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Tag: cloud kitchen

  • Top 10 Low-Cost Food Business Ideas with High Demand

    Are you thinking of launching your own food business, but also stressed about the funding? Well, you are not alone. Some aspiring entrepreneurs hold back because they think stepping into the food industry demands huge investments, modern equipment, or a big commercial kitchen. However, the truth is that’s only half the story.

    Nowadays, most profitable food ventures operate with a tight budget. There are plenty of opportunities that don’t require draining your savings, for example, home-based tiffin services and street food stalls, to online food consulting and cloud kitchens.  All it takes is the right idea, a bit of creativity, and the willingness to get started.

    In this blog, we will look at the best 10 low-cost food business ideas that are in high demand right now, along with simple steps to kickstart your journey without burning a hole in your pocket.

    Why Small Profitable Food Businesses in India Are Perfect for Beginners?

    Starting a small food business is easier than ever, thanks to low overheads and high consumer demand for niche, artisanal products. People are willing to pay more for quality, locally sourced, and sustainable food.

    Popular low-cost options include specialty baked goods, home-based catering, and artisanal snacks. Some ventures can begin with as little as $100, while others, like meal kits or food carts, may need up to $15,000. With the right idea and quality focus, even a small setup can turn into a profitable business.

    How to Start a Low-Cost Food Business with Minimal Investment ?

    Low-Cost Food Business with Minimal Investment
    Low-Cost Food Business with Minimal Investment

    Food Truck

    Food trucks - Low-Cost Food Business with Minimal Investment
    Food trucks – Low-Cost Food Business with Minimal Investment

    Food trucks have become a popular entry point into the food business, with the global market growing around 6.2% annually. They allow chefs to showcase their own unique menu while enjoying the flexibility of mobility.

    Instead of waiting for customers to come to a restaurant, a food truck brings your food directly to where people are downtown, at parks, on beaches, or at events, making it easier to attract hungry crowds.

    Benefits:

    • Mobility: Serve customers wherever they gather, adapting to events, trends, and busy locations.
    • Creative Control: Design a unique menu without the high costs of running a full-scale restaurant.

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    Cooking Classes

    If you enjoy a hands-on, personal approach, offering cooking classes can be a rewarding food business. You can teach in-person or online, with options ranging from live sessions to pre-recorded courses that students can watch anytime. Beyond sharing your skills, teaching helps you refine your own expertise and build meaningful connections with your audience.

    Benefits:

    • Scalability: A single class can grow into a digital platform, franchise, or brand. You can also boost revenue by selling related products or services to your students.

    Bakery

    Bakery - Low-Cost Food Business with Minimal Investment
    Bakery – Low-Cost Food Business with Minimal Investment

    If you love baking, starting a bakery can be a rewarding food business. With good recipes, an oven, and basic baking tools, you can create cakes, biscuits, and other treats for local customers. Focusing on corporate orders and small events can help you generate steady income, as many companies regularly place bulk orders for meetings and celebrations.

    Benefits:

    • Steady Revenue: Serving corporate clients and events ensures consistent orders and reliable income.
    • Creative Freedom: You can experiment with new flavors, designs, and specialty products to stand out in the market.

    Ice Cream Shop

    Ice Cream Shop - Low-Cost Food Business with Minimal Investment
    Ice Cream Shop – Low-Cost Food Business with Minimal Investment

    Ice cream is one of the world’s most loved desserts and a highly profitable food business idea. The global ice cream industry is projected to reach $112 billion by 2030, offering huge growth potential. You can serve ice cream alongside other desserts or specialize in varieties like frozen yogurt, gelato, sorbet, or frozen custard, giving you plenty of room to create a niche.

    Benefits:

    • Creative Control: With endless flavor combinations and presentation options, ice cream allows inventive entrepreneurs to stand out.

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    Cloud Kitchen

    Cloud kitchens are delivery-only restaurants that operate entirely online, making them one of the top food business ideas in 2025. With rising demand for food delivery through platforms like Swiggy and Zomato, cloud kitchens help entrepreneurs to serve a large customer base without the high costs of a traditional restaurant.

    By focusing on a functional kitchen, necessary licenses like FSSAI, and consistent food quality, you can build a strong brand. Lower overheads, no rent for prime locations, no waitstaff, and minimal decor make this an attractive option for first-time food business owners.

    Benefits:

    • Lower Operating Costs: Savings on rent, staff, and dining infrastructure reduce financial risk.
    • Scalability: Easy to expand menu offerings and reach more customers via multiple delivery platforms.

