The Co-Kitchens (theco-kitchens.com) which recently launched in bustling Dalston in East London is a shared kitchen concept, aimed at securing existing independent food businesses a slice of high street real estate at the fraction of the usual cost. The space, which currently houses eight food brands that operate from cloud stations and a front of house that allows customers to collect takeaways from automated lockers, is the first of its kind to land on the high street and aims to empower and bolster small, but established, local businesses looking to expand their food business in the heart of the London takeaway market.
The global ghost kitchen market is valued at $71.14 billion, projected to reach $157.26 billion by 2030 and The Co-Kitchens is serving up the perfect setup for market vendors, pop-up restaurants and delivery businesses who are looking for a cost-effective high street option, something which is growing in demand for hospitality owners feeling the squeeze. The Co-Kitchens’ unique concept takes the existing ghost kitchen concept a step further by building a tech-enabled retail environment, where customers can order online directly with food brands or via the kiosk’ digital menus, helping businesses generate a higher income without the cost of delivery.
The Co-Kitchens founder, Shahzad Bhatti is at the heart of the sharing economy and entrepreneurial scene, having founded a number of ventures in London and Dubai. He says: “Cloud kitchens are establishing themselves as a billion-dollar industry, but most of them are located in industrial areas or on the outskirts of towns where there are only options for delivery drivers. We’ve created an innovative new concept in the heart of East London on a busy, vibrant high street that not only allows us to have eight food concepts operating from our kitchen, but also features a front of house, which allows delivery drivers and customers to come in and efficiently pick up their order from our automated lockers.”
The Co-Kitchens provides established business owners with an opportunity to break into the London market and expand their offering within this location. The cloud kitchen is ready-to-move in and customers can choose from fixed time slots for a convenient and flexible monthly membership.
The stations come fully equipped with the essential professional tools to help kickstart food businesses efficiently. The cloud kitchen offers a low entry cost, a fast launch to the East London community, and plenty of community support.
