Snyder Building Construction, a Denver-based commercial general contractor, is nearing completion of a USDA-certified bottling facility called the Kitchen Network Bottling Company. The tenant improvement project expands the existing Kitchen Network’s commissary capabilities in the Westwood neighborhood. Local community development organization, BuCu West, champions the venture’s expansion. BuCu West offers focused attention and support for small businesses, entrepreneurs, and culture organizations along the Morrison Road corridor and West Denver. The project is scheduled for completion at the end of May.
The adaptive reuse project consists of renovating an old, 2,200-square-foot space from an automotive body and mechanic shop into a fully licensed, food product bottling facility. The project is designed by the RE: Architecture and construction services are in progress through Snyder Building Construction. Snyder Building Construction is working alongside the Kitchen Network Bottling Company to obtain full USDA-certification for the facility.
“Snyder has helped expand our services for the future,” said Erick Garcia, director of the Kitchen Network commissary about the addition of the new bottling facility. “With our full certification expected by the end of May, we plan to be the first and only USDA-certified bottling facility in Colorado. “With our full certification expected at the end of the month, we plan to cement our position as the first and only USDA-certified bottling facility in Colorado.”
From sourcing groceries, glass bottles, recipe development, and proper labeling, they consult and educate small business owners in launching their food products from start to finish. Some criteria must be met in order to work with the team and use their facility. Some of the criteria includes the production of shelf-stable end products that are naturally acidified and the use of glass containers for bottling, among others. As part of the certification process, only trained personnel may use the equipment.
The Kitchen Network is a branch of BuCu West’s business incubator, specifically for food businesses. The Kitchen Network Bottling Company is led by Director Julie Casault. With the new bottling enhancements, the Kitchen Network’s food incubator and commissary kitchen is an all-in-one hub ready with the necessary equipment, expertise, and support for operators to produce small-batch recipes from conception to bottling to market.
“We are excited to grow the bottling company and bring more local living wage jobs to the Westwood community,” said Jose Esparza, executive director of BuCu West. “We take pride in manufacturing products in Westwood that are sold wholesale across the country.”