WHAT IS ZEST COMMERCIAL FOOD HUB?
Zest is a shared processing space where local food businesses can produce their products and benefit from vast community experience. By eliminating the need to purchase cost-prohibitive food processing equipment, the food hub incubates new businesses. Both current and new businesses can expand their operations and take advantage of new market opportunities through the food hub.
This model offers multiple ways to engage—from committed anchor tenants to small contract users to community partners. In addition, it cultivates relationships between new and existing businesses, creating opportunities for mentorship and information sharing, which form the foundation of the Zest Network.
Zest aims to cultivate local food businesses, connect local food resources, and build the community food system.
Salmon Arm, Shuswap
and our Agriculture
story!
Get your Big Ideas ready and
stay in touch!
WHY A FOOD HUB?
The Shuswap is home to numerous established and emerging food and beverage businesses. However, affordable and accessible processing, packaging and research facilities to support value-added product development was identified as a critical supply chain gap. With substantial community and provincial support, Salmon Arm Economic Development Society (SAEDS) developed the Zest Commercial Food
Hub to address this local food processing gap. Creating a financially sustainable hub that will help support a resilient, accessible and expanding community food system is the vision of Zest Commercial Food Hub.
ZEST Equipment
Zest finds its home in a clean, well-maintained, food safe facility with easy access to the TransCanada Highway and excellent community exposure. The two bay doors create easy access from the parking lots and the fenced outside compound provides secure storage. The food hub aims to serve diverse needs by acquiring multi-use equipment so bring your BIG ideas!
In addition to dedicated anchor lines for unique food products, Zest Commercial Food Hub currently features commercial workspace, commercial sinks, grease traps, and industrial dishwasher, industrial oven and range, steam jacketed kettle, vacuum sealer, meat slicers, commercial scale and printer, mixers and small wares, as well as walk-in cooler and dry storage lockers. This is changing everyday!
Is this space for you?
Our goal is to ensure the food hub is accessible for everyone, whether an established business or new start-up. From full-time usage to drop-in access, there is a usage model to meet your needs. Here are a few examples of how Zest Commercial Food Hub can support you:
Who are ideal users of the space?
• Food and Beverage Processors
• Caterers
• Food Trucks
How much time do you need to rent?
• Drop-in basis
• Seasonal
• Ongoing, with options for a dedicated
personalized, permanent space and
24/7 access
Not sure if this space could work for you? Or have more questions? Awesome! Please contact us:
email info@zestfoodhub.ca or call (778) 824 1031
We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia through
the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries.