In recent years the food industry has undergone a dramatic transformation with the rise of online delivery services, Deliveroo, Uber Eats and Just Eat.

This means more demand for dark kitchen businesses, which if done properly can be quite a lucrative venture. For those wanting to set up a business without a physical storefront or dining area, they can offer a low-investment option… but there are still the basics that need to be done right, for your business to be a success.

Location, location, location!

Because you don’t need a storefront, you aren’t limited to where you can operate. The best place to start is your local council’s website. Here you can find more information about available premises. You can even start on your driveway in a food van! (remember you still need to register your food business for this!)

Register your business and obtain the necessary permits

Before you can start operating your dark kitchen, you’ll need to obtain the necessary permits, licenses, insurance and assessments. This will include registering your business and gaining a food safety and hygiene certificate.

No dark kitchen business can operate without a well-designed kitchen

You’ll need to create a layout that maximises space efficiency and allows for easy workflow. This may include installing commercial-grade equipment, such as ovens, refrigerators, and fryers. This bit can feel a bit daunting if you’ve never designed or fitted a commercial kitchen, speak to one of our experts on  01730 265 899 or email info@cebasolutions.co.uk. Our team can guide you through the best solution for your space and work with you to design the perfect layout where you will feel comfortable and able to work efficiently and quickly, after all, your business is going to need to get the food out the door as quickly as possible! We also operate sustainably which allows us to comply with legislation more easily and minimises our regulatory burden, especially in areas surrounding waste.

Develop your menu

The beauty of a dark kitchen is…you can change the menu or cuisine as often as you like! Start small and build your menu as you grow to save on costs initially. You can test new ideas without committing to menu printing costs.

Choose your delivery partners

If you can market your business without the help of a well-known delivery platform, then go it alone! You won’t need to pay the likes of Uber Eats, Deliveroo and Just Eat 30% of the order value! DoggieBox is a great platform for dark kitchen businesses who wish to go it alone.

Marketing

When it comes to marketing locally, door-to-door flyers are a brilliant start. There any loads of tools online to design your flyers, including Vista Print. Make sure you register your business for a Google Business profile to appear on Google Maps, and get on Facebook, Instagram or TikTok to showcase your food and tell the world who you are.

If you have a project in mind please get in touch.