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Created: Jan 3, 2023 08:00
Shalini Johnstone of BEDC, Central, plant-based fuel BDA operator Trevor Johnstone and wife Maricela (photo courtesy)
The Bermuda Economic Development Corporation has launched a program to help island food entrepreneurs operate their businesses in fully licensed commercial kitchens.
BEDC’s goal of an underutilized commercial kitchen program for community users is to provide interested entrepreneurs with an affordable, quality working environment to support them in starting or expanding their business while at the same time , said it is to provide facility income to owners of commercial kitchens. otherwise it will not be accepted.
This initiative has two elements. A matching program that introduces entrepreneurs to commercial kitchen owners and direct rentals by BEDC to aspiring entrepreneurs.
BEDC’s acting executive director, Jamillah Lodge, said BEDC regularly receives requests from aspiring culinary entrepreneurs for information on the availability of commercial kitchens for their businesses.
she said:
“We know there are underutilized kitchens in churches and community clubs around the island.
“We know that some licensed kitchens on the island are underutilized.
“So the aim is to match them with potential entrepreneurs interested in preparing and selling food.”
Once matched, both parties are free to trade.
The three matching kitchens are located at St. James Church in Sandys, One Stop Variety in Pembroke, and Midland Heights Seventh-day Adventist Church in Hamilton Parish.
BEDC will play a more active role in the second component of the programme. Rent space in community kitchens, including Bethel AME Church near Sherry Bay, and rent out space to community users.
William Spriggs, Director of Economics and Cooperative Development at BEDC, is the lead for the Underutilized Kitchen project with the support of Program Manager Shalini Johnstone.
Spriggs said: They may only need a few hours a week. “
He said the program gives entrepreneurs the opportunity to get out of their home kitchens and transition from part-time to full-time businesses.
Trevor Johnstone and his wife Maricela run Plant-Based Fuel BDA. This is a food service business offering high quality, creative plant-based/vegan food.
In addition to catering, meal planning and personal chef services, the business offers a weekly takeout menu, all prepared in Bethel AME’s kitchen.
Chef and owner Johnstone said he will start working at the Bethel AME kitchen on July 1, working full days Monday through Thursday.
He said the program was “good, good, good – I like it.”
Mr Johnstone added: Now that you have space to prepare and hold food, you can do bigger catering jobs. “
BEDC says all kitchens participating in the program are fully licensed and meet health code standards.
So not only does it save small businesses from having to incur the debt of purchasing expensive equipment or signing long-term leases, it also takes care of one of their licensing requirements.
To date, most kitchens in the program belong to sports clubs and churches, but BEDC is also open to suggestions from underutilized restaurant kitchens.
Mr Lodge said:
Kitchen owners or potential tenants are invited to contact BEDC to register their interest in the program.
www.bedc.bm
Jamillah Lodge at BEDC (photo courtesy)
BEDC’s William Spriggs (photo courtesy)
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