Shaista Fatima/New Delhi

When in December 2019, Wuhan recorded its first covid case, and on 27 January 2020, India recorded its first, little did anybody knew that lives were to be changed completely. From work from home regimes to the stay indoors concept to delivery only kitchens, millennials changed their ways of life completely.

The hospitality industry struggled to survive the pandemic and while the concept of Cloud/Ghost/Dark kitchens weren't new, they gained most momentum during lockdown.

According to a report published by CRISIL Research "With restaurant footfall at an all-time low and sales down as much as 90%, takeaway has become a vital source of revenue for many restaurants." Cloud kitchens across India, are serving everything from simple home cooking to luxury dinners.

Popular online food delivery apps like "Swiggy", "Zomato", "Eat sure" are witnessing a plethora of newly added delivery only hubs. Cloud, Ghost or Dark kitchens rely only on orders placed online. They work in collaboration with online food aggregators.

Namit Aggarwal, who has been into food business for more than a decade now and has worked previously with brands like Trident, Hilton, ITC, Pind Balluchi, Nege' & Ju, Indigo Delicatessen, Cheesecake Factory and alike, believes that delivery only concept is low on budget, he says, "Cloud kitchen is a concept where debutants can get a good start, they can enter this industry with a very low budget which is pocket friendly as compared to opening a restaurant.."

Namit Agarwal

He says that revenue of cloud kitchens is relatively high as one can run it with a minimal kitchen staff, "it is a two face sword, take away and delivery, thus augmenting revenue", he says.

Currently he is running a cloud kitchen based on authentic Lebanese and Turkish cuisine called Mezze House based out of Okhala in Delhi. 

He further plans on expanding the concept of cloud kitchen to other cuisines as well, "With the team I have right now, hopefully we'll be entering into Continental and European cuisines as well..".

He winds up by saying, "While "Dining In" has a new meaning now, "Dining Out" is a luxury.. "