For makers and farms

Co-packers, shared kitchens and food business help in Rhode Island

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.

9 businesses and programs in Rhode Island that help small food makers and farms make, store and move product: 0 co-packers, 6 shared kitchens, 1 program and official list, and 2 cold storage companies, distributors, processors and suppliers.

0Co-packers
6Shared kitchens
1Programs and lists
9Listings in all

Get listed Shops that carry small makers in Rhode Island

Programs and official lists in Rhode Island

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

URI Food Safety Education
Kingston, RI · web.uri.edu
University food safety training and resources for processors and growers

Shared and commissary kitchens in Rhode Island

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

Gate House Kitchens
Cumberland, RI · source
Private commercial kitchens for rent
Sankofa Community Kitchen
Providence, RI · westelmwood.org · source
Community kitchen run by West Elmwood Housing Development Corporation
SCLT Food Hub (Southside Community Land Trust)produce
Providence, RI · southsideclt.org · source
Commercial kitchen available to neighbors and farmers
Town Made
Wakefield, RI · townmade.com · source
Two rentable commercial kitchens, pop-up retail space and business support
Hope & Mainsmall batch
Warren, RI · makefoodyourbusiness.org · source
Nonprofit culinary incubator with shared kitchens and co-packing services
Millrace Kitchen
Woonsocket, RI · millracekitchen.org · source
Incubator kitchen and event space rental

Cold storage and fulfillment in Rhode Island

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.

Greylawn Foodsfrozen
Cranston, RI · greylawn.com · source
Family-owned refrigerated warehousing, distribution and transportation

Distributors and food hubs in Rhode Island

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

Red Tomatoproduce
Providence, RI · redtomato.org
Nonprofit food hub marketing fruit from regional farms to wholesale buyers

Suppliers that ship to Rhode Island

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.