    Chocolate Making

    Homemade chocolates are always in demand, making chocolate-making a great small-scale food business. If you have the skills to craft delicious chocolates, you can run this business from home with minimal investment. You can experiment with flavors, fillings, and packaging to create a unique brand. Seasonal products for festivals, birthdays, and special occasions can help boost sales further.

    Benefits:

    • Low Startup Cost: This business can be started from home with basic equipment and ingredients.
    • High Demand: Chocolates are a favorite treat for all ages and occasions, ensuring steady customer interest.

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    Farsan Shop

    Farsan Shop - Low-Cost Food Business with Minimal Investment
    Farsan Shop – Low-Cost Food Business with Minimal Investment

    Farsan, or savory snacks, are a popular treat across India. Homemade namkeen and farsan are especially sought after, as many people prefer buying them ready-made rather than preparing them at home. This makes a farsan shop a lucrative home-based food business with strong local demand.

    Benefits:

    • High Demand: Savory snacks are a staple for festivals, gatherings, and everyday snacking.
    • Low Startup Cost: Can be prepared at home with basic kitchen equipment and ingredients.

    Meal Kits

    Meal Kits - Low-Cost Food Business with Minimal Investment
    Meal Kits – Low-Cost Food Business with Minimal Investment

    Meal kits offer pre-portioned ingredients and recipes, allowing customers to prepare high-quality dishes at home with ease. This business blends the convenience of fast food with the satisfaction of home-cooked meals.

     Meal kits can be sold via subscription, providing recurring revenue, or offered à la carte for more flexibility. With creative recipes and themed kits, you can target specific dietary preferences or cuisines to stand out in the market.

    Benefits:

    • Niching Opportunities: Meal kits are a relatively young business with plenty of room for new brands and untapped food niches.

    Sauces

    Sauces are a versatile and profitable product for first-time food entrepreneurs. Food lovers are always eager to try new flavors, and unique sauces can quickly build a loyal following, think of popular hot sauces or dessert toppings like butterscotch and custard. Sauces can be savory, sweet, spicy, or a combination, and they easily adapt to different cuisines and dietary preferences, making them a flexible product to sell.

    Benefits:

    • Customer Loyalty: Once customers find a sauce they love, they often become repeat buyers due to its versatility.
    • Adventurous Clientele: Unique flavors and branding attract customers who are open to trying new products.

    Potato Fry-Based Business

    Potatoes are affordable, versatile, and perfect for creating various snack options. French fries, a favorite among fast-food lovers, are a simple yet highly popular choice. Many outlets use less-than-fresh potatoes and charge premium prices, creating an opportunity to offer a fresher, tastier alternative.

    Starting a fry stall or small potato-based snack business lets you experiment with flavors like peri-peri, tandoori, cheesy, or honey chili fries, appealing to a wide range of customers.

    Benefits:

    • Low-Cost Ingredient: Potatoes are inexpensive and widely available, keeping startup costs low.
    • Creative Menu Options: Endless flavor combinations and styles allow you to stand out in a crowded snack market.

    Conclusion

    The food industry is ever-evolving, offering endless opportunities for creativity, growth, and profitability. With a huge customer base and countless niches to explore, even first-time entrepreneurs can find a space to thrive.

    Few ventures are as fulfilling as turning your passion for food into a business. Whether you are an at-home chef, a foodie with a unique recipe, or someone looking for a low-cost entry into entrepreneurship, starting a food business allows you to make money doing what you love, while delighting customers with flavors they can’t resist.

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    FAQs

    What are some Top 10 Low-Cost Food Business Ideas with High Demand?

    Top 10 Low-Cost Food Business Ideas with High Demand are:

    • Food Truck
    • Cooking Classes
    • Bakery
    • Ice Cream Shop
    • Cloud Kitchen
    • Chocolate Making
    • Farsan Shop
    • Meal Kits
    • Sauces
    • Potato Fry-Based Business

    Do I need professional culinary training to start a food business?

    Not at all. While training helps, many successful entrepreneurs rely on family recipes, self-learning, or unique creativity to build their brand.

    How long does it take to start earning profit in a small food business?

    Most small ventures can start earning within 3–6 months, depending on investment, demand, and marketing. Home-based businesses may break even even faster.

  • Celebrating 5 Years of Success, The Rolling Plate Transforms Lives with New Job Opportunities

    New Delhi [India], September 7: The Rolling Plate, a leading cloud kitchen franchise company, is celebrating its 5th anniversary by giving back to society. The company is all set to change the lives of five underprivileged people on this special occasion. These people are currently working as beggars, and The Rolling Plate is going to provide them with a new look that includes haircuts, clothes, and shoes. The company is also going to provide them with jobs, which will help them earn a living and lead a better life.

