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French startup Not So Dark has raised $80 million in Series B funding led by Karis Capital and Verlinvest, with Conviviality Ventures also participating. The startup has launched digital catering brands that you can find in catering apps.
Although Not So Dark started as a network of dark kitchens, the company abandoned this business model shortly after raising its Series A round. Building dark kitchens requires a lot of capital and creates problems in some neighborhoods.
Instead, the company is playing on existing restaurants. In addition to their own menu, these partners can cook a variety of dishes designed specifically for catering platforms.
In other words, restaurants can earn extra revenue by making sure their kitchen staff is always busy cooking something — whether it’s for restaurant customers or home customers looking for something special.
Some of the dark brands include Vegedal, Como Kitchen, Coquillettes, JFK Burgers, Fat Panda, Gaïa Pita and Walida. The startup designs the recipes, sources the ingredients, and restaurants must cook and fulfill the orders.
Customers can find these restaurants on food delivery platforms like Deliveroo and Uber Eats. Currently, Not So Dark operates in 100 cities in France and Belgium. A start-up will reduce revenue like a traditional restaurant franchise.
And because there are so many non-dark partners, you get all the benefits of a food franchise. Not Dark can run ad campaigns that benefit everyone. The startup can improve listings on Uber Eats and Deliveroo by adjusting prices in real-time based on competitors — something that takes time for a traditional restaurant.
Founded by Clement Benoit and Alexander Hage, Not So Dark currently employs 150 people. With today’s funding, the company wants to build the world’s largest restaurant without a kitchen — a virtual franchise.
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