It starts with a dream. How to turn this delicious product you created into a full-blown business? You sell your product to your friends. They rave about it and encourage you to turn your passion into a business. Then you realize what’s required to create a successful business, and your dream shrinks as setting up gets too big, confusing, and expensive. Not anymore. Coho Commissary has moved into Gibsons and is helping to turn your passion into reality.
The Commissary has a brand-new professional commercial kitchen with all the necessities. Each business has its own personal workspace, and the building has security inside and out, so you can feel comfortable leaving your personal equipment and products laid out. But what makes Coho Commissary special is the energy. The space is filled with like-minded and passionate food entrepreneurs.
This is a great place for any size business, from full-time work to growing your at-home business or bringing a new food product to launch. Not having to be responsible for every detail leaves you time to create and grow your business.
Andrea Bothma, Coho Commissary’s General Manager, had worked in the food industry for many years and was looking for purpose and meaning. She saw plenty of people making great food and wanted to support these small businesses. She loves the community aspect and dreamed of a place to express that. Connecting with Andrew Barnes and Amrit Maharaj, who also saw a hole in the marketplace, they brought the commissary to the Sunshine Coast.
While the kitchen is not open to the public, some businesses sell out of “Coho Alley” (the alley on the right-hand side of the building). You will need to connect with each business individually to arrange purchase of their products. Brassica, Coho’s adjoining community to table restaurant, also carries a small selection of delectable pantry items, primarily from the Coho kitchen.
The Coho Commissary also has a room to rent for private or group hands-on cooking classes. The Sunshine Kitchen can host up to 20 people with two options for rentals:
1. You can rent the facility and do everything yourself. This is for you if you have a business and want to create your own event.
2. The “gather your group” option, where you get 6-12 people together and then get in touch with Andrea, and she matches you with a chef that fits your needs. Think corporate team building events or a girls/guys night of making food and drinks with a chef.
Coho is helping food-based businesses test, perfect, and scale their product offerings. “You’re never too small,” says Andrea. Already, Coho has seen some wins come out of the kitchen. Collaborations between businesses have been successfully executed. Businesses have moved from selling out of “Coho Alley” into their own food trucks and products have been successfully scaled to market.
Coho Commissary is built on passion and connection. Where will your dream take you when you have the room and facilities to support your growth?
