Interview with Justkitchen’s Executive Vice President Michael Liu

Michael Liu

What are ghost kitchens and what does the future hold for them in a post-COVID world? In this episode of the Xtalks Food Podcast, the team welcomes their very first guest, Michael Liu, executive vice president of ghost kitchen operator JustKitchen. Previously head of commercial operations at app-to-door dining company Deliveroo, Lui managed a portfolio of thousands of restaurants and took that knowledge to Justkitchen. As a leading voice in the new dining economy, Lui provided unique insight into the growing relevance of ghost kitchens, the growth of app-to-door dining and the emergence of the data driven food economy.

With US expansion on the horizon for Taiwan-based Justkitchen, the team wonders how operations would differ at an American ghost kitchen and whether consumers would be receptive to them. With ghost kitchens already popping up in big cities and celebrities launching their own food and beverage brands, they have already gained popularity. The team also discuss the impact of COVID-19 and how it boosted food deliveries from ghost kitchen operators like Justkitchen. But, will the momentum last in five to ten years?