American beverage and snacks firm PepsiCo has launched a new ghost kitchen service for its foodservice partners, thereby expanding its PepsiCo Foodservice Digital Lab.

The ghost kitchen platform is expected to help foodservice partners identify growth avenues and allow existing and future PepsiCo foodservice customers to enhance off-premise performance.

The offering also enables customers to introduce their flavors to new or existing markets, increase their off-premise presence, and improve revenues.

The PepsiCo Foodservice Digital Lab’s new ghost kitchen service also offers expertise in culinary creations, media, optimization of menus, and launch strategies.

André Moraes — PepsiCo Foodservice marketing senior director said: “Ghost kitchens offer foodservice operators an efficient, proven, and cost-effective way to improve kitchen profitability and overall supply-chain utilization without the burden of additional overhead and front of house operations typically associated with launching a new restaurant.

“Digital Lab provides new and existing partners with a one-stop-shop to enter the space so they can focus on what they do best: creating delicious meals that delight consumers.”

Introduced in 2019, the PepsiCo Foodservice Digital Lab connects customers with the companies, insights, and services for their online and digital requirements.

The new Digital Lab service is expected to help restaurant operators to meet the increasing off-premise requirements and capture the 54% of adults who consider food takeout or delivery as essential to their lifestyle.

The launch of PepsiCo Digital Lab’s ghost kitchen service follows previously introduced beverage-first ghost kitchen initiative Pep’s Place in collaboration with Famous Dave’s.

PepsiCo, citing the National Restaurant Association 2022 State of the Industry Report, said that the ghost kitchen market is forecast to reach $71.4bn by 2027.

PepsiCo beverage and convenient foods portfolio includes Lay’s, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Quaker, Mountain Dew, and SodaStream.

The company generated more than $79 billion in net revenue in 2021.

  André Moraes, Pepsico, USA