What’s a Commissary Kitchen?

If you own a food truck or other mobile food business, chances are you’ve heard of a commissary kitchen. If you haven’t, you may be missing out on a key resource that could help your food business thrive. Renting commercial kitchen space like a commissary can be critical to the success of your food business by providing valuable resources like work space, business support and much more. If that sounds like something you need, read on! We’re here to outline exactly what is a commissary kitchen, why you may need one, and how to make the best use of one.

What is a Commissary Kitchen

A commissary kitchen is a public kitchen space that’s available to food business owners. Some food business owners use commissary kitchens for conveniences like additional space. But a commissary kitchen provides a bevy of other benefits too (check out our list below). Others use them out of necessity; many states have laws prohibiting food truck owners from preparing and cooking food on the truck. And small restaurants may not have enough space for their staff to adequately prepare food. Either way, commissary kitchens can be incredibly helpful to those who utilize them. Here’s a list of some of the benefits of commissary kitchens to consider when deciding if this type of kitchen space is right for you:

• Ample cooking space, including counter space, industrial-size ovens, freezers and cooktops, and storage
• Wide variety of small and large appliances included in rental fee
• Trash removal and recycling services
• Food truck parking
• Studio space to hold courses or film videos
• Meeting/office space in which to perform business/administrative functions
• Convenient hours and locations
• Assistance with marketing, obtaining proper licensing and food truck design/preparation (these benefits are less common so it’s wise to ask upfront if you will need services like these)

Often cheaper than leasing your own kitchen space, commissary kitchens can be a boon if you’re a new food truck owner. They typically charge a pretty reasonable hourly rate, and you’ll sign a contract that details everything you’ll have at your disposal while using the kitchen. Be sure to look over this carefully to ensure you won’t be charged extra fees to use the items you need. And as we mentioned above, many commissary kitchens provide parking for food trucks, so be sure to ask about this. In a big city with expensive parking rates, we can’t stress enough how amazing this benefit is!

So, are all commissary kitchens created equally? Of course not. Below, we’ll outline several different types of kitchen spaces that you might consider.

Types of Commissary Kitchens

Shared public space

This is what most people think of when they think of a commissary kitchen; a public space to use alongside other chefs or food truck owners for an hourly, weekly or monthly fee. The kitchen will often provide necessary supplies and equipment that allows you to prepare your food before taking it out to sell each day. Many also provide storage space and even parking and maintenance for your food truck.

Drawbacks of shared public commissary spaces are mostly centered around cost and availability. While rental rates at commissary kitchens are pretty reasonable, you’ll pay more for top-rated spaces and those that provide lots of services and a la carte add-ons. We recommend taking a close look at what’s included in your rate and what is considered an extra. Then, you’ll have to analyze whether the benefit to your food business will be worth the investment. Once you’ve analyzed the cost, it’s time to ensure that the kitchen has space available during the times you need. For instance, it won’t be ideal for you to rent space between 3–8 AM if your restaurant only opens for dinner.

Private kitchen space

A much more expensive option (best for established food trucks and chefs) is to rent or lease your own private kitchen space. This allows you more room and more flexible scheduling. It’s also a great option if you have multiple food trucks in different locations; you can use the private kitchen as a central location where all food is prepared before distributing to your food trucks.

Drawbacks of maintaining private kitchen space, aside from the added expense, are increased liability and less outside assistance. Many commissary kitchens provide helpful services like business support (marketing, taxes and licensing). However, you won’t find those included in a private kitchen space.

Sub-leased restaurant space

Need kitchen space? Get creative. That diner down the street that’s famous for their breakfast but closes for dinner? See if they will sublease their space to you during the evening hours. Or, if there’s a restaurant that only serves dinner, you may be able to score a few hours there in the early morning hours before their prep cooks arrive. This is a great option if you need private space on a small budget.

The obvious drawback to subleasing space from an established restaurant is the what-you-see-is-what-you-get aspect. Simply put, you may have access to all the supplies and equipment they have on site, but if there’s something lacking, you will have to provide it yourself or make do without it. In addition, available hours may be limited, and you’ll have to be sure the kitchen is always left in the same condition in which you found it.

Other

Consider looking into a local church or country club. Often, these spaces have somewhat functional kitchen spaces, and they may be amenable to you using them in the off-hours. Often, you’ll find that these spaces are much cheaper than any of the above options.

Limitations of using these types of spaces are similar to but even more dramatic than using a sub-leased restaurant space. Smaller establishments may have especially limited facilities, and may not offer much in the way of equipment and supplies. In other words, don’t expect to find a Hobart mixer in a small country church. But if you can make it work, this is a great option for a fraction of the price of a commissary kitchen.

Do you have a food business? Pilotworks is a commissary kitchen space that offers state-of- the-art cooking facilities, co-working areas, mentorship to help your business scale, and a quickly growing community of food makers, bloggers, and more. If you want to learn more about how to become a member or get involved, click here.