The Food Files

Author: thefoodfiles

The Food Files is a series of podcasts from the Oklahoma State University Robert M. Kerr Food and Agricultural Products Center relating to topics in the food and agricultural industry.
Be a guest on this podcast

Language: en

Genres: Business, Education, Entrepreneurship

Contact email: Get it

Feed URL: Get it

iTunes ID: Get it

Get all podcast data

Listen Now...

Co-Packer, Shared Kitchen or Your Own Facility? How to Choose
Episode 7
Monday, 20 April, 2026

You’ve outgrown your home kitchen — now what? How do you choose between a co-packer, shared kitchen or your own facility? Moving into commercial production isn’t one-size-fits-all. For many food businesses, the next step comes down to three options: working with a co-packer, using a shared kitchen or developing your own facility. In this episode of Food Files, we break down what each path looks like, the tradeoffs to consider and how to decide which option aligns with your product, your goals and your stage of growth. Whether you’re building demand or preparing to scale, understanding these choices can help you move forward with clarity instead of guesswork. This episode is designed for food entrepreneurs navigating commercial food production, co-packing, shared kitchen use and facility planning. At FAPC, we work with businesses at every stage — helping refine products, strengthen processes and prepare for the next step toward commercialization. Learn more at food.okstate.edu.