What Coexist Community Kitchen does

Coexist Community Kitchen is a non-profit cookery school and registered Community Interest Company (CIC) operating from a single facility in Easton, Bristol, United Kingdom. Founded in 2012, the organisation uses food as a vehicle to support people experiencing social marginalisation — including those facing poverty, isolation, mental health challenges, addiction recovery, displacement, and barriers to employment — through free community meals (up to 200 served every Wednesday, totalling nearly 10,000 meals annually), outreach cookery classes, refugee and asylum seeker support programmes, and the Food Futures employability training programme. It serves four identifiable customer segments: socially marginalised individuals (primary), refugees and asylum seekers, corporate clients, and 85+ Bristol-based partner organisations that refer beneficiaries.

The organisation operates a portfolio of interconnected services. Core commercial activities include catering for weddings, corporate events, and private celebrations (£300 minimum spend), public cooking classes at £55 per person, team building experiences at £600 for up to 10 people, and kitchen/dining room venue hire at £32 per hour. A small online shop sells gift vouchers (£10–£110), branded merchandise (t-shirts, tote bags), and a hot sauce product. Free downloadable supper club fundraising kits (Thai, Italian, Salvadoran, Chinese menus) support community-led fundraising.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid model combining earned commercial income (catering, classes, venue hire, shop), individual donations (one-off and monthly subscriptions at £3–£25/month), and institutional grants (notably from the King Charles III Coronation Food Project and Bristol City Council's Crisis & Resilience Fund). The organisation states over £150,000 in annual self-generated income against an operating cost of over £300,000, with the free meal service alone costing more than £30,000 per year. It faced two near-closure events during 2025 due to increased costs and competitive funding pressures, ultimately surviving through community support. The organisation is governed as a social enterprise with all profits reinvested into community programmes, managed by a small staff team (Managing Director Ari Cantwell, Marketing & Fundraising Lead Becky Millington) supplemented by a volunteer base, and uses a referral-based go-to-market motion through its partner ecosystem.

Name

Coexist Community Kitchen

Legal name

Coexist Community Kitchen CIC

Website

https://coexistcommunitykitchen.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Non-profit cookery school and CIC in Bristol using food for social impact, serving marginalised communities through free meals, outreach classes, and employability training while funding operations via catering, classes, venue hire, and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Cookery Services

NAICS

Caterers (722320), Community Food Services (62421), Full-Service Restaurants (722511)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Independent Neighborhood Cafes (THAFADAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

In-House Cafeteria Operations & Meal Preparation (EDAEAEAA)

Keywords

• Community cookery school
• Social enterprise catering
• Food poverty support
• Corporate team building cooking
• Community kitchen venue hire

Headquarters

HQ city

Bristol

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Catering Services: Catering for weddings, corporate events, parties and occasions. 100% of profit from catering goes back into community outreach work. Main revenue-generating commercial activity.
2. Public Cookery Classes: Public cooking classes (£55 per person) run evenings 6:30-9:30pm. 100% of profits from these classes go directly back into community outreach work.
3. Venue/Kitchen Hire: Professional kitchen and dining room available to hire for events, workshops, food business prep, or meetings. £32.00 per hour hire rate.
4. Shop - Gift Vouchers and Merchandise: Gift vouchers (£10, £20, £30, £55, £110) for cooking classes. Merchandise including t-shirts (£25) and tote bags (£15). Hot sauce product (Pomona: Pear + Harissa, £8.00).
5. Fundraising: Community fundraising including supper club kits (free recipe kits for hosting fundraising dinners). Team raises over £150,000 annually from self-generated income including catering, classes, and fundraising.
6. Donations: Direct donations from public. Suggested tiers: £10 (3 meals), £15 (outdoor session), £50 (15 meals), £100 (community cookery session materials), £550 (complete community cooking session). Monthly supporter options (£3, £5, £25).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Coexist Community Kitchen is a non-profit cookery school and social enterprise that operates a professional kitchen and dining room in Easton, Bristol. It sells catering services for weddings, corporate events, and parties; runs paid public cooking classes; hires out its kitchen and dining room; delivers corporate team building cooking experiences; and prepares up to 200 free community meals every Wednesday alongside outreach cookery programmes, refugee/asylum seeker support, and the Food Futures employability training programme. All profits from commercial activities are reinvested into community outreach work.

