Wimpy trials first dark kitchen
84% of their restaurant estate remains open.
Wimpy announced it is trialling its first dark kitchen in a continued bid to adapt during the ongoing pandemic.
The chain’s Slough operation has signed up with Just Eat, Uber Eats and Deliveroo, and exceeded its target by 15% in its first week of operations.
“Opening a dark kitchen is very much a test phase for us and I’m pleased to say the initial feedback has been very good. This has given us the opportunity to bring the much-loved Wimpy brand back to Slough, but very much on home delivery terms only,” Wimpy UK general manager Chris Woolfenden said.
“We shall continue to review progress and undoubtedly, if it continues to be successful, we may look at other locations in the future.”
There were previously three Wimpy outlets in Slough, with the last one closing its doors in 2004.
Like the rest of the 69-strong Wimpy estate, the new venture is a franchised operation, currently employing a team of five to help meet online delivery orders within a two-mile radius of its base.
Stringent social distancing and health and safety protocols have also been put in place for staff and delivery collection drivers. The operation is strictly off limits to the public.
“We’ve seen a huge uptake in the move to home delivery and (in some cases) takeaway, and we now have 84% of our restaurant estate open,” Woolfenden said.
Wimpy is also set to make a return to Bracknell, according to planning documents seen by Bracknell News.
