For makers and farms

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

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.

24 businesses and programs in Maine that help small food makers and farms make, store and move product: 4 co-packers, 5 shared kitchens, 7 programs and official lists, and 8 cold storage companies, distributors, processors and suppliers.

4Co-packers
5Shared kitchens
7Programs and lists
24Listings in all

Get listed Shops that carry small makers in Maine

Programs and official lists in Maine

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

Maine DACF State and USDA Inspected Meat Establishmentsmeat
ME · maine.gov · source
State list of inspected slaughter and meat processing plants, 2026
Maine DECD Statewide Shared-Use Food Production Facility Report
ME · maine.gov
October 2025 state-commissioned report naming Maine shared kitchens and co-packers
UMaine Extension Bulletin 3101: Recipe to Market
ME · extension.umaine.edu
Lists Maine shared kitchens, co-packers, testing labs and business programs
CEI (Coastal Enterprises Inc.)
Brunswick, ME · ceimaine.org · source
Business advising and lending for farm and food businesses
Dr. Matthew Highlands Pilot Plant, University of Maine
Orono, ME · umaine.edu · source
Pilot plant for product development plus licensed kitchen for shelf-stable foods
UMaine Cooperative Extension Food Testing Services
Orono, ME · extension.umaine.edu
Product testing and process review letters for Maine food makers
UMaine Extension Resources for Maine Food Entrepreneurs
Orono, ME · extension.umaine.edu
Recipe to Market workshops and specialty food business guidance

Co-packers in Maine

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

Pemberton's Gourmet Foodsjams preservessaucessalsasmall batch
Gray, ME · pembertonsgourmetfoods.com · source
Hot fill jams, sauces and salsa for small producers
DennyMike's Sauces & Seasoningsdry mixes spices
Westbrook, ME · dennymikes.com · source
Dry seasoning co-packing in wheat and nut free facility
Green Geans LLCsmall batch
Westbrook, ME · source
Freeze drying service with recipe development and custom packaging
Look's Gourmet Food Co. (Bar Harbor Foods)seafood
Whiting, ME · barharborfoods.com · source
Low-acid canning of seafood, chowders and soups

Shared and commissary kitchens in Maine

5 listed. Licensed kitchens you rent by the hour or month, often with storage and business help. Shared and commissary kitchens in Maine has its own page.

Halcyon Grange Community Kitchen
Blue Hill, ME · halcyongrange.org · source
Licensed community kitchen for rent at grange hall
Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program Community Kitchen
Brunswick, ME · mchpp.org · source
Nonprofit community kitchen listed for rental by food makers
Local Batch Kitchen
Damariscotta, ME · source
Commercial kitchen rental listed on The Kitchen Door
Minke Kitchen at Smithereen Farm
Pembroke, ME · smithereenfarm.com · source
Farm processing kitchen named in state shared-use report
Fork Food Labsmall batch
South Portland, ME · forkfoodlab.com · source
Nonprofit food business incubator with shared manufacturing and processing space

Cold storage and fulfillment in Maine

1 listed. Refrigerated and frozen warehousing, and companies that pick, pack and ship orders for food brands. Ask about minimums, since some mostly serve larger brands.

Maine International Cold Storage Facilityfrozenseafood
Portland, ME · micsf.com · source
Public frozen and refrigerated warehouse near port, run by Taylor Logistics

Distributors and food hubs in Maine

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

Native Maine Produce & Specialty Foodsproducedairy cheesemeat
Westbrook, ME · nativeme.com
Wholesale produce and specialty foods, stocks Maine products

Small meat processors in Maine

6 listed. State and USDA inspected plants. Ask each one whether it takes custom or private-label work for farms and ranches.

Maple Lane Farmsmeat
Charleston, ME · source
State CIS inspected red meat slaughter and processing, also custom
Herring Brothers Inc.meat
Guilford, ME · source
USDA inspected slaughterhouse
Luce's Maine Grown Meatsmeat
North Anson, ME · source
USDA inspected slaughterhouse
L.P. Bisson and Sonsmeat
Topsham, ME · source
State CIS inspected red meat slaughter and processing, also custom
West Gardiner Beefmeat
West Gardiner, ME · source
State CIS inspected red meat slaughter and processing, also custom
Windham Butcher Shopmeat
Windham, ME · source
USDA inspected slaughterhouse

Suppliers that ship to Maine

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.