Food Web, a Halifax startup that connects commercial kitchens with food entrepreneurs, will officially launch its new Food Web Kitchens platform on Dec. 8.

The digital platform allows kitchen owners to rent out unused hours in their licensed facilities and gives food businesses a central place to find and book space. After two years of research and community engagement across Atlantic Canada, the company says the system is now live for kitchen owners to begin listing their spaces. Kitchens that sign up before Dec. 8 will receive a 25 percent off discount on platform fees for one year.

Food Web is targeting a common problem in the region’s food sector: licensed kitchens that sit idle for much of the week, while small food businesses struggle to find affordable, legal places to work. The company cites demand from farmers’ market vendors, caterers, meal prep companies, bakers, packaged food brands, immigrant-led businesses and other early-stage entrepreneurs who often require only part-time access.

“One of the clearest insights to emerge from our work over the past two years is just how widespread the challenge of kitchen access really is,” said the company in a press release.

“Farmers’ market managers told us about talented vendors who couldn’t scale because they couldn’t secure consistent kitchen time. Economic development officers spoke about entrepreneurs in their regions who were ready to grow but stalled out waiting for a licensed space. . . . Across rural communities, small towns, and even in Halifax, the barrier was identical: finding a kitchen to rent was confusing, inconsistent, and often impossible.”

Through Food Web Kitchens, owners of facilities such as churches, community centres, restaurants, cafés and event venues can create listings, set availability and hourly rates, and manage bookings. The platform handles administration including payments, agreements and messaging, and connects kitchen owners only with businesses that have supplied required documentation and insurance.

Food entrepreneurs can search for licensed kitchens across the region, join a waitlist if none are available in their area, upload documents to a central profile and book space directly through the platform. The system is intended to make legal requirements clearer and reduce the informal, ad hoc arrangements that have often characterized kitchen rentals.

The launch follows several years of research and pilot work. Food Web took part in Dal Innovates’ Lab2Market Launch program, during which it interviewed more than 80 food businesses across Atlantic Canada about kitchen access, pricing and regulatory hurdles. The company also worked with Dalhousie University’s College of Sustainability for two consecutive years, with student researchers examining shared-use kitchen models and local food infrastructure.

Co-Founder and CEO Justin Andrews draws on his own experience as a chef, farmers’ market vendor and food educator who struggled to secure consistent kitchen access. Co-founder and CTO Keegan Francis leads product and engineering. Designer and brand architect Mariah Pelley-Smith oversees user experience and branding.

Food Web also works with a group of advisors from the restaurant industry, academia, shared-use food facilities, software development and local food advocacy. The company is offering weekly webinars and one-on-one demo calls for kitchen owners and food entrepreneurs interested in the platform.