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3 new celebrity-fueled virtual brands from Mariah Carey, DJ Pauly D and Mario Lopez, plus a food hall from Thrillist and more

See what other restaurant brands we’re dying to get delivered this month

Holly Petre, Assistant Digital Editor

December 10, 2020

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As the year comes to a close, it’s safe to say the growth of virtual brands was one of the biggest trends of 2020.

Between big chains like Smokey Bones, Bloomin’ Brands and Brinker, and smaller multiconcept groups like C3 and Virtual Dining Concepts, the market truly exploded this year.

Recently, Robert Earl’s Virtual Dining Concepts leaned heavily into the celebrity-aspect of its model with collaborations ranging from rapper Tyga to international star Mariah Carey and DJ Pauley D. These concepts — three of which have just been announced for 2021 — are available for licensing.

Also recently announced is a new collaboration between ghost kitchen company Zuul — which launched its first virtual food hall in New York City in October — and the media company Thrillist.

The two brands are joining forces to create a second food hall by Zuul in New York City featuring rotating restaurant concepts showcasing “top chefs,” whose restaurants may be sidelined by COVID restrictions.

And another virtual brand powerhouse, Franklin Junction, announced a new virtual wings brand, WingDepot, to service the Midwest and the South. Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises also opened two virtual brands — a soup concept and a cocktail bar — this month in Chicago.

See all the virtual brands we spotted this month that we’re dying to get delivered.

Related:8 new virtual brands we’re dying to get delivered this month

About the Author

Holly Petre

Assistant Digital Editor

Holly Petre is a digital editor for Nation’s Restaurant News as well as the host of NRN’s podcast, Extra Serving, and producer for Informa Restaurant and Food Group’s other three podcasts, One On One by Food Management, Off the Shelf with SN and In the Kitchen with Bret Thorn. Holly holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a concentration in Sculpture, fibers and Material Studies and Ceramics from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. A native New Yorker, Holly enjoys her place on staff as the resident pop-culture expert and millennial with a sassy attitude and great sense of style.

Holly Petre’s work on Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality often covers marketing and trends, either aimed-at or examined-through the millennial mindset. Holly is responsible for introducing TikTok and Twitch to NRN and RH readers as well as explaining terms like “Karen” to staff and readers alike. She also spends her time on staff trying not to make every headline a pun.

Holly Petre hasn’t spoken at any events or on panels, but she is readily available with a killer shoe wardrobe and several witty quips.

 

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