Kroger and Kitchen United Partner to Create Grocery Store Ghost Kitchens
Kroger, the nation’s largest supermarket chain, and ghost kitchen start-up Kitchen United are teaming up to prepare takeout and delivery food inside some of its grocery stores.
The partnership announced Wednesday marries Kitchen United’s goal of aggressive expansion with Kroger customers’ demand for more freshly prepared meals.
Both companies saw a surge in demand during the pandemic but now face challenges as consumers return to restaurants. Industry experts are forecasting slowing delivery sales, which could dampen restaurants’ desire to partner with Kitchen United, while Kroger and its portfolio of brands could see consumers cut back on grocery spending.
Ghost kitchens, which are also known as cloud, commissary or dark kitchens, allow restaurants to prepare food only for delivery, sometimes with multiple brands sharing a kitchen. The models is touted as being more efficient and lowering labor and rent costs for eateries. The pandemic’s delivery boom boosted investor and operator interest in ghost kitchens, but some experts have grown concerned about heightened competition and oversaturation
