TOKYO - Major restaurant chain operator Skylark Holdings Co. is planning to open its first ghost kitchen in central Tokyo, seeking to capture demand from busy professionals living in high-rise apartments.
The plan, disclosed in a recent interview with company Chairman Makoto Tani, 74, is being considered ahead of a planned consumption tax cut on food products next year.
Restaurant chains operated by Skylark, which include Bamiyan and Gusto, are predominantly found in suburban areas, mostly alongside major roads. Tani noted that as restaurant options around apartments and high-rise buildings in Tokyo's 23 wards are limited, "we can create a highly profitable business model."
The company envisions offering menu items across its restaurant chains best suited to delivery. The ideal model would allow customers to order Chinese-style rice bowls and fried noodles alongside hamburger steaks, Tani said.
Ghost kitchens operate exclusively for delivery and takeout and do not feature dining areas. They can operate from small premises, reducing opening costs, while orders are accepted online.
Skylark's move has been prompted by the government's planned consumption tax cut on food and beverages from 8 percent to 1 percent in April.
As the 10 percent tax rate for dining in will remain unchanged, the company is preparing for increased at-home consumption.