    This initiative taken by The Rolling Plate is a part of its social work towards the betterment of society. The founder of The Rolling Plate, Mr. Jahaan Khurana, is proud to make a difference in the society by celebrating the 5th anniversary in such a unique way. The company’s three unique models FOFO, FOCO, and FOPO, have been successful in the market, and the company aims to further expand its reach.

    The Rolling Plate has previously carried out various social initiatives as well. In the past, the company conducted a defense training program for 400 girls. The aim was to empower these girls and make them aware of their safety and the importance of self-defense. The initiative towards women’s safety was successful, and the company is proud to have made an impact on the lives of these girls.

    The company also organized a plantation drive two years back to contribute towards environmental conservation. The plantation drive was carried out in different parts of the city, and the company took this step to keep the environment clean and green.

    The Rolling Plate Bringing Change to Society
    The Rolling Plate Bringing Change to Society

    The Rolling Plate’s commitment to social work is evident through its various initiatives over the years. The company remains committed to making a positive impact on society and contributing to its growth and development. 

    About The Rolling Plate 

    The Rolling Plate is a cloud kitchen franchise company that has been providing tasty, healthy, and affordable food to customers for the past five years. The company is known for its unique concept of FOFO, FOCO, and FOPO models, which has been successful in the market. With a focus on quality and consistency, The Rolling Plate has been able to win the trust of its customers.

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  • Cloud Kitchen Climbing the Expansion Ladder in India

    Multiple research firms have projected that by 2026, the cloud kitchen market in India will be worth $1.9 billion. Because the market recorded a business number of $800 million in 2022, this demonstrates that the market is surging. The consistent growth of online meal ordering is the reason for this increase. The concept of cloud kitchen is not new to the world, in the Western world, it was gaining a lot of traction but as soon as the pandemic struck, this concept received a massive push owing to lockdowns and every country’s government only allowing certain special services to be operated during that tenure.

    It is very interesting to note that there are various models of cloud kitchens operating in India. Majorly, four types of cloud kitchens are very popular in the country- Independent cloud kitchens, Multi-brand cloud kitchens, Hybrid cloud kitchen,s and Cloud kitchens owned by delivery apps. New business models in the cloud kitchen industry are emerging as a result of the market disruption caused by specialized service providers offering a range of infrastructure, support, and outsourcing services. The cloud kitchen sector is undergoing significant transformation due to several phenomena. The growing reliance on technology and automation to streamline culinary processes is one notable trend.

    According to various media reports, cloud kitchens are trying to get ahead of the competition by using AI and ML-led kitchen automation solutions to standardize food quality and taste while cutting down on kitchen labor.

    Advantages of Cloud Kitchens
    Utilization of Technological Resources
    The Future Ahead

    Advantages of Cloud Kitchens

    The traditional brick-and-mortar restaurant can be easily replaced by a virtual kitchen, also called a cloud kitchen or a ghost kitchen. The administrative complexity and logistical issues that often hinder the success of the food sector can be reduced with the help of ghost kitchens, allowing users to focus on food production and product promotion. Certain elements make cloud kitchens a profitable game for the restaurant sector.

    • A cloud kitchen can do away with a lot of the costs that come with running a regular restaurant. When compared to conventional brick-and-mortar eateries, cloud kitchens should be more cost-effective across the board (infrastructure, overhead, logistics, etc.).
    • Cloud kitchens are low-risk ventures since they require less labor and infrastructure to run. The initial investment for a cloud kitchen is far lower than that of a conventional brick-and-mortar eatery.
    • The time and resources needed to open a cloud kitchen are one-third of those of a conventional sit-down restaurant. This is because cloud kitchens do not require the hiring of wait staff or the leasing of a prime site.
    • One can start a cloud kitchen with almost minimal money outlay for personnel, basic culinary materials, furniture, or decor. The flexibility it gives restaurant owners to try new things, save expenses, and eventually break even is what makes it a successful venture.
    • Total Capex is far lower than a full-fledged restaurant because operations are limited to a kitchen. Cloud kitchens allow restaurants to test out new markets and gauge customer perception without investing in expensive equipment.
    Gross Merchandize Value of Cloud Kitchens in India in 2018 and 2019, With an Estimate for 2025
    Gross Merchandize Value of Cloud Kitchens in India in 2018 and 2019, With an Estimate for 2025

    Utilization of Technological Resources

    The cloud kitchen business has already benefited greatly from technological advancements, and this trend will likely continue. Some examples of this could include the integration of robotics and automation into culinary operations to make them run more smoothly, or the creation of more advanced delivery systems that optimise routes and timeframes using machine learning.

