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Writer's pictureRabije Gashi Corluka

Virtual Food Brands On Local Search

Google updated its Google Business profile guidelines and now allows virtual food brands to be listed under some conditions.

What is a virtual food brand? It’s a form of a restaurant that has no brick-and-mortar outlet but only exists digitally. That means that a virtual brand offers food via delivery only, or that it collaborates with an existing restaurant and third-party delivery apps.

For example, you might have your own brand of a meatball sub, you know the ingredients and the recipe which you share with a specific restaurant. That restaurant then makes and sells your meatball sub instead of you. So, basically – you own a branded meatball sub that is available in certain places.

So, how will this work?

Co-Located Food Brands Offering Pick-up

  1. Co-located food brands must each have their own signage. If they offer pick-up to all customers, their address should be displayed.

  2. If a brand only delivers from a joint kitchen, the address must be hidden and the service area must be added specifically to that brand in order to prevent confusing their customers.

Delivery-only food brands


  1. If they have distinct branding and a distinct website, delivery-only brands (i.e. those operating from virtual kitchens) are allowed.

  2. Multiple virtual brands operating from the same location are permitted but require additional verification.

  3. To avoid confusing their customers, delivery-only brands must hide their address on their business profile and add their service areas.

  4. If a food brand authorizes a virtual kitchen to provide food through a verified provider, the virtual kitchen may manage the business profile of each authorized brand after the authorization is confirmed.

  5. If a facility uses a delivery-only brand, it is allowed to have its own separate business profile.

Focus on Local? -> Google now allows virtual food brands to have Google Business Profiles “Google has updated its guidelines under the ‘guidelines for chains, departments & individual practitioners’ to allow virtual food brands to be listed w/conditions.” https://t.co/tNeUlYtKeF pic.twitter.com/GwMj6I0heZ — Glenn Gabe (@glenngabe) May 9, 2022

Why Is This Important?

Because a virtual food brand can now get the recognition it deserves. By being able to appear on Local Search, you increase brand awareness and achieve more purchases. According to Google, 76% of people who use their phones to conduct local searches eventually visit a business within 24 hours and 28% make a purchase as a result. Sounds good, right?

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