Over the last 5 years, food delivery has grown 300% faster than typical dine-in (upserve.com). While the Covid-19 Pandemic exacerbated this growth even more. Whether they were fine-dining, casual, fast casual, cafes or mom and pop establishments, restaurants across country were thrust into the world of delivery, ready or not.
So, you know what delivery is. You’re probably familiar with services like GrubHub and Doordash, even if you’re not using them. But, what exactly is a Ghost Kitchen?
It’s one of the most current trends in the hospitality industry today. Ghost Kitchens are takeout and delivery-only food service brands. They can be accomplished in several different ways.
1. Existing establishments can utilize the hours they aren’t open for full-service to create a secondary, takeout only service during down time. It requires much less staff, allowing them to maximize profits.
2. Another option is for a caterer or chef to rent a kitchen space and set up a takeout service out of that. There will be no dine-in at any time and will fully operate as the delivery/takeout only model.
GrubHub, Doordash and the other delivery services are creating Ghost Kitchens of their own. They offer restaurants a one-size-fits-all solution. But we know that cookie-cutter approach just won’t work for everyone.
Every restaurant is different, so we’re offering them something different. We partnered with expert Restaurant Consultant and former Philadelphia cafe owner Angela Vendetti to launch our own Ghost Kitchen program. Unlike the delivery giants, we’re taking a much more hands-on, completely personalized approach.
With over 60% of consumers in the U.S. ordering takeout or delivery at least once a week, if you’re not already on board, now is the time. Adding a delivery-only service to your current restaurant can significantly increase your sales with minimal BOH and FOH costs. You’ll fully maximize sales per square foot while your dining room is unoccupied or under utilized. With current state mandates limiting dine-in service to just 25% occupancy, a Ghost Kitchen is a no-brainer to help off-set that loss.
If you don’t have a current space, a deliver-only model can allow you to test the market without a major investment. Plus, a Ghost Kitchen can be launched and running in as little as a few weeks, whereas opening a dine-in establishment can take much longer.
We can help you capture the abundance of delivery opportunities out there by creating a marketing strategy and putting it into action. – Help you develop a strong concept and menu that will work for take-out – Set up your online-ordering on popular delivery apps – Assist you in training procedure development for your staff – Design and implement all necessary branding (photos, social media content, labels, postcards, menus, etc.) – Aggressively advertise and market your menu, spread awareness and create a loyal following and repeat business
A Ghost Kitchen can be the saving grace for many restaurants, chefs and caterers who’ve been struggling with the pandemic. Let’s set up a consultation to see if it’s right for you.
Call 610.829.1333 or email kim@cliffross.com