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”, a university study shows.
The findings, which shed light on the scale of the hidden takeaway industry, revealed that 15% of all online food retailers in the UK have dark kitchens.
Also known as “cloud,” “ghost” or “virtual” kitchens, these kitchens are delivery-only, with no customer-facing storefront.
Despite rapid growth, until now they have lacked a clear and consistent definition, creating challenges for regulators, local authorities, food safety officers, industry stakeholders and consumers.
Co-chair researcher Dr. from the University of Sheffield. Lucie Nield said: “People deserve greater transparency about the food they order online and these businesses need to be held to appropriate regulatory standards.
“Without this, dark kitchens risk closing this gap, with potential consequences for public health, particularly through the increased use of online takeaways, greater availability and therefore encouraging the consumption of high-fat, salty or sugary foods.
“Dark kitchens have previously been poorly described and understudied, making it difficult to fully understand their effects.
“Clarer communication, more effective regulation and oversight, and the adoption of a common definition are essential to drive public health agendas.”
The study, commissioned by the National Institute for Health and Care Research, brought together multiple university teams to create the first industry-wide framework for identifying and describing dark kitchens.
The researchers worked with academics, public health experts, local authorities, national governing bodies, industry workers and consumers to ensure the definition reflected how businesses operate.
The final statement was: “Technology-enabled commercial kitchens operating primarily for delivery, fulfilling consumers’ remote, on-demand, online food orders for immediate consumption.”
Academics have also examined the scale of dark kitchens on major delivery apps.
Using data scraping methods on platforms such as Uber Eats and Deliveroo, they identified clusters of food brands operating from the same postcode, a key indicator of delivery-only hubs.
The study also highlighted how difficult it can be for these businesses to get noticed by consumers and regulators by cross-referencing locations using tools like Google Maps.
Although dark kitchen models offer commercial advantages such as lower operating costs and flexible locations, the research highlighted potential public health impacts.
Unlike traditional takeaways, which can be regulated by local authorities using spatial planning policy, dark kitchens are much less visible.
Management zones around schools designed to limit takeout density and promote healthier food environments do not apply to dark kitchens and may suffer from their activities.
The researchers also raised concerns about food safety and transparency, especially for customers with allergies or dietary sensitivities. Because multiple businesses may operate in the same kitchen space, consumers may not always be aware of common preparation environments or potential allergen cross-contamination.
A 2023 survey found that 40% of respondents purchased takeout at least once a week, usually through delivery apps, and often as a treat or for convenience.
Awareness of dark kitchens was low; only a quarter had heard of them and only 9% knowingly used them. But after reading a helpful description, more than half said they would consider buying a dark kitchen, but most wanted it to be clearly stated.
The new industry-wide definition aims only to bring distribution centers under stricter planning and public health oversight, with clearer regulation, inspection processes and consumer understanding.
