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REEF is a company that operates a network of ghost kitchens and dark stores. Ghost kitchens are commercial kitchens that do not have a storefront and only work for delivery and takeout. Dark stores are retail stores that are only open for online orders. REEF was founded in 2015 and is headquartered in Miami, Florida.
The ghost kitchen industry, which saw a surge in popularity and investment during the pandemic, seems to be facing a downturn. Between 2020 and 2022, startups in this sector attracted over $3 billion in venture capital, with companies like Reef Technology and CloudKitchens, founded by Uber’s Travis Kalanick, securing a […]
Ghost kitchens, once hailed as a game-changing innovation during the pandemic, are now facing challenges in a post-pandemic world. During lockdowns, these delivery-only restaurant models surged in popularity as a cost-effective solution for new and existing restaurants—major chains like Wendy’s announced plans to launch hundreds of ghost kitchens. However, many […]
The introduction of meal delivery apps, including Uber Eats, GrubHub, and DoorDash, expanded e-commerce in the food industry and increased the size of the food delivery market.1 Over the last five years before the start of 2020, the delivery market had grown 300% faster than the dine-in market.2 As the […]
Ghost kitchens (also referred to as cloud, commissary, dark, delivery, or shadow kitchens) are delivery-only restaurants that, with therise of third-party delivery apps services like DoorDash, GrubHub, and Uber Eats, were already on an accelerated growth trajectory even before the crisis. Their offering to restauranteurs was simple; they provided a […]
The restaurant industry is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by the rise of delivery and takeout. In this new landscape, ghost kitchens and virtual restaurants are emerging as a powerful new force. What are ghost kitchens and virtual restaurants? Why are ghost kitchens and virtual restaurants becoming popular? The challenges […]
Wienerschnitzel, the largest hot dog chain in the U.S., uses ghost kitchens to test new markets and expand its footprint. Ghost kitchens are delivery-only facilities that operate without a storefront or dine-in option. They allow restaurants to save on rent, labor, and overhead costs and reach more customers through online […]
Headed into 2023, the future of virtual kitchens is becoming more of a fact than an apparition. Sam Nazarian, founder and CEO of C3, started virtual kitchens in 2019 because “We saw an opportunity to bring added revenue to underutilized restaurant kitchens and real estate space.” He describes his goal […]
Reef Technology operated “ghost kitchens” in trailers parked across Portland. But a company with plenty of cash and a can’t-miss idea appears to be in retreat. December 14, 2022 Ghost kitchens, also known as virtual restaurants or delivery-only kitchens, are facilities that prepare meals for delivery through third-party apps such […]
These are seven popular cloud kitchen concepts worldwide: Kitchen United, REEF Technology, CloudKitchens, FoodStars, Grubtech, CookUnity, and Ghost Kitchen Brands. Each company operates a network of shared or leased kitchen spaces that restaurants and other food businesses can use to expand their delivery and takeout operations. These cloud kitchens offer […]
In 2021, Wendy’s announced plans to open as many as 700 ghost kitchens over the next few years. However, as Wendy’s recently discovered, opening several hundred ghost kitchens isn’t as straightforward as you would think. The chain has announced that it is rethinking its expansion — even going so far […]