Ghost kitchens are here to stay. Consumer habits have shifted, driven by the pandemic. Pivoting to delivery and takeout was crucial for the survival of many foodservice operations, particularly in the early days of the pandemic. But many consumers have realized that they prefer to enjoy restaurant meals in the comfort of their own home.
So even as COVID (hopefully) wanes, industry experts expect ghost kitchens to continue to increase. App services like DoorDash, GrubHub, and UberEATS will continue to benefit from the rise of ghost kitchens. Are you thinking of starting a ghost kitchen? Consider what equipment you will need. Maximize space, efficiency, and food quality in your ghost kitchen.
A ghost kitchen is a professional food preparation facility set up to only prepare delivery or takeout meals. They do not include a storefront or dining area. It is not a restaurant brand in itself. One kitchen space could be home to multiple brands. Ghost kitchens are also known as virtual kitchens, shadow kitchens, cloud kitchens, or dark kitchens
Ghost kitchens can work within brick-and-mortar restaurants or function as standalone facilities. Without the overhead of a physical location, ghost kitchens can save money on property expenses, labor, and maintenance. Maximizing the functionality of this small space is essential because the average ghost kitchen typically operates in just a few hundred square feet. Some existing restaurants rent out their kitchen space as ghost kitchens. Sharing the area can provide an additional revenue stream, which can prove critical when virus surges reduce customer traffic.
There are essential factors to consider when contemplating opening a ghost kitchen. Here are a few for both operators and customers.
It would be best if you did a few things when contemplating opening a ghost kitchen.
Ghost kitchens are still new, so there’s not a wealth of information or resources available. Your best bet may be to get input from industry peers who have found success in this area.
Since location and ambiance aren’t necessary, your food will be front and center for the consumer’s experience. What will you do to differentiate yourself from all the other operations?
While ghost kitchens reduce overhead, there are still costs to consider. Even when sharing a space with other operations, insurance coverage and safety inspections will still be expenses.
If you build it, they won’t come unless they know about you. Digital is the name of the game in virtual kitchens. You’ll want to concentrate on digital ads, social media, and a great website.
With a limited workspace, this kind of kitchen equipment must be compact and mobile. Winston’s CVap® Cook and Hold Ovens fit the bill. Critically, CVap ovens do not require a vent hood*.
Vent hoods are very expensive to install and operate. Since CVap ovens don’t require hoods, they can be placed anywhere in a kitchen with sufficient power. A CVap oven is versatile and utilized for multiple cooking techniques.
*Check local codes.
Are you serving fried food? No ghost kitchen that offers fried products is complete without a good fryer. Whether you offer chicken, fish, or potato wedges, Winston’s Collectramatic® fryers are the fryers you need. Collectramatic fryers have a five-decade track record of providing trouble-free performance and consistency.
They cook all day with little filtration, saving you labor and oil. They have an industry reputation for cooking excellent foods. Available in open and pressure configurations, there’s a Collectramatic fryer to suit any ghost kitchen.
Need the precision of CVap holding, but limited on space? Our CVap warming drawers could be the solution. Winston offers a variety of CVap Hold and Serve Drawers. If you need to keep products crisp or moist, you need CVap. You can place the drawers under or on top of counters for easy access.
Because these drawers are available in wide or narrow configurations, you can rest assured that there’s a model that’s perfect for your space. They include single and double drawer models.
Because of their versatility, you can hold a multitude of foods. Whatever you need to keep warm and fresh, from bread to soup, as well as eggs and chips, CVap has you covered. Having hot and ready food can keep deliveries flying out the door.
In conclusion, every operation is unique. Having the right equipment in your ghost kitchen will help your operation function efficiently and profitably. Our team of representatives can guide you to the best equipment to suit your individual needs. Please get in touch with us today to learn how Winston’s products can set your ghost kitchen up for success.
Since 1969 Winston Foodservice has manufactured the best commercial foodservice equipment in the industry. Winston’s CVap® and Collectramatic® equipment are known for producing precise, repeatable results in kitchens worldwide. From schools to chains, to healthcare, to fine dining; you’ll find us wherever good food is served.