Become a Stir maker
By providing kitchen facility rentals, commercial processing equipment, storage, business mentorship, and community connections we help local food entrepreneurs expand their business to reach a wider market. Supporting local food businesses helps build the capacity of our regional food system by allowing local food to be preserved, processed, and distributed on a year-round basis.
We work with all types of food entrepreneurs, including folks with just an idea, individuals cooking in their own home, farmers’ market vendors, and food businesses looking for a commercial expansion. Our food hub members, known as Stir Makers, connect with us at different stages for different levels of help due to the specific support or requirements they need. We work in collaboration with people just like you to turn their food dream into a reality.
Stirmaker Benefits:
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24/7 access to rent our shared commercial kitchen facilities
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Rent storage in our warehouse
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Discounted event rentals, workshops, and coaching services
Focused on food preservation methods, such as canning and dehydration, our facilities can help small-scale sauce producers scale-up their business from a few dozen jars per day to over 1000 jars per day, giving them more time to work on their business, rather than in it.
Start Making a stir Today!
Stirmaker Success Stories
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"The Stir is such an amazing place that has started out such incredible businesses, thank you for all you do!"
- Patti Philips, Marketing Director, North Shore Business Improvement Association
"It's quite common in small business, especially the food processing industry, that it's really hard to get access to a commercial kitchen that's affordable. I reached out to people in the general community and they introduced me to The Stir. The team at The Stir is incredible to work with and I am so grateful to them for the opportunities I've had since moving to Kamloops. The Stir lowered the barrier for us to enter the retail sales market of our processed food products. It provided us with low-cost access to a health authority approved schedule. We were able to bring our products to markets, to test our product demand and then give us the data to prove our concept prior to opening our own facility."
- Kevin McHallam, Owner, KMK Living Inc.
"The Stir helped us by having more space, by having equipment available to us that not many people can have for a startup. The knowledge they have here is great for people who are looking for the nest step."
- Dale Schafer, Owner, The Donut Hole
"I moved to Kamloops in August [2022], by November I was in here [The Stir] putting together my Interior Health plans, and by January I was in the Kitchen working. If it wasn't for The Sir, there's no way I could have been commercially baking in Kamloops in three months. The Stir have been instrumental in the success of my small business in Kamloops, BC. The commercial kitchen space available has allowed Splatter Batter Baking Co. opportunities to network with fellow makers, participate in community events, and as new equipment is added, the potential for business growth multiplies. I am grateful to have The Stir to support my dreams as a small business owner."
- Kimberly Shipton, Owner, Splatter Batter Baking Co.
"I started at home practicing, taking online courses, and then when I decided to advance my business I reached out to The Stir and now I rent the GardenGate Kitchen. I'm not able to bake large volumes of cookies and sell wholesale to retail and coffee shops around Kamloops. The Stir has been instrumental to growing my food processing business. I have learned so much from their advisors and feel that The Stir is an integral part of helping Kamloops' small food businesses take the next step to success!"
- Lisha Belliveau, Owner, Enchanted Artisan Cookies
"Thanks to The Stir, I have been given an opportunity to expand my offering to more local retailers. I appreciate the well thought out space and equipment provided, it has allowed me to scale up my business production. The endless support and advice given by the staff has been invaluable."
- Mary Blando, Owner, Modern Nourishment, Logjam Coffee