Product overview

Coexist Community Kitchen is a non-profit cookery school and social enterprise in Easton, Bristol. The organization operates a portfolio of interconnected community-focused services: catering for weddings, corporate events, and private celebrations; public cookery classes teaching skills from pasta-making to fermentation; kitchen and venue hire for external events; team building experiences for corporate groups; and free community meal provision serving up to 200 meals weekly. Core programmes include outreach cookery classes for marginalized groups, the Food Futures employability training programme, and support for refugees and asylum seekers through their Speak & Eat initiative. The organization funds its community mission primarily through commercial catering and venue hire services, with 100% of profits supporting outreach work. An online shop sells gift vouchers, merchandise including clothing and bags, and free downloadable fundraising kits for community supper clubs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Catering Services Professional full-service catering for weddings, corporate events, conferences, parties, and private dinners, led by experienced chefs who create bespoke seasonal menus using locally sourced ingredients. Delivered within Bristol and up to one hour's drive, with a £300 minimum spend and local drop-off within 5 miles for a £10 flat fee. 100% of catering profit is reinvested into community outreach work.
• Public Cookery Classes Evening cooking classes for the public taught by professional chefs, covering skills from bread making to pickling and fermenting. Classes run 6:30-9:30pm and include hands-on cooking followed by a shared meal. Priced at £55 per person, with 100% of profits going to community outreach work.
• Kitchen & Venue Hire Professional and homely kitchen and dining room available to hire for events, cookery workshops, food business prep, or work meetings. The kitchen includes 3 electric ovens, 4 induction hobs, and commercial equipment. The dining room seats up to 18 (extendable to 28), with standing capacity up to 45. Priced at £32 per hour.
• Team Building Days Corporate team building cooking experiences where groups cook a three-course feast guided by chefs. Menu options include Mediterranean, Mexican, Thai BBQ, or Indian street food. Priced at £600 for up to 10 people plus £55 per additional guest (up to 15 total), with optional drink packages available.
• Free Meal Support (Community Meals) Weekly preparation and distribution of up to 200 free meals every Wednesday for community members experiencing food insecurity. Meals are freshly prepared using seasonal ingredients by the team and volunteers, and are available to anyone in the community who may need them.
• Cooking Programmes (Outreach) Range of outreach cookery programmes including classes for marginalised groups, refugee and asylum seeker support (including the Speak & Eat language programme), recovery programmes for those experiencing addiction, employability training, and outdoor cooking activities. Run in partnership with Bristol-based drug and alcohol services, mental health organisations, refugee groups, and other community partners.
• Food Futures Training Programme

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 10,000 meals prepared annually for people experiencing food insecurity
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Young CarerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organisation referring young carers to cookery classes and community programmes.
• Second StepcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMental health organisation partnership for outreach cookery classes.
• MigratefulcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting refugees and asylum seekers through cooking programmes. Includes Migrateful graduation events at the kitchen.
• One LovecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organisation referring individuals to community cooking programmes.
• CoresistcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organisation supporting community outreach through cookery.
• Bristol Refugee RightscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting refugees and people seeking asylum through food programmes.
• BristowecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organisation referring clients to community programmes.
• LifebeatcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organisation supporting community health through cooking programmes.
• TrinitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner organisation for cookery and food initiatives.
• Wider WorldcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organisation supporting broader community reach.
• Bristol Beer FactorysupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partner through Brewed to Give project. Offers 20% discount on beer for events/weddings, with 100% of sale coming back to the kitchen.
• Local suppliers (Stream Farm, Gothelney Farm, Field Bakery, Three Hares Farm, Sims Hill Harvest, The Bristol Cheesemonger, The Community Farm)supportingOthersTrusted local suppliers for seasonal, organic and local ingredients.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Migrateful: UK charity running cookery classes led by refugees and asylum seekers. Already a Coexist partner (Migrateful graduation events held at the kitchen); directly comparable in refugee-support cooking programme model.
• Luminary Bakery: London-based social enterprise bakery/café training women affected by the criminal justice system and homelessness. Comparable social-enterprise-Food-venue model with training, café sales, and impact mission funded through commercial activity.
• Made in Hackney: London-based community cookery school running plant-based cooking programmes for marginalised groups. Closest comparable peer in terms of the cookery-school-plus-social-mission hybrid that Coexist operates.
• The People's Kitchen (Newcastle): Newcastle charity providing free meals and support services to people facing hardship. Directly comparable in delivering community meals plus training/skills programmes from a single kitchen site.
• The Bread and Butter Thing: UK social enterprise tackling food poverty through affordable membership food clubs. Comparable in mission focus on food insecurity and in operating from a single hub with a community-funded model.
• FoodCycle: UK charity combining surplus food with community dining and cooking programmes. Directly comparable social enterprise model addressing food poverty through prepared meals, similar to Coexist's free Wednesday meals and outreach classes.

Regional players

• School Food Matters: UK charity delivering food education and cooking programmes with a focus on schools and children. Adjacent peer in food-skills-and-community-engagement; overlaps with Coexist's educational mission but focused on school settings.

Emerging players

• The Clink Charity: UK charity running training restaurants inside prisons to build employability. Comparable in the food-venue-fuelled-employability-training model (akin to Coexist's Food Futures programme).

Others

• City Harvest London: London-based food surplus redistribution charity. Adjacent (not directly competing) ecosystem participant that supplies food to community meal programmes similar in spirit to Coexist's free meals.

Broad incumbents

• Jamie's Ministry of Food: Jamie Oliver-founded cookery school teaching cooking skills to community groups nationwide. Comparable in cookery-class-as-community-tool, but operates at much larger scale as a brand-led programme.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@coexistcommunitykitchen
• Facebookfacebook.com/CoexistCommunityKitchen
• Instagraminstagram.com/coexistcommunitykitchen
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/coexist-community-kitchen

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Coexist Community Kitchen