One in seven food delivery businesses in England are ‘dark kitchens’, study shows | Food & drink industry

One in seven food businesses on major delivery platforms including Deliveroo and Just Eat are now ‘dark kitchens’, according to an academic study.

The findings, which highlight the scale of the hidden takeaway industry, reveal that 15% of all online food retailers in England were dark kitchens.

Also known as “cloud”, “ghost” or “virtual” kitchens, they are only delivered without a customer-facing window.

Despite rapid growth, they have until now lacked a clear and consistent definition, creating challenges for regulators, local authorities, food safety officials, industry stakeholders and consumers.

Dr Lucie Nield, co-lead researcher from the University of Sheffield, said: “People deserve greater transparency about the food they order online, and these companies must be held to appropriate regulatory standards.

“Without this, dark kitchens risk slipping through the cracks, with potential consequences for public health, including encouraging increased use of online takeaways, greater availability and therefore greater consumption of foods high in fat, salt or sugar.

“Dark kitchens were previously poorly defined and understudied, making their impacts difficult to fully understand.

“Adopting a common definition is essential for clearer communication, more effective regulation and inspection, and for driving public health programs. »

The study, commissioned by the National Health and Care Research Institute, brought together several academic teams to establish the first industry-wide framework for defining and identifying dark kitchens.

Researchers worked with academics, public health professionals, local authorities, national governing bodies, industry workers and consumers to ensure the definition reflected how businesses operate.

The final wording was: “Technological commercial kitchen(s) operating primarily for delivery, to respond remotely, on demand, to online orders of food products for immediate consumption. »

Academics also examined the extent of dark kitchens on major delivery apps.

Using data scraping methods from platforms such as Uber Eats and Deliveroo, they identified groups of food brands operating from the same postcode, a key indicator of delivery-only hubs.

The study also cross-referenced locations using tools like Google Maps, highlighting how difficult these companies can be for consumers and regulators to spot.

Although dark kitchen designs offer business benefits, including lower operating costs and flexible locations, research has highlighted potential implications for public health.

Unlike traditional takeaways, which can be regulated by local authorities through planning policy, dark kitchens are much less visible.

Management zones around schools, designed to limit takeaway density and promote healthier food environments, do not apply to dark kitchens and can be undermined by their activities.

Researchers also raised concerns about food safety and transparency, particularly for customers with food allergies or sensitivities. Since multiple businesses may operate out of the same kitchen space, consumers are not always aware of shared preparation environments or possible allergen cross-contamination.

A 2023 survey found that 40% of participants purchased takeout at least once a week, usually through delivery apps and mainly as a treat or for convenience.

Awareness of dark kitchens was low, with only a quarter having heard of one and only 9% knowingly using one. However, after reading a working definition, more than half said they would consider buying into a dark kitchen, although most wanted this to be explicit.

The new industry-wide definition aims to subject delivery centers only to stricter public health planning and oversight with clearer regulation, inspection processes and understanding for consumers.