For makers and farms

Co-packers, shared kitchens and food business help in Connecticut

Q: Shared kitchen or co-packer: which do I need?

If you still make the product yourself, rent time in a licensed shared or commissary kitchen. When orders outgrow your own hands, a co-packer takes over production.

13 businesses and programs in Connecticut that help small food makers and farms make, store and move product: 4 co-packers, 4 shared kitchens, 2 programs and official lists, and 3 cold storage companies, distributors, processors and suppliers.

4Co-packers
4Shared kitchens
2Programs and lists
13Listings in all

Get listed Shops that carry small makers in Connecticut

Programs and official lists in Connecticut

2 listed. Start here. State and university programs that help food businesses with recipes, safety plans and licensing, and the public lists they keep.

UConn Extension Finding Your Market Guide
CT · solidground-extension.media.uconn.edu
Guide for beginning farms listing Connecticut food hubs and business programs
UConn Extension Food Safety
Storrs, CT · foodsafety.uconn.edu
Guidance on starting a food processing business in Connecticut

Co-packers in Connecticut

4 listed. Contract manufacturers that make and pack your recipe in a licensed plant.

Foodnovation Designsnacks granola
Danbury, CT · foodnovation.design · source
Bars, nut butters and hot, cold or powder filling
Gracie's Kitchenssaucesproducemeat
New Haven, CT · gracieskitchens.com · source
USDA inspected co-packer for sauces, fresh-cut produce and meats
Onofrio's Ultimate Foodssaucessalsakosher
New Haven, CT · ultimatefoods.net · source
Private label bottling of sauces, salsas, relishes and marinades
CAPG Co-packingsmall batch
Southbury, CT · source
Flexible pouch packing with low minimums for startups

Shared and commissary kitchens in Connecticut

4 listed. Licensed kitchens you rent by the hour or month, often with storage and business help.

Swift Factory Kitchens
Hartford, CT · swiftfactory.org
Commercial kitchen spaces on a community business campus
CitySeed Commercial Kitchens
New Haven, CT · cityseed.org · source
Licensed shared kitchens and food business incubation
Knife Shop Kitchen and Rental Hall
Northfield, CT · source
Commercial kitchen rental listed on The Kitchen Door
CLiCK (Commercially Licensed Co-operative Kitchen)
Windham, CT · clickwillimantic.com · source
Nonprofit shared-use commercial kitchens with cold and dry storage

Distributors and food hubs in Connecticut

3 listed. Specialty, natural and local food distributors, and food hubs that aggregate from small producers.

Sardilli Produce & Dairyproducedairy cheese
Hartford, CT · sardilliproduce.com
Family produce and dairy distributor with local products program
Northwest Connecticut Regional Food Hubproduce
Torrington, CT · nwctfoodhub.org · source
Aggregates local farm products for wholesale buyers, schools and pantries
Brass City Harvestproduce
Waterbury, CT · source
Buys from small local farms for affordable markets and donation

Suppliers that ship to Connecticut

Packaging, fulfillment and distribution are mostly national. See insulated boxes, gel packs and dry ice, jars, labels and boxes, cold storage and fulfillment and specialty food distributors. For the how-to, read how to start cold shipping and shipping supplies for food makers.

Get listed, or fix a listing

Co-packer, shared kitchen, packaging supplier, cold storage or distributor that works with small food makers and farms? Send the details and we will add you. Listings are free. If something here is wrong or out of date, tell us and we will fix it.

Software and setup for makers

Madeline's sets up the back office for small food makers and farms: inventory and lot tracking, shipping and cold chain, wholesale ordering, recipe costing and labels and more. See Artisanal Solutions, or sell on the Madeline's marketplace.

Questions

What is a co-packer?

A co-packer (contract packer) is a licensed food plant that makes and packs your product to your recipe. You own the brand and the recipe. They own the equipment, the inspections and the labor. Most ask for a minimum run, so call several and compare minimums, price per unit and what they will source for you.

Shared kitchen or co-packer: which do I need?

If you are still making it yourself, rent time in a shared or commissary kitchen. It is licensed, so you can sell beyond cottage food limits. When orders outgrow your own hands, a co-packer takes over production. Many makers use a kitchen for a year or two first.

Where does this list come from?

From public lists kept by state agriculture departments, university extension and food innovation centers, and from each business's own site. Listings that came from a public list link to that source. A listing is not an endorsement, so check licensing, insurance and minimums yourself.

How do I get listed or fix a listing?

Use the form on this page. Listings are free.

Sources: public lists from state agriculture departments, university extension and food innovation centers, and each business's own site. Listings are independent businesses and are not affiliated with Madeline's. A listing is not an endorsement.