Creating Culinary Communities (C3)

Creating Culinary Communities (C3) is a global food tech platform that operates digital kitchens and develops virtual restaurant brands. Founded by Sam Nazarian, C3 focuses on creating proprietary food brands that can be distributed through multiple channels, including ghost kitchens, food halls, hotel kitchens, and dark kitchens. The company's business model revolves around leveraging real estate and technology to deliver food efficiently. C3 operates more than 800 virtual kitchen locations across the US and has developed over 40 culinary brands, including Umami Burger, Krispy Rice, Sam's Crispy Chicken, and Plant Nation. These brands are designed to work together, sharing ingredients and kitchen spaces to maximize efficiency. C3 employs a cross-training system for its staff, enabling them to prepare dishes from multiple brands, which helps reduce labor costs. The company's technology platform includes a proprietary app called Go by Citizens, which allows customers to order from multiple C3 brands in a single transaction. In February 2022, C3 reported serving over 2.3 million meals to date. The company has expanded its operations to include partnerships with hotels, such as The Westin Las Vegas Hotel & Spa, where C3 manages in-room dining and local deliveries.