Sizl raises $3.5M to expand its cook-to-order food delivery service

Summary

Dark kitchens– also referred to as ghost kitchens, cloud kitchens, or virtual kitchens– often receive criticism for their food quality. Sizl, a cook-to-order delivery service based in Chicago, seeks to change this perception by delivering meals made with fresh ingredients in around 30 minutes flat. The company announced its recent $3.5 million seed round on Tuesday, at a $12 million post-money valuation. Unlike typical dark kitchens, which serve as shared spaces for various restaurants, Sizl says it runs its own kitchens with a small team of Ukrainian cooks and local culinary talent from Chicago who prepare the food. It also has its own delivery couriers and even a mobile app where you can earn rewards. Image Credits:Sizl Since dark kitchens typically operate without a traditional dine-in space and focus solely on delivering takeout orders, this can lead to inconsistency in the food quality and freshness. A key selling point for Sizl’s target audience, health-conscious customers looking for a quick bite, is that the service provides “fresh ingredients,” co-founder and COO Anastasia Kalinkina told TechCrunch. Sizl claims it sources meat and produce from local suppliers, including Greensys, an organic farm in central Illinois. However, the company admits to also working with large distributors like US Foods and Sysco, although it emphasizes that a significant portion of its ingredients come from local sources. Additionally, many ghost kitchens offer a wide variety of foods but lack specialization. Sizl stands out by focusing mainly on Eastern European cuisine, which could help it set itself apart from local eateries. Sizl’s menu includes only 60 items at a time, ranging from dishes like chicken kyiv and pierogies to everyday meals like grilled cheese and spaghetti bolognese. Sizl has even incorporated Kalinkina’s family recipes, including her grandmother’s borscht and syrniki. Sizl founders Kalinkina, Alex Kolesnikov (CEO), Nick Delitski, and Kyrylo Kupin (CMO) are or...