richmond community kitchen

What richmond community kitchen does

Richmond Community Kitchen LLC operates a single-location, locally-sourced prepared-meal and food-services business from 13 Jolina Court in Richmond, Vermont. The company sells handmade, ready-to-heat frozen meals (casseroles, soups, stews, quiches, hand pies, burritos, calzones) sourced from a network of more than twenty named Vermont farms and producers, alongside in-person retail shopping, curbside pickup, and Thursday home delivery to twelve Vermont communities with a $150 minimum order. Menu prices range from approximately $6 for hand pies and breakfast burritos up to $30 for beef enchiladas, with gift cards sold in $10-$300 denominations.

Beyond retail frozen meals, the company operates a diversified services portfolio: monthly cooking classes limited to twelve participants and taught by local chef instructors; event space rental seating 36 (capacity 50) priced at $150 for three hours or $360 with kitchen access; tiered commercial kitchen rental to food businesses at $65-$75 per hour; a cookbook lending library; and the Feed It Forward program that donates gift cards in partnership with the Richmond Food Shelf. Marketing is conducted through the Shopify website, Facebook and Instagram accounts, a twice-monthly newsletter, Seven Days Tickets, and earned coverage in Seven Days, Burlington Free Press, Vermont Public Radio, and Local 22/44.

The business is privately held and operated by Co-founder and Executive Chef Amy Gifford together with Sous-Chef and Kitchen Manager Erin McGuire. The company is a Vermont LLC, a member of the Vermont Fresh Network, and a 2023 Gold Barn Digital Sticker recipient. There is no disclosed funding, no parent company, no app, and no public revenue figure; the operating model is a mission-driven local food business combining direct-to-consumer retail with light B2B and community programming.

Name

richmond community kitchen

Legal name

Richmond Community Kitchen LLC

Website

https://richmondcommunitykitchen.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Richmond Community Kitchen LLC is a privately held Vermont food business that sells locally-sourced, ready-to-heat frozen meals through a single retail storefront, Thursday home delivery to twelve Vermont towns, and complementary services including cooking classes, event space rentals, commercial kitchen rentals, and a community Feed It Forward program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Local Prepared Food Service

NAICS

Frozen Specialty Food Manufacturing (311412)

SIC

Canned, Frozen & Preservd Fruit, Veg & Food Specialties (2030)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYCRAHAJAI

Local Chef/Restaurant Meal Boxes & Marketplace Prepared Meals

Consumer Products & Retail/Grocery & Food Retail/Meal Kits & Prepared Meals Retail

SECONDARYTHAJAKAE

Culinary Skills Workshops (Baking, Regional Cooking, Food Prep Skills)

Travel & Hospitality/Tours, Attractions & Experiences/Workshops & Classes (Arts, Crafts, Skills & Local Lessons)

Keywords

• Prepared frozen meals
• Cooking classes
• Commercial kitchen rental
• Event space rental
• Locally sourced food

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Prepared Frozen Meals: Sale of handmade, locally-sourced frozen ready-to-heat meals. Products include casseroles, soups, stews, quiches, hand pies, burritos, and calzones. Meals are prepared daily with locally-sourced ingredients and sold through retail storefront and online ordering with pickup/delivery.
2. Cooking Classes: Monthly cooking classes taught by local chef-instructors. Classes are limited to 12 participants and provide hands-on culinary education. Classes are promoted through website, Facebook, Instagram, newsletter, and Seven Days Tickets.
3. Event Space Rentals: Rental of event space for celebrations, reunions, corporate meetings, and private events. Event space seats 36 (max capacity 50). Includes optional kitchen access for food preparation.
4. Commercial Kitchen Rentals: Rental of Vermont Department of Health-certified commercial kitchen to food businesses for food production. Hourly rates based on monthly usage volume ($65-75/hour). Includes equipment access and orientation.
5. Gift Cards: Digital gift cards sold in denominations of $10, $25, $50, $100, $150, $200, and $300. Delivered via email for use in retail store.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Richmond Community Kitchen prepares and sells handmade, ready-to-heat frozen meals featuring locally-sourced Vermont ingredients, sold through a retail storefront in Richmond, VT and via online ordering with curbside pickup and Thursday home delivery. The business also offers in-person cooking classes taught by local chefs, an event space rental for celebrations and meetings, and hourly rental of its Vermont Department of Health-certified commercial kitchen to small food businesses.

