Toronto Kitchen Incubator Akemi Kobayashi, FTT Catering Manager, pictured in the Toronto Kitchen Incubator Many of our cooking projects work out of a large kitchen located at our Field to Table warehouse. Started with funding from the Toronto Economic Development Corporation, the TKI is a fully licensed commercial kitchen that can be rented by fledgling entrepreneurs to test ideas and begin food production for the marketplace. Management and marketing advice, regular financial reporting and being in the company of others in the start-up phase of business encourages individual success. Starting in the incubator allows people to grow their businesses in a controlled way while perfecting their product, labeling and delivery systems with minimal financial risk. Reservations are required, as the kitchen is a shared space.
Many tenants book the kitchen on a regular weekly basis, while others are occasional users.
The 4500 square feet kitchen is well-equipped. The inventory includes two six-burner Garland ranges, a doubel stacked convection oven, a salamander, grill, griddle, soup kettle, Hobart mixer, sheeter, Robot Coupe, vacuum sealer, as well as pots, pans, and small utensils. Shared dry and refrigerated storage, a loading dock for delivery of raw materials and a waste management system are all part of the package. This allows start-up business to become familiar with a wide range of equipment and systems before committing to set up their own kitchens or deciding to have others produce their products. The TKI is available for rent by the hour on a short or long term basis to entrepreneurs who have a promising business plan for a food product or service.