Page 73 - Hospitality Horizon - February-March 2021
P. 73
FOOD & BEVERAGE
bright future for
dark kitchens
THE FOOD SERVICE INDUSTRY IS
THE NEWEST SECTOR TO REAP
THE BENEFITS OF CLOUD TECH
BY AKSHAY NAYAK
ccording to a RedSeer Management
Consulting report, cloud kitchens – also
known as dark kitchens or ghost
kitchens – are projected to become $2
Abillion industry in India by 2024, up
from just $400 million in 2019. While several sectors
have been reaping the benefits of cloud tech for quite
some time, the food service industry has been a new
albeit late entrant.
With the cloud kitchen model exhibiting such
soaring potential, it is hardly surprising that not just
new players but also bigger F&B brands have turned
to it. The delivery-only kitchens started a couple of
years ago but it picked up momentum during the
pandemic as governments asked traditional eateries
to remain shut. That it decreased operational costs
and allowed flexible multi-brand functioning from
one outlet came as a boon for restaurateurs.
HERE TO STAY
“As a model, cloud kitchen is here to stay but the way
it is structured, it looks a little fragile. If that
correction happens, it is a beautiful model and has
73
hospitality horizon FEBRUARY-MARCH 2021