Lead Authors for the 2nd Edition
The Food Corridor, Inc.:
Ashley Colpaart, PhD
Dawn Meader McCausland, MBA, MCP
Cover Photo
The cover photo “Pastry Chef (Noisette by Olivia) jumping in front of the kitchen’s main door” provided by Luisa Acero of YVR Prep in Burnaby, BC
Disclaimer
This Toolkit is intended to provide general information and does not constitute legal, business, financial, or professional advice. The authors, sponsor, and funder disclaim any liability for errors, omissions, or damages arising from the use of this information.
Suggested Citation
Colpaart, A., Meader McCausland, D., Miller, R., & King, M. (2025) Shared Kitchen Toolkit: A Practical Guide to Planning, Launching, and Managing a Shared-Use Commercial Kitchen (2nd ed.) Fort Collins, CO: The Food Corridor. Available at: http://www.thefoodcorridor.com/resources/
© 2025 The Food Corridor, Inc., Fruition Planning & Management, LLC. All rights reserved.
Project Partners
For over a decade, The Food Corridor has been at the forefront of the shared kitchen industry, playing a pivotal role in shaping its growth and setting standards for success across the U.S. and Canada. As a thought leader in the space, The Food Corridor has helped define the industry’s best practices, empowering shared kitchens to scale and thrive.
Their innovative software, trusted by hundreds of the nation’s top shared kitchens, revolutionizes kitchen operations. It enables operators to streamline critical functions such as scheduling, invoicing, compliance tracking, and client communication. The software also supports financial reporting and bookkeeping integration, ensuring efficient management for kitchens of all sizes. Through The Kitchen Door, food businesses can easily discover and book commercial kitchens, processors, and storage spaces, connecting entrepreneurs with valuable community assets.
The Food Corridor is also a hub for knowledge and collaboration. As moderators of the Network for Incubator and Commissary Kitchens (NICK), they foster a vibrant community where kitchen operators exchange ideas, solve challenges, and learn from industry experts. Their commitment to education is further highlighted by their Shared Kitchen 101 Workshops and the Shared Kitchen Summit, a premier national event that gathers kitchen operators to share insights, innovations, and strategies for success.
With a decade of experience, The Food Corridor continues to lead the way, providing technical assistance, thought leadership, and tools that drive the shared kitchen industry forward.
Fruition Planning & Management is a community development consulting firm focused on providing strategic support to mission-driven organizations that expand entrepreneurial opportunities and build sustainable food systems.
As part of the USDA Regional Food Business Centers network, the Northwest and Rocky Mountain Regional Food Business Center supports a more resilient, diverse, and competitive food system. The Center is a six-state resource node for the region’s small and mid-tier food and farm businesses and local and regional food sector development initiatives. It provides opportunities for cross-regional collaboration and technical assistance on topics such as scaling food enterprises, meat supply chains, climate-smart crops, and right-size infrastructure. It also serves as a gateway for USDA programs.
For Toolkit inquiries, please contact: [email protected]
Contributor Acknowledgments
Our deepest gratitude extends to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agriculture Marketing Service for its foundational support of the Shared Kitchen Toolkit, particularly through the Northwest and Rocky Mountain Regional Food Business Center. This backing highlights the USDA’s commitment to fostering innovation and economic growth within the shared kitchen industry and provides crucial resources that have been instrumental in updating this vital resource. We also extend heartfelt thanks to the dedicated authors from Fruition Planning & Management and The Food Corridor, whose expertise and passion have been central to developing this comprehensive guide.
We also acknowledge the invaluable contributions of our expert reviewers, interviewees, survey respondents, and image and resource contributors. Additionally, we acknowledge the contributions and engagement from our online Network for Incubator and Commissary Kitchens (NICK). Their diverse insights, real-world experiences, and willingness to share knowledge have significantly enriched this Toolkit, making it a practical and reflective guide for the shared kitchen community. Your collective wisdom and collaborative spirit are the driving forces behind this project, helping to pave the way for a future where shared kitchens continue to thrive as centers of culinary innovation and community empowerment.
Survey Development and Analysis
The Food Corridor
Chris Brockel
Jamie Purcell
Revolutionary Ideas Consulting
Chapter Contributors
Real Good Kitchen
Tiny Drumsticks, Inc.
Darryl Holliday
University of Arkansas
Jan Tusick
Food Enterprise Center
Founder and President
InsureMyFood.com
Lead Architect
Wholesale Market and Facility
Design, USDA
Danita Macy
Oregon State University
Extension Service
Janna Hamlett TechHelp
The Food Corridor
Chapter or Section Reviewers
Dawn Thilmany McFadden
Mountain Regional Food
Business Center
Joel Paprocki
Alhen Drillich
Elisa Marroquin
LeeAnn Woods
Benjamin Sloan
Hailey Edmondson
Maxwell Powell
Martha Sullins
Rocky Mountain Regional
Food Business Center
Sylvan Juarez
DeAndre Wilson
Nancy Williams
Phil Britton
Tyler Sangermano
Jacob Sacks
Paula Myers
and Cultural Center
Ron Batcher
Walter Miros
Jan Nawa
Packing Solutions
Shon Rainford
Sarah Masoni
Innovation Center
Bill Seretta
Michael McDonald
Tom Murro
This Toolkit was made possible with funding from the Northwest and Rocky Mountain Regional Food Business Center, Award Number AM22RFBCCO0007. The Northwest and Rocky Mountain Regional Food Business Center is part of the USDA’s Regional Food Business Center Network.
Access the Non-Discrimination Statement here: https://www.usda.gov/non-discrimination-statement.