Racine & Me: The Collective @ Maltworks gives local food makers room to grow
RACINE, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A new shared kitchen opening in Racine is hoping to give local food entrepreneurs the space they need to take their businesses to the next level.
The Collective @ Maltworks is a licensed, shared micro kitchen located inside the Maltworks entrepreneurial campus at 2224 Northwestern Ave., Suite 204. The space officially opens Oct. 15 and is now booking renters.
The kitchen is designed for small and niche food makers who need a licensed space to legally produce and package their products but aren't ready to take on the expense of a commercial lease or build out a kitchen of their own.
That includes chocolatiers and candy makers, cake and cookie decorators, granola and snack producers, spice and tea blenders, sauce and dressing makers and other small-batch food businesses.
The Collective offers shared prep, mixing, packaging and storage space along with shared equipment. Two tiers of access allow renters to pay based on how many hours they need the kitchen, while locked dry storage is also available.
Co-owner Stacy Jeffers knows firsthand how difficult the transition from a home kitchen to a commercial operation can be. Jeffers went through the licensing and buildout process while growing her own chocolate and gifting company, That’s Right, Sweetie™.
Jeffers and her husband, Cory Jeffers, a combat Air Force veteran, created The Collective to help fill the gap between producing from home and committing to a full commercial kitchen.
The first six renters will have their pricing locked in for one year and will have the $95 onboarding fee waived. Renters can begin producing when the kitchen opens Oct. 15, just in time for the holiday season.
The Collective @ Maltworks was partially funded through a Capital Catalyst Grant awarded by BizStarts.
In addition to The Collective, Stacy Jeffers continues to operate That’s Right, Sweetie™, a federally certified Woman-Owned Small Business specializing in hand-dipped chocolate pretzel rods, custom-message fortune cookies and gift baskets. The company is currently booking holiday gifting orders.
Those interested in touring The Collective @ Maltworks or scheduling an informational meeting can email [email protected].
Learn more about That’s Right, Sweetie™ at thatsrightsweetie.com or follow The Collective @ Maltworks on Instagram at @collective.micro.kitchen.