For makers and farms
Co-packers, shared kitchens and food business help in Tennessee
27 businesses and programs in Tennessee that help small food makers and farms make, store and move product: 4 co-packers, 9 shared kitchens, 3 programs and official lists, and 11 cold storage companies, distributors, processors and suppliers.
- 4Co-packers
- 9Shared kitchens
- 3Programs and lists
- 27Listings in all
Programs and official lists in Tennessee
3 listed. Start here. State and university programs that help food businesses with recipes, safety plans and licensing, and the public lists they keep.
- Tennessee Department of Agriculture: Licensed Community Kitchen Operations
TN · tn.gov
State dashboard of licensed community kitchens - UT Center for Profitable Agriculture: Livestock Processing Facilities in Tennesseemeat
TN · cpa.tennessee.edu
List of 32 processors likely open to custom work - UT Center for Profitable Agriculture
Columbia, TN · cpa.tennessee.edu
Extension help for value-added food, dairy and meat businesses
Co-packers in Tennessee
4 listed. Contract manufacturers that make and pack your recipe in a licensed plant.
- Southern City Flavorsjams preservessaucesdry mixes spices
Franklin, TN · source
Jams, pepper jellies, sauces and baking mixes - Das Jam Hausjams preservespickles fermentssmall batch
Limestone, TN · dasjamhaus.com · source
Family-owned jam and jelly maker listed as co-packer - Further Farmssauceshot saucedry mixes spicessmall batch
Nashville, TN · furtherfarms.com · source
Custom spice and sauce blends for brands and farms - The Pasta Shoppedry mixes spicesbaked goodskosher
Nashville, TN · source
Dry pasta, pasta sauces and kosher cookies
Distributors and food hubs in Tennessee
1 listed. Specialty, natural and local food distributors, and food hubs that aggregate from small producers.
- Nashville Grownproduce
Nashville, TN · nashvillegrown.org
Nonprofit food hub distributing for Nashville-area farms
Small meat processors in Tennessee
10 listed. State and USDA inspected plants. Ask each one whether it takes custom or private-label work for farms and ranches.
- D&D Meatsmeat
Celina, TN · source
USDA and custom-exempt; cattle, goats, hogs, sheep - Harris Country Meatsmeat
Greeneville, TN · source
USDA-inspected; cattle, goats, hogs, sheep - Stone Mountain Meatsmeat
Greeneville, TN · source
USDA and custom-exempt; cattle, hogs, sheep - Light Hill Meatsmeat
Lynnville, TN · source
USDA-inspected and custom-exempt processing - ZK Ranchesmeat
Orlinda, TN · source
USDA and custom-exempt; cattle, goats, hogs, sheep - K & J Meat Processingmeat
Paris, TN · source
USDA and custom-exempt; cattle, goats, hogs, sheep - LoKey Meat Co.meat
Pulaski, TN · source
USDA-inspected and custom-exempt processing - Down Home Processingmeat
Tazewell, TN · source
USDA and custom-exempt; cattle - Appalachian Producers Cooperativemeat
Telford, TN · source
USDA-inspected and custom-exempt processing - Pott's Meatsmeat
Wartrace, TN · source
USDA and custom-exempt; cattle
Suppliers that ship to Tennessee
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.
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By what you need
- Co-packers
- Shared and commissary kitchens
- Food business programs and official lists
- Sauce and hot sauce co-packers
- Beverage co-packers
- Bakery, snack and chocolate co-packers
- Jam, pickle and ferment co-packers
- Cold storage and fulfillment
- Specialty food distributors and food hubs
- Small meat processors
- Cold shipping supplies
- Jars, labels and boxes
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.