Issue #105 – OnTrend Concepts

August 11, 2022

Peter Cook, Editor

Why do so many restaurant-focused media companies continue to write hit pieces on ghost kitchen operators and virtual brands? I don’t get it. Some of the targets of these articles are companies in rapid-growth-mode, so they have made some mistakes trying to keep up with demand. In most cases those companies are working to fix their mistakes. Maybe I’m just tired of the snarky, sarcastic comments from journalists sitting on the sidelines pretending they are experts, but who have never done anything worth noting. I love the innovation, risk-taking, and creativity found in the ghost kitchen & virtual restaurant space. Keep it up and best of luck!

Anyway…in addition to the International Ghost Kitchen Conference (being held March 1-3, 2023 in Amsterdam!), we hope we can soon announce dates for additional U.S. ghost kitchen events this year and our big annual conference in 2023. Stay tuned!

And now, the news…

Applebee’s Tweaks Its Strategy for Cosmic Wings

The chain is adding the virtual brand’s items to its in-store menu. It’s also testing a second delivery-only brand in about 100 restaurants.

Kona Grill opens ghost kitchen

The One Group Hospitality Inc., which owns Kona Grill and Bao Yum, is opening a delivery and carry-out only location in Austin through its partnership with Reef Kitchens, an operator of virtual restaurants, logistics and proximity hubs in North America.

Plant-based food company launches ghost kitchen with expanded menu

St. Louis-based rootberry, which makes and sells prepared plant-based meals, shareable, salads and desserts, is expanding operations at its headquarters with the addition of a ghost kitchen.

Famous Dave’s is Getting a New Owner, but the Strategy Will Not Change

With its vast family of brands, MTY Food Group could be an ideal partner for BBQ Holdings’ unique approach to growth.

Frisch’s Big Boy Hires James Walker as CEO

Great news for both Frisch’s and ghost kitchen expert James Walker!

Wendy's cutting back ghost kitchen goals - for now

The Dublin-based restaurant company Wednesday said it is scaling back its rollout with Miami-based Reef to between 100 and 150 locations by the end of 2025.

How Reef helps shape city ghost kitchen regulations to accommodate its model

The ghost kitchen company has devised two paths into new markets: one through city hall, and one through back doors of hotel kitchens.

JustKitchen Optimizing Operations Using Technology

The Company is Investing in Several Core Aspects of its Teck Stack Including the JKOS Platform, LPOS System, Franchise Model, Mobile Food Ordering Application, Supply Chain Integration, Sigma Tool and JK University Repository.

Taking a Layered Approach to Ordering Technology

How fast casual Zunzi's is using technology to allow existing employees to provide a better experience to the guest.

How policies ‘protecting’ small restaurants from delivery apps are backfiring

Capping commission fees is popular because it implies that restaurants can keep a larger fraction of their revenues, thereby protecting their profit margins. But several considerations cast doubt on whether these price controls will be successful in helping small businesses, and whether they may unintentionally harm gig workers on delivery platforms.

Webinar: ghost kitchen models: no evolution without revolution

The ghost kitchen market continues to change apace. But which models will become the most successful in the near future?

Podcast: Digital native restaurant company Salted is showing us what virtual brands can become

Blending ghost-kitchen and brick-and-mortar operations, Salted wants to build the restaurant company of tomorrow, starting with its concept Moonbowls.

Podcast: Building a Friendly Ghost Kitchen

Shawn Walchef talks about their vision of being “the Amazon of BBQ”.

UK: Tortilla to rebrand Chilango’s three City sites

The Mexican fast-casual chain has also announced it will be utilising the Chilango name as a virtual brand across the group’s delivery kitchens following its acquisition of the business in May.

UK: Tough guy Trejo brings his tacos to town

Mexican-American actor Danny Trejo is planning to open a flagship taco restaurant in central London, followed by a succession of delivery-only ghost kitchens to open every three months. He has raised £775,000 of a £1million target in a crowdfunding campaign on Seedrs.

UAE: talabat Launches an Initiative to Benefit their Drivers

Over 25 buses are located strategically across all seven emirates to provide our heroes with rest stops where they can relax, have their meals and hydrate between their shifts with access to free chilled water.

UAE: EFS Group forays into its food and beverage business

EFS Group will launch its restaurant and cloud kitchen running under the banner of EFS Gourmet starting from August 15, 2022.

India: Cloud kitchen startup Bigspoon raises Rs 100 crore from IAN, NB Ventures

Bigspoon aims to expand to more than 250 kitchens in 75 cities across the country. It will also used the funds to hire for leadership positions, invest in technology for clients, and backward integration for effective production and supply chain.

India: Devyani International is looking to add 200-250 stores annually: CEO

Devyani operates 391 KFC stores, 436 Pizza Huts and 69 Costa Coffee outlets across India.

India: 'We continue to focus on the cloud kitchen vertical with our established brands for the delivery business': Anjan Chatterjee, MD, Speciality Restaurant

As on 31 March, 2022, the Company had a total of 80 Restaurants (including 11 Cloud Kitchens and 17 Franchisee) and 37 Confectionary stores across 13 cities in India, 2 in UAE.

Malaysia: Cloud kitchen to start F&B brands in Klang Valley

KitchenConnect wants a slice of the cloud kitchen pie. Having begun its Malaysian operations in 2020, the brand is a part of Travis Kalanick’s—a co-founder and former CEO of Uber—CloudKitchens business.

Our newsletters are a collection of all the news from the previous week related to each digest topic. The focus is on trends, deal announcements, technology, and other industry disruptors and innovations.

Name
First Last
Email*
Newsletters
Mailpoet Subscribe*
- Ghost Kitchen Digest
- Spirits Sales & Marketing Digest
- Drive-Thru Digest
CAPTCHA
Phone
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

We will only email you relevant news, analysis and announcements along with occasional sponsored content. You may unsubscribe at any time.

Share Your News

Send us your press releases and any other news articles which you believe would be of interest to our readers. Email submissions to contact@ontrendconcepts.com

Advertising

Do you provide delivery services or technology? Advertise in our newsletters!