    Though not widely used as yet in India, robotics has the potential to become an integral part of cloud kitchen systems down the road. Nevertheless, this has cast a shadow over the human workforce, as its implementation would inevitably lead to its replacement. But there’s a silver lining: if this change materializes, people will be able to acquire new abilities to operate these robotic systems, making them more technically proficient overall.

    According to Adid Khan, Co-founder, RoboFood, “More personalisation choices from cloud kitchen operators are likely on the horizon as customer demands rise. The option to personalise meals, select precise delivery windows, and even specify ingredients and cooking techniques are all possibilities. We should see operators entering new markets and regions as the cloud kitchen business keeps growing. This may involve penetrating untapped markets, such as catering or corporate food service, or moving into adjacent areas.”

    The Future Ahead

    According to a report by IBEF, an arm of the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, in India, the cloud kitchen industry is being propelled by factors such as the increasing demand for online food delivery services. Cloud kitchens are booming in India thanks to several factors, including increasing disposable incomes, extensive smartphone usage, simple internet connection, and shifting consumer preferences. More and more individuals are learning about the advantages of cloud kitchens over conventional kitchens, which include higher profit margins and the ability to run “ghost restaurants” from anywhere, which is driving industry growth. Market growth is also being driven by the widespread use of POS, KDS, and inventory management systems to streamline multiple kitchen processes, improve communication, and eliminate order-taking delays. The fast growth of cloud kitchens and the formation of strategic partnerships between major companies to enhance ghost kitchen services are two other factors that contribute to a positive market forecast.

    Forecasts indicate that the domestic cloud kitchens market will grow to $2 billion in the current year. The market is expected to expand as more and more people choose to have their food delivered online. Over the next five years, the Indian cloud kitchen industry is expected to experience expansion, driven by factors such as the increasing disposable income of the younger generation and their changing lifestyle choices. An increase in the demand for internet delivery services can be attributed, in part, to the growing popularity of fast food and snacking as alternatives to home-cooked meals. A lot of people are impacted by things like corporate culture, long hours, and not wanting to cook at home. The cloud kitchen sector in India is expected to grow in the next five years, thanks to the proliferation of more convenient payment methods, the rise of cloud payments, and the development of safe payment routes.

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  • Story of uEngage: Technology Solutions for New Age Restaurants

    Company Profile is an initiative by StartupTalky to publish verified information on different startups and organizations. The content in this post has been approved by uEngage.

    uEngage provides subscription based-technology solutions to the local businesses for better market services. It is on a mission to help restaurants save aggregator commission and build their long term digital data growth. Started in 2018, uEngage has clocked over 700+ crore worth orders through its client apps.

    StartupTalky interviewed Mr. Sameer Sharma (Founder, uEngage) to get insights into the startup story and roadmap of the organization. Read ahead to know more!

    uEngage – Company Highlights

    Startup Name uEngage
    Founders Sameer Sharma, Sunil Rawal
    Founded 2018
    Headquarters Panchkula, Haryana
    Industry Foodtech
    Website uengage.in

    uEngage – About and Vision
    uEngage – How it Started
    uEngage – Founders and Team
    uEngage – Products/Services
    uEngage – Challenges Faced
    uEngage – Marketing Strategies
    uEngage – Growth and Stats
    uEngage – Future Plans
    uEngage – FAQs

    uEngage

    uEngage – About and Vision

    uEngage offers digital and technology solutions for food ordering apps, cloud kitchen, contactless ordering, CRM services, grocery delivery, and many more.

    uEngage’s uniqueness lies in its balanced combination of its innovative products and digital growth consultant. It can be broken into 3 core pillars –

    • Online ordering solutions
    • User acquisition and demand generation
    • Rider tracking platform + Third party riders integration

    uEngage Services is founded with the vision to provide subscription based-technology solutions to the local businesses for better market services. They are a team of young aspirants who believe in providing business and technology solutions to the local business houses. Within the next two years (2023), uEngage’s mission is to be one of the best solution provider platforms for all the merchandisers and create maximum job opportunities for qualified youngsters.

    uEngage – How it Started

    The founders come from middle-class families, a town where most of the youngsters have to leave their hometown to look for good job opportunities. They wanted to break this chain and thus thought of creating opportunities where prospective people don’t have to leave their hometown. Coming from a technology & business background, Sameer & Sunil started their first venture Trideal in 2012.

