For makers and farms

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

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.

11 businesses and programs in Missouri that help small food makers and farms make, store and move product: 2 co-packers, 7 shared kitchens, 2 programs and official lists, and 0 cold storage companies, distributors, processors and suppliers.

2Co-packers
7Shared kitchens
2Programs and lists
11Listings in all

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

Programs and official lists in Missouri

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

MU Extension Food Systems (Missouri Food Systems Network)
Columbia, MO · extension.missouri.edu
Extension resources, courses and newsletter for farm and food businesses
Missouri Grown (Missouri Department of Agriculture)
Jefferson City, MO · agriculture.mo.gov
State marketing assistance program for Missouri food makers and farms

Co-packers in Missouri

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

Select Brandsdry mixes spices
Springfield, MO · select-brands.net · source
Retort pouch meals and sides, dry blends; private label
Favazza Specialty Foodsfrozen
St. Louis, MO · favazzafoods.com · source
Frozen pizzas and appetizers; private labeling

Shared and commissary kitchens in Missouri

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

The Kitchen Hub
High Ridge, MO · kitchenhubstl.com · source
Shared commercial kitchen serving St. Louis area food brands
Ennovation Center Commercial Kitchen Program
Independence, MO · ennovationcenter.com
Nonprofit business incubator with shared commercial kitchens
Farm to Table Kitchen at City Market
Kansas City, MO · thecitymarketkc.org · source
Rentable kitchen at the historic City Market
Centenary Commissary Kitchen
St. Louis, MO · source
Commissary kitchen in downtown St. Louis
Kitchen Flavor
St. Louis, MO · source
Rentable commercial kitchen
South City Kitchen
St. Louis, MO · source
Rentable commercial kitchen
STL Foodworks
St. Louis, MO · stlfoodworks.com
Incubator program plus rentable shared kitchen space

Suppliers that ship to Missouri

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.