Ghost Kitchens have become increasingly popular and successful within the restaurant industry for to-go and delivery orders. Ghost kitchens have changed the foodservice industry and may have a place in the grocery store as well. Kroger has already jumped into the ghost kitchen market with the recent opening of three ghost kitchens in selected stores. The company plans on opening more ghost kitchens and is one of the investors in a recent 100-million-dollar investment with Kitchen United, the ghost kitchen developer. Kroger’s investment invites the question: are ghost kitchens going to be a norm in grocery stores?
The History of Ghost Kitchens
Before jumping into the benefits of ghost kitchens, its important to dive into the history of the concept. Ghost kitchens were designed to provide relief during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic to restaurants and foodservice providers, who were receiving a high volume of online and delivery orders without adequate kitchen space. As a result, separate kitchens were developed both on-site and off-premise that could handle the volume of orders.
(Refer to this blog to learn more: Ghost Kitchen Solutions )
Consumer Demands are Evolving
More than ever, consumers are demanding fresh and convenient meal options. Consumers constantly look for new options and place a high value on convenience. Delivery platforms like UberEATS and DoorDash have changed traditional shopping into a streamlined process from a single app. These platforms not only provide food options but grocery delivery, pharmacy delivery, and other specialty stores, all within minutes. With a shift in consumer behavior, grocers and retailers must look to innovate as consumers are finding the same items elsewhere.
Ghost Kitchens in Grocery Stores?
Ghost kitchens can add value to grocery stores for a variety of reasons. First, grocery stores have the advantage of large-scale facilities and a high volume of stores for ghost kitchens. Next, grocery stores can tap into the booming fast-food market. For example, Kroger’s ghost kitchen concept integrates several different large chains and local restaurants into a singular kitchen.
Customers can order different items from each store in a single order ahead of time online, or place in-store orders, or pickup pre-made items in-store. from the various stores in one order. Grocery store ghost kitchens can offer multiple brands from local restaurants and large chains in a single spot. Which can provide a unique value to customers that they cannot find anywhere else. While shopping for groceries, consumers can also buy or order meals from these kitchens in-store or ahead of time to pick up. Ghost kitchens can provide another level of convenience to customers.
Additionally, ghost kitchens can bring more foot traffic to grocery stores. Kroger has revealed that its stores with ghost kitchens have received more customers than its other stores. The uniqueness of the ghost kitchens themselves may invite more curious customers in-store. In conclusion, ghost kitchens may be a great opportunity for grocery stores to increase their value and foot traffic.
Ready to add a Ghost Kitchen to your store? Visit our ghost kitchen page to learn what KPS Global can provide for your ghost kitchen solution. Looking for traditional grocery store walk-ins? Check out our official grocery walk-ins page for more details.
