List: U.S. Culinary Incubators

culinary-incubators

Culinary incubators sit in an interesting space between commercial kitchens and incubator programs, and are helping to bridge the gap between self-production and moving to a co-manufacturer. They often provide access to expensive kitchen equipment, business services, and mentorship — and there are more and more of them popping up across the nation. Here’s a quick list of today’s players (listed by state):

Note: Originally published on October 30, 2016. The current publication date reflects the last time the list was updated.

LA PrepLos AngelesCAProvides full-time production space for wholesale food producers.
La CocinaSan FranciscoCAIncubator kitchen working to cultivate low income food entrepreneurs by providing affordable kitchen space, industry-specific technical assistance and access to market opportunities.
KITCHENTOWNSan MateoCAFood startup incubator that provides production space, equipment, and the opportunity to interact with a community of like-minded peers, industry experts, and investors in order to help entrepreneurs scale their businesses.
Kitchen CoopBroomfieldCOprovides co-manufacturing services, plus technical, business and sales consulting to help food and beverage companies grow.
Union KitchenWashingtonDCKitchen incubator providing production space, distribution services, and mentorship. Also helps launch other culinary incubators, like B-More Kitchen in Baltimore. As of July 2017, reducing footprint and increasing investment (see above).
PREPAtlantaGAHalf of their 15,000 SQF space is dedicated to food trucks; they also offer business acceleration services.
The HatcheryChicagoILPlanned; intends to bring education, capital, and support to the Chicagoland food entrepreneur community.
Kickstart KitchenCovingtonILShared use commercial kitchen and business mentoring.
LSU AgCenter Food IncubatorBaton RougeLABusiness incubator that specializes in developing emerging food ventures and providing technical services to existing and emerging companies.
New Orleans Food & Farm NetworkNew OrleansLAWorking to build the local food economy in greater New Orleans by increasing markets for farmers, incubating farms, and training new farmers.
CommonWealth KitchenDorchesterMACommercial kitchen helping to grow established businesses by providing large volume production equipment, business assistance, marketing, and access to capital.
B-More KitchenBaltimoreMD“Baltimore’s first food incubator,” B-More Kitchen was launched with the help of Union Kitchen
Flint Food WorksFlintMI“low-cost, low-risk, full-service kitchens for local businesses to grow and establish their operations”
Maker-to-MarketMinneapolisMNThe Lakewinds Food Co-op and The Good Acre have partnered to create this incubator in order to support fresh, local healthy food by helping food entrepreneurs turn their products into retail-ready goods.
Ennovation CenterIndependenceMOCommercial kitchen co-working space and business technologies area with office and lab space.
Blue Ridge Food VenturesAshevilleNC11,000 sqf shared-use kitchen and natural products manufacturing facility
Midway Community KitchenChapel HillNCMidway offers Classes, Workshops, Seminars, Cook Book Club, Intensives, Skills Training, Basics Series, Team Building, Pop Ups, Markets, Kitchen Rental and Event Space
The CookeryDurhamNCCulinary incubator and event venue.
PFAPHillsboroughNCCulinary incubator and shared use kitchen.
The Kitchen CouncilOmahaNEplanned for 2017
Rutgers Food Innovation CenterBridgetownNJFood business incubator and economic development accelerator program.
Foodworks BrooklynBrooklynNYculinary incubator / shared kitchen with locations in Brooklyn and Providence
Hotbread KitchenNew YorkNYKitchen incubator focused specifically on bakers.
Organic Food IncubatorNew YorkNYProvides kitchen space, contract manufacturing services, education and coaching to growing food and beverage companies.
Athens Food Venture Center (ACEnet)AthensOHProvides equipment and storage; used by ~65 entrepreneurs annually.
Commissary ColumbusColumbusOHCommercial kitchen with focus on food trucks; also hosts community cooking classes and demonstrations.
Food FortColumbusOHStrategically located in a USDA food desert, Food Fort provides both a commercial kitchen and hands-on technical assistance.
Common Wealth Kitchen IncubatorYoungstownOHThe Common Wealth Kitchen Incubator is a shared-use commercial kitchen; the kitchen incubator will also provide consultants to assist clients with business planning and marketing efforts.
Kitchen KruPortlandOR4800 sqf culinary incubator designed to support culinary inspired entrepreneurs in developing, operating, and growing a successful business.
YorKitchenYorkPAShared kitchen incubator open 24/7.
Hope and MainWarrenRIShared use kitchens and industry-specific technical resources.
Foodworks ProvidenceProvidenceRIculinary incubator / shared kitchen with locations in Brooklyn and Providence
Cook’s NookAustinTXThe Cook’s Nook is a culinary incubator providing shared production space and business development for Austin-area artisans, caterers, and cooks
Chef ScapeAshburnVAShared commercial kitchen and business support services.
La CocinaArlingtonVAFocused on workforce development, La Cocina VA provides culinary training, career certification, and job placement assistance.
Vermont Food Venture CenterFairfaxVTShared-use, multi-purpose kitchen incubator for value-added and specialty food producers; equipped for co-packing, too.
Watertown Farm Market KitchenWatertownWIProfessional shared-use kitchen and food production facility accessible by the hour.

18 Comments on "List: U.S. Culinary Incubators"

  1. Please add TheCoKitchen located in San Marcos, Texas to the list. We are a shared commercial kitchen, incubator outfitted with vending/retail windows for our kitchen members. We also have a co-located mobile food park on site. Website is http://www.thecokitchen.com. We are in-between Austin and San Antonio!

  2. Food Enterprise Economic Development Kichens Madison WI FEED Kitchen

  3. Frontier Kitchen operates 2 kitchen in Northern Virginia…training and coaching available

  4. Findlay Kitchen in Cincinnati, OH!

  5. Kickstart Kitchen in Covington, KY!

  6. Nothing in Seattle Washington?

  7. Please add Chefscape to the list. A shared commercial kitchen, incubator and accelerator, based in Ashburn VA (Northern VA 40 min out of DC) I am one of the founders! website: chefscapekitchen.com and on FB and IG: @Chefscape

  8. Common Wealth Kitchen Incubator in Youngstown, Ohio – https://www.cwkitchenincubator.org/

  9. Midway Community Kitchen in Chapel Hill, NC! http://www.midwaycommunitykitchen.com/

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