Product overview

Richmond Community Kitchen is a local food service business offering a portfolio of products and services centered on locally-sourced prepared meals and food education. The core product is handmade ready-to-heat frozen meals featuring ingredients from Vermont farms, available in four main categories: casseroles (including Baked Chicken Penne, Veggie Mac & Cheese, Pulled Pork Mac & Cheese), soups and stews (including Beef & Bean Chili, Chicken Soup, Vegetarian Chili), quiches (including Quiche Lorraine, Crustless Veggie Quiche), and handheld meals (including Beef & Bean Burrito, Potato & Herb Hand Pies, Pepperoni Stromboli, Mushroom & Spinach Calzone). Complementary services include cooking classes taught by local chefs, event space and commercial kitchen rentals, digital gift cards, a cookbook lending library, and the Feed It Forward community program providing meals and scholarships to families in need. Home delivery is available on Thursdays to select Vermont towns.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Prepared Frozen Meals Handmade ready-to-heat frozen meals featuring locally-sourced ingredients in categories including casseroles, soups and stews, quiches, and handheld meals such as burritos, hand pies, calzones, and stromboli. Sold to individual consumers via retail storefront, curbside pickup, and home delivery. Vegetarian and gluten-free options available.
• Cooking Classes In-person cooking classes taught by talented local chef-instructors, limited to 12 participants with individual cooking stations. Promoted via website, Facebook, Instagram, newsletter, and Seven Days Tickets. Designed for home cooks and food enthusiasts seeking hands-on culinary education.
• Event Space Rental Rental of event space for celebrations, reunions, corporate meetings, and private events. The space seats 36 (max capacity 50) and is offered with or without kitchen access. Space-only rental starts at $150 for 3 hours; space plus kitchen access starts at $360 for 3 hours.
• Commercial Kitchen Rental Rental of a Vermont Department of Health-certified commercial kitchen to food businesses for food production, processing, or event catering preparation. Tiered hourly pricing based on monthly usage volume ($65-$75/hour). Includes access to equipment such as a 6-burner gas stove, double convection oven, 30-qt mixer, commercial dishwasher, and prep stations.
• Gift Cards Digital gift cards available in denominations of $10, $25, $50, $100, $150, $200, and $300, delivered via email for use in the retail store and on prepared meals, classes, and related offerings.

