One cannot deny the excitement around restaurants that offer delivery services solely. Ghost kitchens, cloud kitchens, and virtual restaurants provide an exciting option to brick-and-mortar eateries for food service companies looking to expand their offerings.
Today ghost kitchen is saturating the market. In June 2020, Brinker International, the parent company of Chili’s, launched a new virtual brand called It’s Just Wings. Chili’s kitchens prepare the cuisine for the delivery-only brand, while outside delivery services bring it to customers’ doors.
Brinker claims that the chicken brand is bringing in $150 million annually in revenue.
However, it appears that every success story inspires a slew of imitators. Many full-service restaurants, including Applebee’s and Bloomin’ Brands, have launched their online chicken wing brands in recent years.
These businesses support entrepreneurs and investors in the “ghost kitchen” industry by providing various services, from shared kitchens to virtual brands.
Top Ghost Kitchen Companies (2023)
All the enterprises on this “ghost kitchens” list offer their unique spin on the trend. Ghost kitchens are a business model used by some establishments. However, some manage prosperous online businesses.
NextBite
NextBite connects restaurants specializing in food delivery with those looking to expand into online restaurant food ordering. By forming agreements with internet restaurants, brick-and-mortar eateries can grow their companies with the assistance of well-known, established brands.
NextBite offers its restaurant partners information for educating their kitchen staff on how to prepare particular foods for delivery. NextBite enables traditional restaurants to enter the market for ghost kitchens in as little as three weeks. NextBite partners with brands like “The Big Melt” and “TZKI” to reach a large audience.
Kitchen United
Kitchen United is when a ghost kitchen and a food court combine. With ambitions to grow, this is one of the top ghost kitchen companies USA and a nonprofit that operates community and urban center shared kitchens in California and New York.
Kitchen United provides complete solutions for those restaurant companies willing to invest in a permanent “ghost kitchen.” Besides delivery-only kitchens, they offer locations where takeout and delivery orders can be placed at the counter.
WowBao
WowBao is one company whose “ghost kitchen” technique has led to success. WowBao licenses its trademark to businesses nationwide to distribute its meals.
They instruct cooks on how to prepare their signature dishes and assist them in listing their brand on local delivery marketplaces. They also offer ghost kitchens that can be fitted in almost any storefront.
WowBao has spread to more than 500 locations in the United States with the help of ghost kitchens. They have expanded their menu and brand recognition by establishing delivery-only restaurants in several cities.
Novel Foods
FutureFoods is a collection of digital labels that can support expanding existing restaurant businesses. They collaborate with restaurants with typical kitchens that seek to offer delivery-only labeling to their customers.
FutureFoods connects with delivery driver networks such as DoorDash and ToastTakeout to reach a larger audience. Although it is unknown whose companies they partner with, FutureFood’s website displays photos of French fries, sandwiches, and other American delivery staples.
Global REEF
When businesses require the adaptability that ghost kitchens provide, they can seek support from REEF Global. They oversee a system of delivery-only kitchens worldwide, each fully equipped and prepared to execute any requested menu item.
REEF Global consults with potential partner brands to determine which menu items will be successful in specific regions. Then, they handle everything from operations to human resources while pushing the food to their delivery kitchens.
Using the REEF ghost kitchen platform, REEF’s restaurant partners are encouraged to experiment with new concepts and push the boundaries of food delivery.
Ghost kitchens or ghost street kitchens will continue attracting investment and innovation in delivery-only food service. Time and demand will test this new concentration on delivery-only restaurants in the future.