5 for Good: CommonWealth Kitchen helps women-owned, minority-owned food businesses
Boston's food business incubator aims to level playing field
Boston's food business incubator aims to level playing field
Boston's food business incubator aims to level playing field
Ernie Campbell is a well-seasoned chef. The Jamaican native cooked for years in some of the finest hotels on both his home island and in Boston.
He is now serving his specialties in his own restaurant called Jamaica Mi Hungry. It’s fittingly located in Jamaica Plain, next to the Jackson Square MBTA station.
"What really makes it work (is) the hard work that you put in," Campbell said.
Campbell first struck out on his own in a food truck. His Jamaican delights were so popular, he would often run out of food. That's when he sought out CommonWealth Kitchen, Boston's nonprofit food business incubator.
Jen Faigel, executive director, said CommonWealth Kitchen focuses on helping minorities, women and immigrants.
“Our focus is, how do we level the playing field for people who want to start a food company with all of the bells and whistles they need to be successful?" Faigel said.
She said on average, CommonWealth Kitchen hosts 50 to 60 companies a year.
“Food trucks, caterers, bakers, meal kit companies -- you name it, we got it," Faigel said.
Faigel said a commercial kitchen is a huge expense that many burgeoning business owners cannot afford. CommonWealth Kitchen members can use the nonprofit’s industrial kitchen in Dorchester.
CommonWealth Kitchen also helps members navigate the other requirements of starting a food business.
Faigel said there’s a lot to consider: "Nutritional labels, permitting, licensing, scaling production, how to get capital. Honestly, it's mind boggling."
Aquila Kentish is Ernie Campbell’s partner in business and in life.
"We were in a phase of growth when we moved to Commonwealth Kitchen,” Kentish said. “The facilities there and the equipment that they have, it just helped us to take it even farther."
Kentish and Campbell said even with a booming food truck business, it was hard to secure capital and a restaurant space on their own.
Commonwealth Kitchen helped Campbell and Kentish open their first permanent location in September 2019.