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Ghost Kitchens in the US - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Matthew Buchko Matthew Buchko New York, United States Last Updated: May 2024 NAICS OD6314 Spotlight Report

Revenue

$2.9bn

2024

$2.9bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XXX.Xm

Employees

42,248

Businesses

7,606

Wages

$XXX.Xm

Ghost Kitchens in the US industry analysis

Ghost Kitchens have become more prominent in the US food scene in recent years because of popular food concepts and pop-up shops. Ghost kitchens are commercial facilities designed for food preparation for delivery or takeout, eliminating the need for a physical dining space. Ghost kitchens have become more integrated into the economy because of several beneficial trends. The growing adaptation of technology has prompted a surge in demand for food delivery services, a trend that was accelerated by COVID-19. However, ghost kitchens have also encountered significant headwinds. The industry endured intense competition and the need for sustainable business models has also emerged. As the economy has normalized from the pandemic, ghost kitchens have largely been left behind, pressuring profit. Revenue is expected to slide at a CAGR of 2.2% to $2.9 billion through the end of 2024, including a decline of 5.2% in 2024 alone.

Trends and Insights

  • Revenue slump caused by stiff competition in an evolving food services market. Ghost kitchens must continue to optimize their services and offerings to establish themselves.
  • Various meals sold by ghost kitchens form the backbone of the industry. Consumers often look to ghost kitchens for a quick, tasty and easy meal.
  • Ghost kitchens contend with competition from a wide variety of sources. Some kitchens are focusing on quality and novelty to attract customers.

Everything you need in one report

  • Reliable market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Competitive analysis, industry segmentation, financial benchmarks
  • Powerful SWOT, Porter’s Five Forces and risk management frameworks
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Access hundreds of analysis and data

  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 2.2 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $2.9bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Volatility fueled by the pandemic

  • The COVID-19 pandemic caused a variety of consumer trends that had a conflicting influence on the performance of ghost kitchens. Consumers became increasingly comfortable with using technology and a new market of consumers became familiarized with the concept of online food delivery services.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Ghost Kitchens in the US
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Ghost kitchens remain susceptible to threats from other food service providers

  • Internal and external competition will continue to intensify in the coming years as food service providers struggle to capture a share of this evolving market. The need for differentiation becomes crucial for operators to stand out and attract a loyal customer base.

Biggest companies in the Ghost Kitchens in the US

There are no companies that hold a large enough market share in the Ghost Kitchens in the US industry for IBISWorld to include in this product.

Products & Services Segmentation

Ghost Kitchens in the US
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Meals, Beverages and Packaged foods. Meals is the largest segment of the Ghost Kitchens in the US.

Trends and Insights

Meals form the backbone of the industry

  • Ghost kitchens will typically specialize in meals from a particular region or specialty. This includes cuisines from all across the globe. Ghost kitchens may also be focused on vegan food.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Operators in this industry provide industrial food services for other companies on a contractual basis. A ghost kitchen is a professional facility set up for the preparation of delivery-only meals or on a contractual basis for third parties.

What's included in this industry?

Preparing takeout ordersPreparing mobile ordersPreparing overflow orders

Companies

Purchase this report to view all major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

GHOST KITCHENORDERING PLATFORMRESILIENCY

Industry Code

NAICS 2017

NAICS 722513 - Ghost Kitchens in the US

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Revenue slump caused by stiff competition in an evolving food services market. Ghost kitchens must continue to optimize their services and offerings to establish themselves.

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Factors that influence volatility in the industry
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Various meals sold by ghost kitchens form the backbone of the industry. Consumers often look to ghost kitchens for a quick, tasty and easy meal.

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Purchase this report to unlock analyst insights.

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each state
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each state in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each state in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Ghost kitchens contend with competition from a wide variety of sources. Some kitchens are focusing on quality and novelty to attract customers.

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Successful ghost kitchens manage hiring, compensation and wage issues fairly. OSHA and the National Restaurant Association provide resources for businesses in food service.

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Purchase expenses are largely comprised of equipment and ingredients. Costs have remained high in recent years as kitchens have battled inflationary pressure.

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Industry Multiples (2017-2022)
  • Industry Tax Structure (2017-2022)
  • Income Statement (2017-2022)
  • Balance Sheet (2017-2022)
  • Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2017-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Ghost Kitchens in the US industry in United States in 2024?

The market size of the Ghost Kitchens in the US industry in United States is $2.9bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Ghost Kitchens in the US industry in 2024?

There are 7,606 businesses in the Ghost Kitchens in the US industry in United States, which has grown at a CAGR of 1.9 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Ghost Kitchens in the US industry in United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Ghost Kitchens in the US industry in United States has been declining at a CAGR of 2.2 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Ghost Kitchens in the US industry in United States over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Ghost Kitchens in the US industry in United States is expected to grow.

What does the Ghost Kitchens in the US in United States include?

Preparing takeout orders and Preparing mobile orders are part of the Ghost Kitchens in the US industry.

How competitive is the Ghost Kitchens in the US industry in United States?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Ghost Kitchens in the US industry in United States.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • Single Location Full-Service Restaurants in the US
  • Food Service Contractors in the US

Complementors

  • Data Processing & Hosting Services in the US
  • Chain Restaurants in the US

International industries

  • Restaurants in Australia
  • Fast Food and Takeaway Food Services in New Zealand
  • Full-Service Restaurants in the UK

View all industries in United States

Methodology

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Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in the US include: 

  • US Census Bureau
  • US Bureau of Labor Statistics
  • US International Trade Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

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