    “The journey wasn’t easy as the investors in Tier-2 cities lack confidence in startup’s but with our hard work, we were able to get the support of the talented people that made it a success. With certain ups and lows, Trideal was acquired by Paytm and after some gap, I started uEngage and ShoutLo in 2018. To date, we have been quite successful in achieving our mission” -says Sameer Sharma, Founder, uEngage & Shoutlo.

    The founders noticed that the local food joints pay huge commissions to companies like Swiggy, Zomato for the delivery services. So they thought of solving that problem by providing them with a direct delivery option. At uEngage, the team provides subscription-based technological solutions to the local business houses.

    uEngage – Founders and Team

    • Sameer Sharma – Founder at uEngage & Shoutlo
    • Sunil Rawal – Co-Founder, Business Head at uEngage & Shoutlo

    uEngage has a team of promising youngsters who have the zeal and determination to provide technological solutions to the local business and expand job opportunities for qualified professionals. In 2018, uEngage was established and run by Sameer Sharma and his Co-founder Sunil Rawal looks after the business strategies of the company.

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    uEngage – Products/Services

    uEngage offers digital and technology solutions for food ordering apps, cloud kitchen, contactless ordering, CRM services, grocery delivery, etc.,

    Uengage - Products & Services
    uEngage – Products & Services

    DISCOVERY

    1. Food Ordering App: uEngage allows you to enhance the online food ordering experience for your customers with your own food ordering app. There are no upfront costs/commission and a low-cost fixed rental model.

    2. Web Ordering: Have your customers place orders directly with your own food ordering website. There will be no commission charged for every order placed. The features include displaying a digital menu, accepting orders online, and showcasing multiple outlets on a single website.

    3. Cloud Kitchen App: Run your delivery-only restaurant online with uEngage’s Cloud Kitchen App. Manage all your home delivery, takeaway, and in-car dine-in orders seamlessly.

    4. Contactless Ordering Solution: Integrate a contactless ordering solution by eliminating physical touchpoints. The features include QR code ordering, a digital menu, and a digital mode of payment.

    MARKETING

    1. CRM for restaurants: uEngage offers a complete CRM solution helping your business to connect and engage with your customers in a smarter way and converting your audience into potential buyers. Enabled with features like – segment-based audience, personalized SMS campaign, customer feedback management, and smart reporting.  
    2. Digital Marketing: Includes SEO, SEM, PPC, Email marketing, Social Media, and content marketing.
    3. SMS Solutions (DLT): Stay Connected to your customers with DLT Approved Transactional, Promotional & OTP Bulk SMS Service.
    4. Mini App Store/3rd party integration: Launch your business in Paytm Mini App Store and PhonePe Switch to showcase your products/services and get access to the huge customer base of active users of Paytm & PhonePe.

    DELIVERY & LOGISTICS

    1. Rider tracking app: This app will let the rider make deliveries efficiently by letting him know the best routes based on current traffic status and all the delivery information on the app including the customer calling options and the address.
    2. Rider Management: Manage all your on-demand deliveries and logistics services with your own Rider App. Features include – Rider Allocation, real-time rider tracking, and 3rd party rider management.
    3. 3rd party logistics: Integrate with third-party logistics with Rapido and Dunzo to eliminate the need to invest in warehouse space, technology, transportation, and employees to carry out logistics processes.

    OTHER TOOLS

    1. In-store feedback app: Get to know what your customers think about your food, ambiance, service, staff, and more with customer reviews and ratings, all in real-time.
    2. Digital Check-in App:  Check-in guests at the door by entering their name or confirmation number on uEngage’s Digital Check-in App and reduce their waiting process.
    3. Grocery Delivery App: Take your grocery store online and offer a hassle-free grocery shopping experience to your customers with your own grocery delivery app.

    uEngage – Challenges Faced

    “Challenges make you stronger. If you are not getting challenges on your road to success, you aren’t growing. My first challenge came when my Trideal Co-founder left the startup after 6 months and I had to learn the business mechanism in addition to my tech background. Getting the right kind of people under my umbrella and convincing the investors to invest in startups especially in Tier-2 cities is a real challenge. Slowly and gradually with our sustained efforts, we not only attracted investors but also created job opportunities for qualified professionals” – Sameer added.

    uEngage – Growth and Stats

    uEngage has successfully provided technology solutions to many brands and helped them provide better services to the clients. The startup’s presence is in more than 127 cities and has clocked 700+ crore worth orders through its client.

