For makers and farms

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

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.

58 businesses and programs in Minnesota that help small food makers and farms make, store and move product: 26 co-packers, 22 shared kitchens, 4 programs and official lists, and 6 cold storage companies, distributors, processors and suppliers.

26Co-packers
22Shared kitchens
4Programs and lists
58Listings in all

Get listed Minnesota cottage food law Shops that carry small makers in Minnesota

Programs and official lists in Minnesota

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

Minnesota Co-Packer Directory (Minnesota Department of Agriculture)
MN · mda.state.mn.us
State directory of about 60 co-packers with products and minimums
Shared Commercial Kitchen Directory (Minnesota Department of Agriculture)
MN · mda.state.mn.us
State directory of rentable shared commercial kitchens
Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI)
Crookston, MN · auri.org
State-funded food product development, labs and scale-up assistance
Joseph J. Warthesen Food Processing Center (University of Minnesota Pilot Plant)
St. Paul, MN · fscn.cfans.umn.edu
University pilot plant for food processing trials and scale-up

Co-packers in Minnesota

26 listed. Contract manufacturers that make and pack your recipe in a licensed plant. Co-packers in Minnesota has its own page.

Mille Lacs Wild Rice Corporationdry mixes spicessmall batch
Aitkin, MN · canoewildrice.com · source
Wild rice and rice blends packed in any size; typically no minimum
Particle Control Inc.dry mixes spices
Albertville, MN · particlecontrolinc.com · source
Toll milling, blending and packaging; 100 lb minimum
Abdallah Candiesconfections chocolate
Apple Valley, MN · abdallahcandies.com · source
Toffee, caramels, creams, clusters and barks
Riffs Smokehousemeatsauces
Arden Hills, MN · riffssmokehouse.com · source
USDA meat cooking, smoking and packing; BBQ sauces
InHarvestdry mixes spices
Bemidji, MN · inharvest.com · source
Parboiling and blending of rice, grains, beans and lentils
Nikola's Bakerybaked goodsgluten freekosher
Bloomington, MN · nikolasbakery.com · source
Baked goods including gluten-free production
Hamel Maple Syrup Companyorganic certifiedkosher
Hamel, MN · hamelsyrup.com · source
Maple syrup and maple sugar packing
Mile Markerbeverages
Inver Grove Heights, MN · milemarker.info · source
Small-format cans and bottles for bitters and canned cocktails
European Roasteriecoffee tea
Le Center, MN · euroroast.com · source
Private label roasted coffee; 50 lb per SKU minimum
Maud Borupconfections chocolatesnacks granoladry mixes spices
Le Center, MN · maudborup.com · source
Candy, snacks, powdered mixes and hot sauces; 4,000 unit minimum
Enlightened Beverage (Treehouse Brands)dry mixes spicescoffee teasmall batch
Marine on St. Croix, MN · enlightenedbeverages.com · source
Frappe mix, bakery mix and coffee; one case minimum
At Last! Gourmet Foodssaucesorganic certified
Minneapolis, MN · atlastgourmetfoods.com · source
Soups, sauces, dips and spreads; USDA inspected; one pallet minimum
Bare Honey & Co. Food Manufacturinghoneyjams preservessaucesorganic certified
Minneapolis, MN · barehoney.com · source
Honey, jams, sauces and drink mixers; 200 gallon minimum
Big Watt Inc.coffee teabeverages
Minneapolis, MN · bigwattcoffee.com · source
Whole bean and canned cold-press coffee, sparkling beverages; 2,500 unit minimum
Coffeewomplecoffee teasmall batch
Minneapolis, MN · coffeewomple.com · source
Whole bean and ground coffee; small custom batches
Fischer's United Supplysaucesjams preserves
Minneapolis, MN · bakerschoicebrands.com · source
Condiments including BBQ sauces, jams and dressings; 500 lb minimum
Gourmet CoPackjams preservespickles fermentssauceshoney
Minneapolis, MN · gourmetcopack.com · source
Jams, preserves, pickled products and sauces; 1,000 unit minimum
Olsen Fish Companyseafoodpickles fermentskosher
Minneapolis, MN · source
Pickled and creamed products and brines in jars
Karlsburger Foodsdry mixes spicessaucesorganic certified
Monticello, MN · karlsburger.com · source
Soup bases, sauces, seasonings and gravy mixes; 150 lb custom minimum
Mixly Cocktail Co.beveragessmall batch
New Hope, MN · mixlybeverageco.com · source
Cocktail mixers, syrups and concentrates; hot and cold fill from 500 bottles
The Secret Gardendry mixes spices
Park Rapids, MN · secretgardengourmet.com · source
Dehydrated soup, bread, pancake, dip and dessert mixes
Smude Enterprisesoils vinegarsdry mixes spicessmall batch
Pierz, MN · smudeoil.com · source
Oil bottling and small dry goods packing; no set minimum
Food Service Specialtiessauces
Red Wing, MN · foodservicespecialties.com · source
Tomato and dairy based sauces and dips in pouches and totes
Sturdiwheatdry mixes spicesorganic certified
Red Wing, MN · sturdiwheat.com · source
Dry mixing and packaging, pancake mixes; 1,000 unit minimum
NLC Beverage Company (New Life Coffee)coffee teabeverages
Rice, MN · newlifecoffee.com · source
Bagged and pod coffee, cold brew and canned beverages
Stone Gate Foodsfrozenmeat
Shakopee, MN · stonegate-foods.com · source
Frozen appetizers, pizzas, meal kits; one production shift minimum

