Celebrating 10 years of Building Food Businesses in New Jersey
January 5, 2026
From Community and Education to a Thriving Home for Food Founders
From Community and Education to a Thriving Home for Food Founders
As we begin the new year, we’re taking a moment to reflect — with deep gratitude — on the community that has made Hudson Kitchen what it is today.
We’re incredibly thankful for the partners and champions who have supported Hudson Kitchen along the way — from funding programs to opening doors and sharing our story. Our heartfelt thanks to the Hudson County Economic Development Corporation (HCEDC), UCEDC, Rising Tide Capital, Provident Bank, and Cole Schotz, to name just a few.
We’re also grateful to the many people who have spoken about Hudson Kitchen in rooms we weren’t in, referred founders to us, and helped spread the word about the work we do. Your belief in our mission has made it possible for us to serve food entrepreneurs for the past decade — and to continue growing this incredible community.
Last year marked a major milestone for us — 10 years since Hudson Kitchen was founded and 6 years since we opened our kitchen doors in Kearny.
Before the kitchen came to life, Hudson Kitchen began as a community hub, hosting networking events, workshops, and our Food Business Bootcamp® to educate and connect aspiring entrepreneurs. Over time, more than 330 founders have completed the Bootcamp, and hundreds more have participated in our community events to learn, share, and build their businesses together.
Those early experiences shaped who we are today. We learned that our greatest impact comes from helping founders build and scale consumer packaged goods (CPG) businesses — from prepared meals and snacks to sauces, beverages, and baked goods destined for grocery shelves, e-commerce, and food service.
Since opening our facility, we’ve supported more than 60 businesses, with members staying an average of 2½ years before expanding into their own space or partnering with a co-packer. Several have reached over $1 million in annual revenue while operating from our kitchen — a testament to their creativity, persistence, and the power of community.
In 2024, Hudson Kitchen founders created 120 jobs and generated $3.2 million in revenue, strengthening New Jersey’s growing consumer packaged goods ecosystem.
Founder Spotlight: Rachel Cheng, Co-Founder, Yay’s Snacks +
Hudson Kitchen Graduate
“Hudson Kitchen provided the infrastructure we needed. The staff felt like an extension of our team, and the flexibility to bring in our own equipment and expand our staff gave us room to scale. We were also able to collaborate with other businesses, share part-time employees, and tap into resources from fellow members. That kind of support system was rare — and it was critical to our growth.”
Building Community + Opportunity
Top Left: Passport Innovation Tour, Top Right: Speed Networking, Bottom Left: Summer Fancy Food, Bottom Right: Visit from Investors Circle
At Hudson Kitchen, growth happens through connection.
The year kicked off with the Passport Innovation Tour in February, which connected grocery buyers, CPG experts, and food entrepreneurs from our community. Founders showcased innovative products — from savory oatmeal porridge and beef crisps to Mauritian samosas — highlighting the creativity and diversity that define Hudson Kitchen.
In the spring, we built on that momentum with our Speed Networking event, bringing founders, mentors, and partners together for collaboration and exchange.
We’re grateful to the mentors and industry experts who participated across these events, including representatives from Passport Food & Beverages, Whole Foods Market, Bison Bag Co., Rutgers Food Innovation Center, and US Foods.
The momentum continued into the summer, when Hudson Kitchen participated in the Specialty Food Association’s Summer Fancy Food Show, bringing nine food and beverage brands from our community to showcase their bold flavors and big missions: Gamsa Foods, Poppa’s Custard Company, Kel’s Kitchen Table, Purposefuel, Flows Tasty Treats, Toasty Polvo, Petite Île, NOURRIR Drinks Inc., and Red Fox Spices. Each founder shared their story, sampled their products, and showed the industry what’s next in food.
We closed the summer with the Investor Circle, where Hudson Kitchen founders pitched their businesses to investors exploring opportunities in early-stage CPG.
Together, these connections help founders move from idea to investment and from local production to regional and national distribution, strengthening New Jersey’s growing consumer packaged goods ecosystem.
What’s New for Founders
We were proud to continue our partnership with Wells Fargo, which renewed its sponsorship of the Food Business Bootcamp®. We also extend our sincere thanks to Rising Tide Capital, whose support from day one has helped make the Bootcamp possible and continues to strengthen our mission.
Food Business Bootcamp® Winter 2026 Cohort
We are currently accepting applications for our Winter 2026 Food Business Bootcamp®, and the cohort is already half full. We’re welcoming up to 10 founders, and five have already secured their spot.
This eight-week, hands-on program is designed for founders who already have a recipe and are ready to move quickly toward commercialization, with structured support across operations, recipe development, and finance, culminating in a Demo Day on April 7 at Hudson Kitchen.
Applications close January 9, and it’s not too late to apply. If you know a food entrepreneur who’s been considering this next step, please pass this along.
Apply to the Food Business Bootcamp →
What Else Is Coming Up
In addition to the Bootcamp, we’re expanding how founders connect and grow through a series of community experiences:
At the Table: Founder Dinner Series — launching January 27, beginning with a conversation led by the Esendemir Sisters, focused on honest discussions around growth, decision-making, and building sustainable food businesses.
Bootcamp Demo Day — April 7, where founders will showcase what they’ve built. Partners and supporters will be invited to see firsthand what’s emerging from the Hudson Kitchen ecosystem.
Ongoing community programming, including Speed Networking and Pitch + Partner, that brings founders, mentors, buyers, and industry partners together in meaningful ways.
Register for upcoming events →
Looking Ahead
As Hudson Kitchen enters its next decade, we’re focused on strengthening connections across our community — bringing together founders, mentors, and industry partners, driving innovation in food.
We’ve seen firsthand that when these relationships are reciprocal, everyone benefits. Founders bring fresh ideas, agility, and creativity; mentors and partners offer experience, resources, and perspective. Together, they create a dynamic exchange that fuels growth, innovation, and opportunity.
In the coming year, we’ll welcome new sponsors and partners to engage with our community through programs like the Food Business Bootcamp® Startup Accelerator and upcoming events, including Speed Networking and our new Pitch +Partner experience.
These collaborations strengthen the ecosystem we’ve built — one where ideas become products, partnerships spark innovation, and every connection moves the food industry forward.
If you’re interested in partnering with Hudson Kitchen or learning more about our upcoming programs and events, please reach out to me directly at djenaba@thehudsonkitchen.com.