    • 3500+ outlets onboarded
    • Provided Technology solution to Outlets in 127+ cities
    • One of the Prominent Pizza Chain has acquired 1.7 million users and is among top 7 apps on Play Store
    • uEngage has empowered essential delivery platform for Govt of Punjab while Covid Lockdown
    • uEngage does 5.2 lac+ Transactions on a monthly basis across its white-labeled apps/PWAs
    • uEngage has helped its partner restaurants to clock more than 700 Cr worth Sales in last 4+ years journey

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    uEngage – Future Plans

    In the years to come, uEngage wants restaurants to start direct online delivery services rather than spending money on commission base apps. The team is also inclined to make Uenage one of the biggest solution providers in the Northern region and create job opportunities for young aspirants.

    FAQs

    What is uEngage?

    uEngage provides subscription based-technology solutions to the local businesses for better market services. It offers digital and technology solutions for food ordering apps, cloud kitchen, contactless ordering, CRM services, grocery delivery, and many more.

    Who founded uEngage?

    Sameer Sharma and Sunil Rawal founded uEngage in 2018.

    Is uEngage an Indian company?

    Yes. uEngage is an Indian company headquartered in Panchkula, Haryana.

  • Is Cloud Kitchen Future of Restaurant Industry? | Popularity of Cloud Kitchen in India

    Ever since Covid-19 arrived, everything has digitised. With that, the shift towards a delivery-only model has accelerated. The Cloud Kitchen market got benefitted from this. Every small and large scale restaurant have also started their online food delivering services. And this is the major reason for the growing popularity of cloud kitchens. Not only that, it has become the latest trendsetters in the restaurant industry.

    Let’s have a look if cloud kitchen is really going to be the future of the restaurant industry or not. Here are few things that this article will cover:

    What Is Cloud Kitchen?
    Top Cloud Kitchens In India
    How Cloud Kitchen Works?
    The Future Of Cloud Kitchen In India

    What Is Cloud Kitchen?

    Cloud Kitchen is a kitchen space with no physical outlet and dining facilities.
    Cloud Kitchen/Virtual Kitchen/Take Away Restaurant is a kitchen space with no physical outlet and dining facilities.

    A cloud kitchen is a virtual kitchen or ghost kitchen with no physical outlet and dine-in option. In other words, it is a mobile application that accepts only online delivery demand via apps or calls or online food aggregators.

    While the concept was popular even before the pandemic struck, cloud kitchens have become more lucrative now. Cloud kitchens witnessed a huge surge in their demand during the pandemic as well. People got stuck in their homes and missed their favourites food. Gladly, those cravings got saved by online food delivery platforms like Zomato, Swiggy, Uber and more.

    And these cloud kitchens have their presence on these online food delivery platforms via which customer can order their delivery.

    Top Cloud Kitchens In India

    Faasos

    Faasos is one of the biggest cloud kitchen restaurant companies in India. It delivers in more than 15 states in India. It has an add-on feature which is to deliver the order free if the food is not delivered within 30 minutes. This is to keep the customers satisfied.

    All About Faasos Business Model – The Biggest Cloud Kitchen

    Box8

    Currently, Box8 is one of the fastest-growing food delivery apps in Delhi, India. They define their selling agenda by keeping the taste desi. From paratha to lasagnas, desserts to chicken tandoori, you can have it all on Box8.

    Travelkhana

    Travelkhana is a company that provides fresh food for Indian railway passengers. Many items can be delivered right to your seat. TravelKhana has now grown to have 1,200 vendors on its site.

    Oven Story

    Oven Story is cloud kitchen famous for providing different types of pizza to their customers. Oven Story falls under Rebel foods, which is online restaurants company. It deals with over 11 cloud kitchen in India, one of them is Oven Story.

    Biryani By Kilo

    Biryani By Kilo is perfect for those Biryani lovers, who cant think about their life without the lip-smacking dish. It is a cloud kitchen, where one can order Biryani and Kebabs and the best thing is the Biryani are delivered to your doorstep in earthen bowl.

    Behrouz Biryani

    The recipe of Behrouz Biryani is 2000 years old and itcame from the kingdom of Behrouz which is in Persia. This cloud kitchen is famous for all types of Biryani especially Murg Tikka Biryani and Dum Gosht Biryani and serving the customers with love.

    How Cloud Kitchen Works?

    Cloud Kitchen follows the delivery-only business model. they take orders from their own website or rely on other food delivery apps, through which they get orders. As they are delivery only restaurants therefore there is no need to build a proper dining place for their customers.

