In an industrial unit on the outskirts of Taipei chefs are plating meals that will never be served in a restaurant: welcome to the world of “ghost kitchens”.

Even before the pandemic sent an earthquake through the global restaurant trade, the “Amazonification” of commercial kitchens was well underway, but coronavirus lockdowns and restrictions have fuelled explosive growth in Asia, AFP reports.

The recent boom in food delivery apps meant customers were already used to having restaurant-quality meals quickly delivered to their homes.

The global ghost kitchen industry is expected to grow more than 12 per cent each year to be worth some $139.37 billion by 2028, according to a report by Researchandmarkets.

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