RSG106: Cloud Kitchens With Matt Newberg of HNGRY

Uber Eats is one of Uber’s fastest growing business segments right now, but they’re not the only ones trying to tackle the future of food and technology. Today’s guest is the perfect person to help us dissect a new concept gaining steam: ghost kitchens (also known as virtual or dark kitchens). If you’re curious about what’s going on behind the scenes of the food and tech world, stay tuned!

If you’d like to read a transcript of this podcast, please click here.

Intro

  • Today I’m talking with Matt Newberg of HNGRY.TV
  • New media venture exploring the impact of technology on our relationship with food
  • We’re going to talk about virtual kitchens, macro trends and more

Intro to Matt Newberg

  • Matt Newberg is the host and producer of HNGRY, a content series exploring the impact of technology on our relationship with food
  • Spend the last 8 years working in the tech industry as an entrepreneur
  • Worked at Vimeo
  • Bringing his passion for food to explore emerging field of food tech

What are Ghost Kitchens?

  • Two forms – existing restaurants creating virtual only brands out of existing infrastructure
  • Second type – cloud kitchen, virtual delivery, online delivery
  • Also known as ghost or dark kitchens
  • Currently more dedicated ‘virtual’ kitchen space right now vs existing brick and mortar
  • Uber has really pushed this for the last few years
  • Rise in number of people eating outside the home/having food prepared outside the home
  • Delivery/pickup is eclipsing dining in a restaurant
  • Fast casual brands are doing the best (not McDonalds, not fine dining, middle tier restaurants)
  • Delivery apps

Expose into Dark Kitchens

  • HNGRY.TV first episode (link in show notes)
  • Expose into the world of ghost kitchens –  two major players
  • Trend around shared kitchens for various purposes (new companies, packaged goods, delivery, etc)
  • Cloud Kitchens funder – Travis Kalanick, founder of Uber
  • Basically, companies are buying up property in urban areas and stocking it with everything from kitchens but also regular, everyday products (toilet paper, tomato sauce, etc.) and turn it into a delivery hub
  • Makes it a dark kitchen

Why are Cloud Kitchens so Important?

  • One, potential for tech companies to get in the space, see if they can make it profitable for them
  • Two, options for mom and pop companies to try out becoming a restaurant by renting space first
  • Delivery options
  • Restaurant tours

Future Impact of Cloud Kitchens

  • Smaller restaurants/shops that don’t have a brand or serve for convenience will suffer
  • Affect on labor – fewer workers needed. Estimated 85% of service workers will lose their jobs and not be replaced
  • Restaurants are going to need to become more savvy at marketing, maybe even partner with other restaurants (white label delivery service?)
  • More opportunities for ghost kitchens, dark kitchens

Outro

  • Big thanks to Matt for coming on the podcast – looking forward to his next episode on THC infused beer and the alcohol industry!
  • Really interesting space – you can tell from the interview he’s passionate about the intersection of food and tech – make sure to check out his YouTube video below
  • Big opportunities for rideshare, micromobility, delivery and more with these types of services

Show Notes

If you’d like to read a transcript of this podcast, please click here.