    Restaurant interiors, rent and extra staff costs are not needed here and the restaurant’s digital presence is enough to gather customers for the cloud kitchen. Cloud kitchen only needs proper infrastructure of the kitchen, chefs to make good food and of course the delivery people.

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    The Future Of Cloud Kitchen In India

    With the arrival of online food delivery platforms like Swiggy and Zomato, the demand for online food delivery has increased. According to DataLabs by Inc42, the food ordering market of India is expanding at a CAGR of 16% to reach $17 billion by 2023. The projected market size of cloud kitchens is expected to reach $1.05 billion by 2023.

    With the digital shift of all the services, people have started preferring online platforms. So is the case with food. They have no free time to walk down to a restaurant or drive-in jam-packed traffic for food. And this problem has been beautifully solved by the food delivery service providers.

    In the coming future, Cloud kitchen will transform the way we dine. The reason for its growth is that the amount of risks is comparatively lower. The monetary constraints can easily be dealt with as the demand for the digital platform lowers the operational cost.

    Conclusion

    The conventional method of dining is always going to remain there but Cloud Kitchen will be the first preference of the consumer as they prefer to order online rather than visit a restaurant. The reason for this inclination is comfort eating because of the convenience and mobility of consumers.

    FAQs

    What is a cloud kitchen?

    A cloud kitchen is a virtual kitchen or ghost kitchen with no physical outlet and dine-in option. In other words, it is a mobile application that accepts only online delivery demand via apps or calls or online food aggregators.

    Are cloud kitchens profitable?

    Cloud kitchen can reach customers throughout the city without using large premises, it can be more profitable than a restaurant. Cloud kitchens are likely to become profitable faster than restaurants due to their low cost and broad reach.

    Can I start a cloud kitchen from home?

    Yes, you just need to have a base kitchen for the preparation of delivery-only meals. You can collaborate with online food ordering and delivery platforms like Zomato and Swiggy to deliver your meals to the customer.

    Cloud kitchens are popular because of the rise in online food delivery services.

    What is the future of cloud kitchen?

    Cloud Kitchen is not only the future but it has become the latest trend now. The cloud kitchen market is going to expand at a higher rate in the future with the surge in the demand for online food delivery services.

  • Box8 Success Story- Delivering Fresh and Healthy Meals in 28 Minutes

    People who stay away from home for studies or work know the importance of good and healthy food more than others. Though we are fascinated by burgers and pizza, we also know very well that we cannot eat them regularly while we are away from our homes. Hence to provide these people with a home-like experience with fresh and warm food, two IIT graduates, Amit Raj and Anshul Gupta started Box8 in 2012.

    Box8 – Company Highlights

    Startup Name Box8
    Headquarter Mumbai, India
    Sector Food Delivery
    Founders Anshul Gupta, Amit Raj
    Founded 2012
    Parent Organization EatClub Brands

    Box8 – About and How it Works
    Box8 – USP and Innovation
    Box8 – Target Market Size
    Box8 – Founders and Team
    Box8 – How did it start?
    Box8 – Startup Launch
    Box8 – Competitors
    Box8 – Funding and Investors
    Box8 – Growth
    Box8 – Future Plans
    Box8- FAQ

    Box8 – About and How it Works

    Initially, Box8 was launched as Poncho in the year 2011. Poncho was nothing but a food delivery model with a quick-service restaurant format, which was serving Mexican food. Then in 2014, Poncho rebranded to its current name Box8 and also subsequently expanded its menu. And as of today, Box8 is a full-stack online food delivery platform serving fresh, healthy and warm meals across major cities in the country.

    If you’re wondering how Box8 actually works? This is how Box8 works:

    Box8 Menu
    Box8 Menu

    Customers who are using Box8 Meals click on its website or app, where they are asked to select a delivery location. Then according to them, they are presented with an extensive menu with a wide array of varieties including All In 1 Meal, Biryani, Wraps, Sandwiches, Salads and Pizzas. After selecting the dish that the user wants to opt for, they place their order with the guaranteed delivery within 28 minutes.

    Box8 – USP and Innovation

    Box8 is majorly solving two big problems:

    • On-demand preparation of high-quality and fresh food.
    • Delivering it smoking hot within 28 minutes.

    Its unique selling proposition lies in preparing and delivering Indian food from a menu that consists of over 100 dishes and that too in ‘All-in-1 Indian meals’ consisting of biryanis, wraps, sandwiches, and salads at not to mention, superiorly affordable prices.

