For makers and farms

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

21 businesses and programs in Nebraska that help small food makers and farms make, store and move product: 4 co-packers, 9 shared kitchens, 6 programs and official lists, and 2 cold storage companies, distributors, processors and suppliers.

  • 4Co-packers
  • 9Shared kitchens
  • 6Programs and lists
  • 21Listings in all
Get listedShops that carry small makers in Nebraska

Programs and official lists in Nebraska

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

  • Center for Rural Affairs Rural Food Business Toolkit
    NE · cfra.org
    Nonprofit guide listing Nebraska kitchens, food hubs and support programs
  • Nebraska Sourcing Database: Food Processing (Nebraska MEP)
    NE · nemep.unl.edu
    University directory of Nebraska food manufacturers with co-packing flags
  • UNL Commissary and Ghost Kitchens List (Nebraska Cottage Food Law)
    NE · cottagefoodlaw.unl.edu
    University list of rentable commissary and shared kitchens statewide
  • Nebraska Manufacturing Extension Partnership
    Lincoln, NE · nemep.unl.edu
    Manufacturing assistance and statewide supplier sourcing database
  • UNL Food Processing Centerdairy cheesesmall batch
    Lincoln, NE · fpc.unl.edu · source
    Product development, labeling, pilot plants, small-batch dairy co-packing
  • Center for Rural Affairs
    Lyons, NE · cfra.org
    Small business loans and training for rural food businesses

Co-packers in Nebraska

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

  • Heartland Gourmetdry mixes spicesbaked goodsfrozengluten free
    Lincoln, NE · heartlandgourmet.com · source
    Private label dry blends, frozen doughs; gluten-free and organic
  • Universal Pure
    Lincoln, NE · universalpure.com · source
    High pressure processing tolling, cold storage, kitting
  • J. Skinner Bakingbaked goodsfrozen
    Omaha, NE · skinnerbaking.com · source
    Frozen Danish and cinnamon rolls; co-packs for other brands
  • Sprinkkconfections chocolate
    Omaha, NE · sprinkk.com · source
    Contract development and manufacturing of gummies and candy

Shared and commissary kitchens in Nebraska

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

  • The Upstart Kitchen
    Bellevue, NE · source
    Shared-use kitchen and commissary, two Bellevue sites
  • Prairie Loft Center Commercial Kitchen
    Hastings, NE · prairieloft.org · source
    Nonprofit ag learning center with rentable commercial kitchen
  • The Church Commercial Kitchen (Smoke on Arrival BBQ)
    Kennard, NE · smokeonarrivalbbq.com · source
    Commercial kitchen rental; freeze dryer rental also offered
  • Launch Commercial Kitchen
    La Vista, NE · source
    Rentable commercial kitchen on Harrison Street
  • Veterans Memorial Building Shared Kitchen
    Nebraska City, NE · veteransmemorialbuilding.com · source
    Community kitchen in restored memorial building
  • 4D Commissary
    Omaha, NE · 4dcommissary.com · source
    Shared-use kitchens and food truck commissary
  • No More Empty Pots Food Hub Shared-Use Kitchensmall batch
    Omaha, NE · nmepomaha.org · source
    Nonprofit shared-use kitchen with entrepreneurship programs
  • Pilger Community Center
    Pilger, NE · source
    Community center kitchen available to rent
  • Twin Cities Development eKitchen
    Scottsbluff, NE · tcdne.org · source
    Entrepreneur kitchen with startup training resources

Cold storage and fulfillment in Nebraska

2 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.

Suppliers that ship to Nebraska

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.

Other states

By what you need

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.