multiple pre-existing restaurants. They might be looking to expand their reach to new regions through delivery services rather than a physical location.
Is a ghost kitchen the right choice for your business?
Ghost kitchens can be a great way to boost business and rake in more orders. They allow you to cater to more taste buds by offering several distinct menus from each “restaurant”. They also give you the opportunity to try out business ideas on a small scale using existing resources. Maybe you’ve always thought about opening a second restaurant with a different style of food but haven’t taken the leap yet. A ghost kitchen can be a great way to test the waters without the full investment of a physical location.
Ghost kitchens can also help your business bring in more traffic and result in increased revenue when business may be slow. However, if you’re already short-staffed or are having trouble sourcing ingredients due to international shipping issues and supply shortages, doubling or tripling the amount of food you’re preparing may not be the best idea. You may want to look for other ways to help your business succeed during difficult times.
How will ghost kitchens fare post-pandemic?
What will happen when things return to normal and your restaurant is acting as usual again? It’s up to you! You might choose to continue offering ghost-kitchen menus as delivery or take-out exclusives if your kitchen can handle the capacity. You might add some newly-discovered favorites to your everyday menu. Or, you might discover that there’s a demand for a new restaurant in your area, and you can take advantage of a new business opportunity!
No matter if you choose to operate a ghost kitchen or not, it’s always great to know what options are available to you as you navigate this difficult time. We wish you the best of luck in creating a successful strategy, and we hope that our tips have been helpful in doing so!
