Mission Kitchen launches as a resource for food entrepreneurs

Mission Kitchen, a new shared kitchen and co-working space, has launched in New Covent Garden Market.

Mission Kitchen aims to bring dozens of food entrepreneurs together under one roof to share facilities and support. Its members will benefit from flexible access to commercial kitchens, mentoring and training opportunities, and a collaborative community of food professionals.

As well as private and shared commercial kitchens, the 16,000 sq ft site features co-working spaces, a dedicated training and development kitchen, outdoor terraces and event venues, for talks, tastings and supper clubs.

Charlie Gent, co-founder of Mission Kitchen, said: “Building a food business might sound fun, but it’s incredibly tough, even for the most talented and ambitious founders. People need access to professional kitchens and equipment, but for small businesses with limited resources, it’s hard to find suitable space in London.

"The industry is incredibly complex, and, without the right advice and support, founders must work everything out for themselves. These obstacles are holding back so many great ideas and talented people who already have the ingredients for a successful business. Mission Kitchen aims to change this for good, reducing the barriers to entry and making building food businesses cheaper, simpler and more fun.”

Mission Kitchen will only allow independent businesses to join and its members will include packaged product brands, artisan producers, bakers, street food traders, caterers, freelancers and creatives.

Membership applications will prioritise businesses with a strong environmental ethos, and education and resources will be provided to all members.

The site is located at New Covent Garden Market in Vauxhall, south London, and it is working in partnership with the Covent Garden Market Authority (CGMA) as part of the transformation of the market into a hub of food enterprise. The project has received funding from the mayor of London’s £70m regeneration programme, the Good Growth Fund, which supported by the London Economic Action Partnership.

Rebecca Barrett, head of strategy, partnerships and communications at CGMA, added: “Working with Mission Kitchen and bringing this exciting project to life has been a long time in the making and something the CGMA have invested in heavily. There is such a phenomenal scope for its benefits, not only to the Food Exchange’s residents and New Covent Garden Market’s traders, but the broader London food eco-system.

"As we start to see the light at the end of the tunnel beyond the pandemic, Mission Kitchen is a vital step in New Covent Garden Market’s continued development and marks our commitment to cementing its position at the epicentre of the London culinary scene. We can’t wait to see what the future brings.”

Mission Kitchen is offering limited founding member spaces with benefits and discounts for the first 36 businesses to join. Applications are open here:www.missionkitchen.org/apply. The deadline is 31 March 2021.