Background
The number of shared-use commercial kitchen facilities in Florida and the United States has increased in recent years. Many food entrepreneurs utilize these facilities to launch or expand their food businesses as a way to save on initial cost of investment and avoid having to build their own facilities. There are several different names or definitions used to describe these operations, which may lead to confusion for entrepreneurs interested in using such facilities. This document intends to provide basic definitions of several types of shared-use commercial kitchens and include other relevant information about these facilities in Florida.
What is a shared-use commercial kitchen?
The term commercial kitchen describes facilities that are designed and built to current code and sanitary standards with running water, appropriate plumbing, and surfaces that are suitable for food production. These facilities must meet minimum construction standards in the food preparation and adjacent areas so that food business operators can comply with state or federal regulations when processing food. Shared-use commercial kitchens often have multiple food preparation areas, cold and dry storage, professional-grade equipment, and an existing sanitation program so that multiple food businesses may operate simultaneously. Members can rent the existing infrastructure by hourly, daily, or monthly time blocks to establish and operate their food businesses (Meader McCausland et al. 2018).
Several terms are commonly used to describe shared-use commercial kitchens, such as incubator, accelerator, community kitchens, food hub, or food innovation centers. While these terms are nearly interchangeable, they may indicate subtle differences in kitchen model or objectives. Table 1 lists several definitions applicable to shared-use kitchen types.
Food Regulations and Permits
Regardless of the shared-use kitchen type, there is a common goal of allowing businesses to operate in compliance with applicable food safety regulations. In Florida, owners are required to register their food businesses with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) or Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) and are subject to initial and subsequent inspections. Common businesses regulated by DBPR include restaurants, caterers, and temporary event vendors, while FDACS regulates retail and wholesale food processors.
There are several food regulations applicable to businesses depending on the type of food, method of sale, and average amount of annual sales. Usually small food businesses are either required to follow the FDA Food Code or Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMPs) found in 21 CFR 117 at a minimum. Shared-use kitchens are likely to have several different businesses operating simultaneously, meaning that multiple regulations may be enforced, and inspections executed from multiple agencies (i.e., DBPR and FDACS) within the same facility. Although shared-use kitchen owners may provide guidance, it is up to each individual business owner to obtain the necessary permitting so that their business may operate out of the facility.
Additional Services
Shared-use commercial kitchen owners or employees may provide additional services to members to guide them through the steps of opening and growing a food business. Potential opportunities include food-safety trainings, business classes, marketing and distribution opportunities, legal and financial advising, and packaging or branding services. Facilities may be owned or have a partnership with a university, which allows easy access for experts to implement these trainings or services (i.e., Extension education). Privately owned facilities may have the resources to provide these services or could rely upon outside sources (i.e., consultants). The level of guidance and services offered by each facility will depend on the needs of the clientele and the resources available.
The level of guidance and services offered will vary between facilities. However, this seems to be the best distinguishing factor between the facility types listed in Table 1, although the use of a term such as "accelerator" in the name of a facility does not always indicate they follow the model described in the definition. Some facilities only follow the basic commissary model, with the sole purpose of providing commercial kitchen space to interested business owners. This model could be adequate for someone with an established business whose limiting factor is the lack of commercial kitchen space. On the other hand, entrepreneurs in the beginning stages of operating a food business may rely upon the additional services an incubator, accelerator, or food hub provides.
While entrepreneurs are searching for a facility to house their food business, it is important for them to determine their needs, communicate with the facility owners or directors, and decide if their goals align with the resources the facility provides. Another item they should consider is whether the kitchen rental rates are within the financial means of their business. Facilities may rent out kitchen space in hourly, daily, or monthly blocks; entrepreneurs should select a facility that best meets the needs of their expected usage. Several shared-use commercial kitchens around Florida and the United States provide options to food entrepreneurs. A list of current shared-use commercial kitchen facilities in Florida is found in Table 2.
Benefits of Using a Shared-Use Commercial Kitchen
When starting a business, food entrepreneurs face several start-up costs, such as purchasing or building a facility, furnishing the facility with commercial equipment, supplying tools/utensils, and making down payments on utilities. The costs to build out a commercial kitchen in an existing space can run up to $100–$300 per square foot (Meader McCausland et al. 2018), which may be unworkable for clientele with limited financial means. Shared-use commercial kitchens can help reduce this financial burden for small food businesses.
Ultimately, shared-use facilities provide adequate commercial kitchen space, with minimal capital investment, so local food entrepreneurs may try out new products in the market and limit the effect of potential product failure. Furthermore, the resources, services, and networking opportunities these facilities may provide will ease the process of launching a new food business and may catalyze the growth of the business.
Additional Resources
FDACS
Minimum Construction Standards: https://www.fdacs.gov/content/download/64038/file/Food_Establishment_Minimum_Construction_Standards.pdf
Retail Food Permit Info: https://www.fdacs.gov/Business-Services/Food-Establishments/Retail-Food-Establishment-Permit
Wholesale Food Permit Info: https://www.fdacs.gov/Business-Services/Food-Establishments/Wholesale-Manufactured-Food-Establishment-Permit
DBPR
Food Service Permit Info: https://www.myfloridalicense.com/intentions2.asp?chBoard=true&boardid=200&SID=
References
Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO). 2017. "Guidelines for Incubator Kitchens." https://www.afdo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Guidelines_for_Incubator_Kitchens_acc_updated_2017.pdf. Accessed 25 Mar 2022.
Meader McCausland, D., R. Miller, A. Colpaart, and M. King. 2018. Shared Kitchen Toolkit: A Practical Guide to Planning, Launching and Managing a Shared-Use Commercial Kitchen. The Food Corridor. https://www.thefoodcorridor.com/resources/. Accessed 26 Mar 2020.
Topaloff, A. 2014. "The Shared-Use Kitchen Planning Toolkit." Leopold Center Pubs and Papers. 33. https://dr.lib.iastate.edu/handle/20.500.12876/53690.