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# Fast Food Ghost Kitchens
Reef Kitchens Helps Wendy's Expand Its Business During COVID-19

By Kalin Ned | Published 2020-12-16 | Marketing
Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fast-food-ghost-kitchen
References: [restaurantbusinessonline](https://www.restaurantbusinessonline.com/financing/inside-wendys-ghost-kitchen-strategy)

Fast food ghost kitchens are on the rise and an excellent example of this is [Wendy's](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/global-next-gen) recently opened location in Toronto, which is operated by [Reef Kitchens](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/reef). According to Stephen Piacentini, Wendy’s vice president of global restaurant development and recruiting, “[Wendy's] urban business in Canada is underpenetrated [and this initiative] helps [the business] creatively get into spots [it] didn’t have near-term plans with brick-and-mortar.” Moreover, the format of the [fast food ghost kitchen](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/man-vs-fries)—which is essentially a food truck—can help the chain grow during the COVID-19 pandemic by providing a safe and accessible ordering experience.

Wendy's partner in this business endeavour—Reef—is reported to be "a rapidly growing option that quickly sets up kitchens in urban parking lots."

Image Credit: Wendy's

## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter)

- Score: 5.4/10
- Popularity: 81% | Activity: 73% | Freshness: 9%
- Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women
- Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X
- Top markets: North America

## Categories

[Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Marketing](https://www.trendhunter.com/marketing) > [Branding](https://www.trendhunter.com/branding)

## Key Themes

### Why This Trend Is Growing

- **Fast Food Ghost Kitchens:** The rise of fast food ghost kitchens presents an opportunity for restaurants to expand their business without the need for physical locations.
- **Mobile Food Trucks:** The format of fast food ghost kitchens as food trucks provides a safe and accessible ordering experience, making it a disruptive innovation in the food industry.
- **Urban Delivery-only Concepts:** The concept of urban delivery-only ghost kitchens, like Wendy's operated by Reef Kitchens, opens a new avenue for restaurants to reach customers in densely populated areas.

### Industries Being Reshaped

- **Fast Food:** Fast food chains can leverage fast food ghost kitchens to expand their business and increase their reach.
- **Food Delivery:** The rise of fast food ghost kitchens highlights the potential in the food delivery industry for setting up delivery-only models to cater to urban areas.
- **Restaurant Technology Solutions:** Ghost kitchen platforms like Reef Kitchens represent an opportunity for restaurant technology solutions to support efficient operations and facilitate the growth of delivery-only concepts.

## Related on Trend Hunter

- [Airport Ghost Kitchens](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/reef.md)
- [Premium Virtual Restaurants](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kitchen-hub1.md)
- [Virtual Restaurant Partnerships](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/potbelly-x-reef.md)
- [Ghost Kitchen Marketplaces](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lunchbox-virturant.md)
- [Digital-Oriented Restaurant Redesigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/global-next-gen.md)
- [Underground Delivery Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/underground-delivery-system.md)
- [Viral Delivery-Only Restaurants](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tiktok-kitchen.md)
- [Digital Fast-Casual Kitchens](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chipotlane.md)
- [VR Burger Restaurants](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wendyverse.md)