Shared and commissary kitchens in Minnesota

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

Harmony Cooperative Community Kitchen
Bemidji, MN · harmonyfoods.coop · source
Equipped community kitchen at a food co-op
MNFood.Club
Blaine, MN · mnfood.club · source
1,100 sq ft kitchen with cold storage and delivery services
Grace Church Kitchen
Eden Prairie, MN · thekitchendoor.com · source
Large kitchen with multiple ovens, coolers and freezer
KitchenCubby
Elk River, MN · kitchencubbymn.com · source
1,000 sq ft plus production room, 24-hour member access
Clair Nelson Community Center Kitchen
Finland, MN · friendsoffinland.org · source
County-certified kitchen in a North Shore community center
Gonvick Community Commercial Kitchen
Gonvick, MN · clearwaterslife.org · source
Rural community commercial kitchen with dining space
Iron Range Makerspace
Hibbing, MN · source
Membership kitchen with business coaching
MSP Kitchenery
Hopkins, MN · mspkitchenery.com · source
Rental kitchens in Hopkins, Plymouth and St. Paul, 24/7 access
Waters Edge Commercial Kitchengluten free
Maplewood, MN · watersedgeinc.com · source
Gluten-free 6,000 sq ft kitchen with 24/7 access
City Food Studiodairy cheese
Minneapolis, MN · cityfoodstudio.com · source
4,000 sq ft, 24/7 access, storefront and licensed dairy room
Dots Gray Kitchen
Minneapolis, MN · dotsgray.com · source
4,800 sq ft, 24/7 access, dry storage
Eat for Equity Kitchen
Minneapolis, MN · eatforequity.org · source
3,000 sq ft nonprofit shared commissary, 24/7 access
NEON Collective Kitchens
Minneapolis, MN · neoncollectivekitchens.org · source
25,000 sq ft, membership packages and technical assistance
Nicollet Kitchen
Minneapolis, MN · source
8,000 sq ft kitchen with limited rental hours
Jokky Catering Services Kitchen
Oakdale, MN · jokkycateringservices.com · source
Scheduled 24-hour access for approved users, walk-in cooler
Twin Cities Kitchen Works
Ramsey, MN · thekitchendoor.com · source
Large cold and freezer storage, loading dock
Mixin' It Up Gluten Free Bakery and Rental Kitchengluten freebaked goods
Sauk Rapids, MN · mixinitup.org · source
Dedicated gluten-free rental kitchen with retail space
Kickstart Commissary
South St. Paul, MN · kickstartcommissary.com · source
2,500 sq ft shared workspace open 24 hours
Kitchen Concepts Comfort Food
St. Paul, MN · kitchencomfortfood.com · source
2,800 sq ft, 24/7 access, monthly to yearly leases
MidCity Kitchen
St. Paul, MN · midcitykitchen.com · source
Membership kitchen with coworking and event space
Minnesota Foodcrafters
St. Paul, MN · source
About 5,000 sq ft kitchen plus warehouse for packaged food makers
River Rock Kitchen and Baking Companybaked goods
St. Peter, MN · riverrockbakery.com · source
1,900 sq ft kitchen, hourly or long-term rentals

Distributors and food hubs in Minnesota

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

Bix Produce Companyproduce
Little Canada, MN · bixproduce.com · source
Fresh and fresh-cut produce and specialty grocery distributor

Small meat processors in Minnesota

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

Lorentz Meatsmeat
Cannon Falls, MN · lorentzmeats.com · source
Beef and bison slaughter, specialty packaging and sausage
Dover Processingmeatorganic certified
Dover, MN · source
USDA inspected sausage, smoked meats, slicing and vacuum packaging
Swanson Meatsmeat
Minneapolis, MN · swansonmeats.com · source
Meat cutting and custom grinding blends; SQF and halal
French Lake Butcher Shopmeatsmall batch
South Haven, MN · frenchlakebutchershop.com · source
Slaughter, raw and cooked meats, sausages; 20 lb sausage minimum
Stittsworth Smokehouse Companymeat
Turtle River, MN · stittsworthmeats.com · source
Sausages, jerky and ground meat; beef, pork, bison; trial runs

Suppliers that ship to Minnesota

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.