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The food delivery market is certainly not slowing down anytime soon. With an ever-increasing array of options and a <a href="https://www.qsrmagazine.com/outside-insights/3-dangers-virtual-restaurants?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=ubereats-is-taking-the-lead-in-the-booming-virtual-restaurant-trend-2710836" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">projected value of $365 globally by 2030</a>, brands in every industry are searching for <a href="https://1851franchise.com/look-up-your-next-meal-may-be-arriving-via-drone-2710797" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">new ways to capitalize on the trend</a>. Here&rsquo;s a new one: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/14/technology/uber-eats-ghost-kitchens.html?smid=tw-nytimes&amp%3Bsmtyp=cur&utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=ubereats-is-taking-the-lead-in-the-booming-virtual-restaurant-trend-2710836" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">virtual restaurants</a>.&nbsp;

These virtual restaurants, complete with ghost kitchens, delivery-only menus and quick turnaround times, offer brands a way to cut costs, increase sales and collect consumer data. <a href="https://1851franchise.com/third-party-delivery-apps-continue-to-take-over-the-game-2710464" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">Third-party delivery platforms</a> have been the leaders of this movement, with <a href="https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/why-ghost-restaurants-are-changing-the-delivery-game/546624/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=ubereats-is-taking-the-lead-in-the-booming-virtual-restaurant-trend-2710836" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">Uber Eats operating over 1,500 virtual restaurants</a> in the U.S. and Canada. <a href="https://get.grubhub.com/blog/boost-deliveries-and-test-new-menu-concepts-with-virtual-restaurants?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=ubereats-is-taking-the-lead-in-the-booming-virtual-restaurant-trend-2710836" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">GrubHub even penned a blog post</a> in June educated partner brands on how to increase sales through virtual restaurants and ghost kitchen operations.&nbsp;

Now, GrubHub and restaurant group <a href="https://www.leye.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=ubereats-is-taking-the-lead-in-the-booming-virtual-restaurant-trend-2710836" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">Lettuce Entertain You</a> (great name) have <a href="https://media.grubhub.com/media/press-releases/press-release-details/2019/Whole30-Lettuce-Entertain-You-Enterprises--Grubhub-Team-Up-for-Healthier-Meal-Options-with-Whole30-Delivered/default.aspx?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=ubereats-is-taking-the-lead-in-the-booming-virtual-restaurant-trend-2710836" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">teamed up</a> to open <a href="https://whole30.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=ubereats-is-taking-the-lead-in-the-booming-virtual-restaurant-trend-2710836" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">Whole30</a>&rsquo;s <a href="https://media.grubhub.com/media/press-releases/press-release-details/2019/Whole30-Lettuce-Entertain-You-Enterprises--Grubhub-Team-Up-for-Healthier-Meal-Options-with-Whole30-Delivered/default.aspx?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=ubereats-is-taking-the-lead-in-the-booming-virtual-restaurant-trend-2710836" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">first branded restaurant</a> in Chicago. The diet-compliant menu will be exclusively accessible through GrubHub.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/chipotle-offers-lifestyle-bowls-for-mobile-online-orders/545136/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=ubereats-is-taking-the-lead-in-the-booming-virtual-restaurant-trend-2710836" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">Chipotle also teamed up with Whole30</a> recently for a similar concept&mdash;<a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chipotle-launches-lifestyle-bowls-so-customers-can-achieve-new-years-wellness-resolutions-300770874.html?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=ubereats-is-taking-the-lead-in-the-booming-virtual-restaurant-trend-2710836" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">Lifestyle Bowls</a>. These healthy option bowls were only available via mobile app pick-up and delivery orders. Brands like <a href="https://www.cousinssubs.com/newsroom/cousins-subs-launches-delivery-only-restaurant-concept/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=ubereats-is-taking-the-lead-in-the-booming-virtual-restaurant-trend-2710836" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">Cousins Subs have begun opening delivery-only operations</a> to meet consumer demand and cut back on operational costs.

As foodservice franchises get used to the transition to third-party delivery, 2019 is shaping up to be the year of delivery-only offerings. With more people than ever <a href="https://www.lek.com/insights/ei/digital-restaurant-delivery?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=ubereats-is-taking-the-lead-in-the-booming-virtual-restaurant-trend-2710836" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">eating food at home</a>, before we know it dinner reservations and lunch dates may be a thing of the past

UberEats Is Taking the Lead in the Booming Virtual Restaurant Trend

1851 Franchise

The third-party delivery provider recently teamed up with Lettuce Entertain You to launch a ghost restaurant in Chicago.


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UberEats Is Taking the Lead in the Booming Virtual Restaurant Trend

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