Whether you’re looking to start out, scale up or require space to create a new product for your thriving foodservice business, a commercial kitchen can have you cooking up a storm in no time.
As a budding foodpreneur, one of the most important things to consider is the type of kitchen space you will need. So, which commercial kitchen fits the bill for your food business in London; a private or shared used kitchen rental? Let’s find out…
Types of Commercial Kitchen Rental
Commercial kitchens can be used as a long or short-term solution for catering demands of all kinds and serve many benefits; they are adaptable and built specifically to handle large turnover and high output. They also meet business licensing and inspection requirements for food preparation and storage.
There are two main types of licensed kitchen spaces for rent; private and shared use:
Private Commercial Kitchen
Private commercial kitchens offer exclusive access to a space that only contains the equipment and ingredients you need. Private commissaries are ideal for popular virtual restaurants and food delivery businesses that need kitchen space during normal business hours. A mobile vending concept with multiple vehicles can also look for a private space to create a central hub.
Shared Commercial Kitchen
Shared kitchens are typically large fitted spaces used by multiple businesses. The owner rents their commissary kitchen space and cooking equipment to multiple small-scale value-added food production entrepreneurs and caterers at once, such as food trucks, caterers and pop-up chefs. They typically assign renters to storage spaces and time slots when they can use the kitchen. Renters both share the space and the fees.
Benefits of Private Commercial Kitchen Hire;
- Infrastructure. A private commercial kitchen has the key infrastructure you need in your own exclusive space in a move-in-ready condition, equipped with robust extractor fans, ventilation systems and hygienic surfaces.
- Space. Private kitchens provide plenty of room for heavy-duty appliances and ample dry and cold storage space.
- Exclusivity. For those working long hours, particularly as they scale up their F&B business and production, a commercial or catering kitchen facility with private spaces offers exclusivity and control over your workspace.
- On-site storage. Many private commercial kitchen spaces, central production units or delivery kitchens, like Dephna’s, are housed in the same building as cold rooms. Having on-site cold storage is ideal for food businesses as they can store bulk bought produce in the cold room whilst keeping the food they are using each day in the kitchen.
- Flexibility. You can choose the number of kitchen and storage units your business will need per month and if you decide the space isn’t right for you, there is the option to choose somewhere new when your rental period is over.
- Control. You’ll have more space in a private kitchen to run your virtual restaurant business, more control over how you manage your operations, and more opportunities to scale as it becomes necessary.
- Low overhead. The owner of the kitchen takes care of additional expenses such as permits, utilities, building maintenance and pest control. You just pay the rental fee.
- Compliance. Commercial kitchens meet the local food safety and health regulations for preparing and storing foods served to paying customers.
- Expansion. They can help restaurants or chefs expand into new areas that would otherwise be quite costly.
Benefits of Shared Use Kitchen Rental;
- Shorter leases. Shared commercial kitchen facilities typically don’t require a long-term lease. You can pay for the actual time you’re going to use the space so that you aren’t paying rent on space that you only use occasionally. This is beneficial if your business only trades in small quantities every now and then.
- Business advice. If you rent a shared space, you become part of a community of other culinary professionals. When you share a kitchen with other foodpreneurs, everyone benefits from others’ experiences and advice.
- Cost-effective. Sharing a dark kitchen lowers your share of the cost, depending on how many brands you’re sharing your space with. Running multiple operations out of one facility is one of the easiest ways to increase your profits.
Are you searching for your perfect, private state-of-the-art kitchen to rent in London? Look no further. At Dephna, we offer complete flexibility and 24-hour access with commission-free deliveries. Enquire now to book a visit at one of our London locations.