    Box8 also fairly and out loud claims that product development is their core competence. This also is the factor that differentiates them from other vastly present neighbourhood restaurants. “Hence, all our parathas and bread are made in whole wheat, we use little oil and butter, nothing on the menu is fried, food is loaded with proteins in the form of Paneer and Chicken and we use a lot of fresh salads in our meals; basically all the things that you don’t see in a neighbourhood restaurant.” Said the co-founder, Anshul Gupta.

    Box8 – Target Market Size

    There is a large population in Indian metro cities which have migrated to the city for higher education or job purpose and they frequently eat outside and Box8 specifically intends to become a go-to brand for this set of audience. Hence, Box8’s focus lies in preparing meals where the food is light, supremely easy on the stomach and prepared with quality ingredients, therefore motivating the consumers to order food frequently from Box8.

    Box8 – Founders and Team

    Box8 Founders - Anshul Gupta and Amit Raj
    Box8 Founders – Anshul Gupta and Amit Raj

    The founders of Box8 are Amit Raj and Anshul Gupta who are both IIT alumni.

    • Amit Raj, Co-founder – An IIT graduate, Amit was a senior analyst at a bank before co-founding Box8.
    • Anshul Gupta, Co-founder – Again, an IIT graduate, Anshul worked at the same bank as Amit before they both went on to co-founding Box8.

    Box8 – How did it start?

    As we know, Box8 started as Poncho, delivering Mexican food across the country in 2012. And then in 2014, the co-founders- Amit Raj and Anshul Gupta, decided to change it over to Box8, and accomplish it as a meal delivery service that prepares and delivers wholesome boxes of Indian food at pocket-friendly prices.

    All of this started when the co-founders started wondering as to why the likes of food chains like McDonald’s & Dominos haven’t emerged from India. And they started trying to find a suitable answer to this query. And that’s when they thought of being the answer by launching a made in Indian chain for delectable Indian meals. That’s how Box8 was born.

    Box8 – Startup Launch

    After the launch of Box8, all its initiatives were towards establishing itself as an all in one food chain that offers a wholesome Indian meal. These Indian meals come with a main curry and a side curry, with a choice of rice or paratha, accompanied by a dose of salad and chutney plus a dessert to complement the meal. The Box8 meals come in a convenient disposable palette and the user can choose from an array of 11 different varieties.

    Box8 Meal
    Box8 Meal

    Since entering the Indian Market as Box8, its focus lies in preparing meals and serving its customers exactly what they love to eat. “We have a twofold intent, one is to offer our customers different experience through different categories and second is to be a one-stop solution for a full course meal or snacks,” Says Anshul

    Box8 – Competitors

    Box8 competes directly with all the restaurants and cafes around the neighbourhood. Plus it also competes with western food chains like McDonald’s, Subway, Dominos who are vastly present around the country.

    Box8 – Funding and Investors

    The funding amount of Box8 stands at $72 Million.

    • On Nov 30, 2021, EatClub Brands (Box8) raised $40 million in a Series D round led by Tiger Global Management.
    • In March 2019, Box8 raised its Series C funding round from ReDefine Capital for $6.2 million. Concerning this funding round, the Redefine Capital Fund (eWTP Ecosystem entity) acquired 1,603 compulsorily convertible preference shares at the premium of INR 2,71,611 in the company.
    • Box8 also raised $15 million from Ewtp Ecosystem Fund, IIFL Seed Ventures Fund, Mayfield Ventures, Indian Angel Network, and others in the same month.
    • In May 2017, the company had raised Rs 7 crore in venture debt from Trifecta Capital.
    • In October 2016, Box8 raised Rs 50 crore in funding from IIFL Seed Ventures Fund and Mayfield.
    • In May 2015, this full-stack food startup raised Rs 21 crore in a Series A funding round from Mayfield.
    • Box8 had initially received funding from Kaushal Aggarwal of Avendus Capital, Dheeraj Rajaram of MuSigma and Indian Angel Network.

    Box8 – Growth

    • Serves 1 million meals in a month on an average
    • On average, serves 12,000 meals every day
    • Actively present four cities – Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru, and Gurugram
    • Has a network of 110 + outlets across these four cities

    Box8 – Future Plans

    Box8 is looking to scale its business geographically to five more cities in India with 100 more kitchens by 2021. Also, the team is planning to invest the new funds in talent and technology to take Box8 forward in all the horizons.

    Box8- FAQ

    Who is the founder of Box8?

    Anshul Gupta and Amit Raj are the founders of Box8.

    Is Box8 a cloud kitchen?

    Yes, Box8 is a cloud-kitchen startup based in Mumbai.

    What is the revenue of Box8?

    The revenue of Box8 is 100 crore as of 2020.