Worldcrunch
“Ghost Kitchens” or “Dark Kitchens” — restaurants that only serve delivery customers — have exploded in the post-pandemic landscape, and are now becoming more common in Europe. In spite of their convenience, many have reported poor working conditions and health code violations.
Of 823 delivery riders checked in a recent police blitz, 92 were using accounts that belonged to someone else, rented to them for exorbitant rates. The investigation reveals widespread exploitation of these gig workers, who are often vulnerable, undocumented immigrants.
Didi Food, a delivery startup that struggled in East Asia, has found a growing market in Latin American cities, where appetite for home deliveries has yet to be fully satisfied.
Startups that offer to deliver groceries in less than 15 minutes have learned from the past and are hiring full-time employees, even if they need temporary workers to meet demand.