BC Business
The kitchen-for-rent company has made some big moves in the last several days.
I first wrote about Coho Commissary, the Vancouver-based company that leases out kitchens for burgeoning restaurateurs, just over a year ago.
Back then, the company’s founders, Andrew Barnes and Amrit Maharaj, had just raised $3 million in an oversubscribed Series A funding round and had three locations (two on Vancouver’s eastside and one in North Van) to their name, with a fourth in Gibsons on the way.
Even in a tough economy, the company has been able to grow since then, in large part thanks to a successful IPO in June.
On Friday, the company announced that it would be moving into a 2,324 sq ft space in downtown Victoria with eight stations for up to 16 potential businesses, including ghost kitchens, caterers, consumer packaged goods companies and R&D for restaurants.
“Victoria is one of the most beautiful cities in British Columbia, and one with diverse population growth,” said Barnes in a release. “We have big plans in this city and are thrilled to announce the opening of our new commissary kitchen in our province’s capital and help to drive more food concepts to the area. This is our first Victoria location and a second is expected to open this fall.”
In addition to that, earlier this week the Coho team announced that it had finalized a lease on a massive (26,000 sq ft) spot in Richmond.
That facility, Coho Crestwood, includes commissary, grocery and food hall premises, and is expected to open in spring 2023.
“Despite uncertainty and volatility in the broader economy, proceeds from our recent initial public offering have allowed us to continue to pursue our previously disclosed growth strategy,” said Barnes.
Coho is home to more than 100 businesses, including well-known Vancouver staples bakery Merci Boulangerie and French taco outlet Brick’N’Cheese.