Quantifiable outcome

• No food waste aside from compost from recipe prepping
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Vermont Fresh NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRCK is a proud member of the Vermont Fresh Network, indicating a commitment to local sourcing and sustainable food systems. The Gold Barn Digital Sticker 2023 recognition was awarded through this network, demonstrating the strength of their local food partnerships.
• Richmond Food ShelfcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through the Feed It Forward program where RCK donates gift cards to Richmond Food Shelf residents, increasing food access for limited-income community members.
• Jericho Settlers FarmcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCertified organic vegetable farm in Jericho, VT providing produce, herbs, and connecting to other local protein and dairy sources for CSA and wholesale customers since 2002.
• Lewis Creek FarmcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSustainable vegetable farm in Starksboro, VT dating to the late 1700s. Provides ecologically-grown produce with 40% of farm energy from solar panels.
• Burnt Rock FarmcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCertified organic vegetable farm in Huntington, VT with 12 acres of production. Committed to growing high-quality produce while stewarding agricultural soils.
• Champlain OrchardscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner220-acre family-owned orchard in Shoreham, VT with 100+ apple varieties plus berries and stone fruits. One of Vermont's oldest continuously operating orchards.
• Pete's GreenscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFour-season certified organic vegetable farm in Craftsbury, VT growing 200+ varieties on 300+ acres with robust CSA membership.
• Robie FarmcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFarm in Piermont, NH raising beef, poultry, and pork. Primary chicken supplier for RCK. Committed to pastured animals without added hormones.
• Farr FarmscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary beef supplier for RCK. Local Vermont farm committed to quality livestock production.
• Stonewood FarmcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFamily-owned turkey farm in Orwell, VT operating 30+ years. All-vegetable, whole grain feed without hormones or antibiotics. Primary turkey supplier.
• Black River MeatscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVermont-based pork supplier providing quality local pork products.
• Vermont SalumiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSmall-batch artisan salami, sausage, and prosciutto producer in Barre, VT specializing in Italian culinary traditions.
• McKenzie Country ClassicsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVermont institution since 1907 providing meat products throughout the state. Known for using Vermont maple syrup in products.
• Cabot CreameryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerB Corp certified dairy co-op with 800+ farm families. Provides cheese, butter, yogurt, and other dairy products throughout New England.
• Slopeside SyrupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaple syrup producer in Richmond, VT with 20,000+ taps on 400+ acres. Started by Cochran ski family in 2010.
• Vermont Bean CraftersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBean and plant-based product company in Warren, VT making black bean burgers, falafel, and dried beans from local organic ingredients.
• Stewart's BakeryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWilliston, VT bakery since 1987 providing challah, sub rolls, and sandwich rolls for RCK's sandwich kits.
• Maplebrook FarmminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAward-winning feta, mozzarella, ricotta producer in North Bennington, VT. Hand-stretched old world fresh mozzarella.
• All Souls TortilleriaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArtisanal hominy, masa, tortillas, and tortilla chips producer in Burlington, VT.
• King Arthur Baking CompanyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVermont institution since 1790 providing flour and baking products. Known for café, bakery, store, and baking school in Norwich, VT.
• Vermont Smoke & CureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCertified Vermont Benefit Corporation in South Barre, VT crafting meat products free from antibiotics and hormones since 1962.
• West FarmminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCertified organic vegetable and herb farm in Jeffersonville, VT. Sister farm to The Farm Between.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• CookUnity: CookUnity is a chef-prepared frozen meal subscription service selling direct-to-consumer across the US. Highly comparable business model to RCK's frozen prepared meal retail line, with a similar chef-driven, ready-to-heat value proposition, but operating at national scale with venture capital backing.
• Daily Harvest: Daily Harvest sells DTC frozen, ready-to-heat meals and smoothies through a direct-to-consumer subscription model. Closely comparable to RCK on frozen-meal product format and DTC channel, but at national scale with venture funding and a broader menu.
• Mosaic Foods: Mosaic Foods is a plant-forward frozen prepared meal DTC brand offering soups, bowls, and oven-ready dishes. Directly comparable frozen-meal format and DTC model to RCK's casserole/soup/stew line, though at national scale and venture-backed.
• Factor: Factor (formerly Factor 75) sells fresh, chef-prepared meals direct-to-consumer nationwide, focusing on ready-to-heat entrees. Comparable to RCK's frozen prepared meal line but with a fresh (rather than frozen) format and national subscription infrastructure.
• Sun Basket: Sun Basket combines meal kits with prepared, ready-to-heat meals sold DTC. Comparable on the prepared-meal side to RCK's frozen meal offering, with additional meal-kit SKU overlap, though at national scale.
• Magic Kitchen: Magic Kitchen ships frozen, chef-prepared meals (soups, entrées, breakfasts) directly to consumers nationwide. Closely comparable frozen-meal product format and senior/family convenience positioning to RCK, though with national reach.

Broad incumbents

• HelloFresh: HelloFresh is the largest US meal-kit subscription service offering pre-portioned ingredients plus prepared-meal SKUs. Broader incumbent competitor to RCK's prepared-meal category with much larger scale, marketing budget, and national subscription infrastructure.
• Blue Apron: Blue Apron is a national meal-kit and prepared-meal subscription brand. Comparable to RCK on ready-to-heat prepared meals, but operates at much larger scale with venture-capital backing and broader geographic reach.
• Sweetgreen: Sweetgreen is a national fast-casual restaurant chain selling chef-prepared salads and warm bowls. Adjacent to RCK on prepared, fresh, locally-sourced meals with strong brand differentiation, but operates a national chain of physical stores rather than a DTC frozen-meal model.

Emerging players

• Tovala: Tovala sells a smart oven bundled with chef-prepared frozen meal subscriptions shipped DTC. Comparable on the prepared-frozen-meal format to RCK, but pairs it with proprietary hardware and a national subscription model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/rckvt
• Instagraminstagram.com/richmondcommunitykitchen
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/richmond-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 richmond community kitchen