Food producers in the South West will have an opportunity to create and prepare their products in a fully equipped commercial kitchen at Origins Market in Busselton.
For $30 an hour, vendors will be able to rent out the kitchen, cook up their sauces and preserves, baked goods, and meals, package and store them in cool rooms all in the one place.
Expressions of Interest are now open to hire the certified kitchen, which is available to start-ups, businesses and market vendors wanting to create culinary value-added products.
The facility will also be available for primary producers who want to develop the value-added segment of their business when Origins Market opens its doors in November.
Origins Market curator Louise Cashmore said the incubator kitchen had the potential to open up doors that many start-ups wouldn't otherwise have been able to access due to the immense cost of building and operating a commercial kitchen.
Ms Cashmore said the Incubator Kitchen would reduce food miles and allow small vendors an opportunity to run their entire business from Origins Market.
"A number of vendors and small local producers don't need a commercial kitchen seven days a week," she said.
"The costs are often prohibitive and a massive barrier to entry, because of the costs to purchase equipment and maintain a license and the associated paperwork."
The fit-out of the kitchen, along with two business incubator stalls to support start-ups to sell their product, was supported with a $70,000 Regional Economic Development (RED) grant from the State Government.
The RED grants program supports locally driven projects that contribute to the economic growth and development of regional Western Australia.
South West Development Commission chief executive Mellisa Teede said they were pleased to support local vendors and South West businesses to produce value-added products in the commercial kitchen at an affordable cost.
"Supporting the local economy through business growth and jobs creation is one of our aims, and we are pleased to back an initiative that will help local businesses get new products off the ground," she said.
Opening in November 2021, Origins Market will be a hub for growers, producers, winemakers and artisans to create and sell their produce under one roof, attracting both locals and visitors to this unique market experience.
Regional Development Minister Alannah MacTiernan said the kitchen incubator at Origins Market would provide opportunities for bakers, caterers and other food entrepreneurs to start or grow their business.
"Initiatives like this help to reduce barriers to entry for small businesses, and allow home-based entrepreneurs to get off the ground or take their business to the next stage," she said.
South West MLC Jackie Jarvis said it a fantastic and unique opportunity for South-West businesses and she encouraged them to submit their expressions of interest.
Incubator Kitchen Expressions of interest are now open to small business owners. To find out more visit originsmarket.com.au/incubator-k.
