This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: When you order food through an app, how much do you know about where you're buying it from? It could be a restaurant on the local main street or one located in a warehouse in a faraway industrial park.
Some orders come from delivery-only businesses commonly known as dark kitchens. They are defined as technology-enabled commercial kitchens that operate primarily through online delivery platforms, preparing food for immediate consumption in response to on-demand orders. They already account for about 15% of food retailers listed on three major delivery platforms in England.
Their delivery-only model can reduce overhead costs, remove the need for public dining space and allow businesses to operate from more flexible locations. There are, however, growing concerns about how "dark" these kitchens really are. A recent Sun investigation reported poor food hygiene standards and suspected illegal employment at one multi-kitchen site.
The report did acknowledge that many dark kitchens meet the required standards. So, how much do we really know about these businesses? Our research suggests consumers are generally unaware of what dark kitchens are.
In our survey of 2,023 U.K. adults, only 25% had heard of them and 9% said they had knowingly bought food from one. Adding to the confusion, these businesses are inconsistently named. Dark, ghost, cloud and virtual kitchens are among the most commonly used terms.
Whatever we call them, the participants in our study wanted greater clarity at the point of ordering about where their food came from and how it was prepared. Once our participants were given a definition, 55% said they would consider buying from a dark kitchen. Greater clarity could support better understanding and more consistent regulation, though this is easier said than done when local authorities have limited time, staff and budgets.
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