The Hatchery

The Hatchery, part of the Industrial Council for Nearwest Chicago, is a nonprofit food and beverage incubator in East Garfield Park. We provide the tools, resources, guidance, and commercial kitchen space to launch in the culinary industry.

About

The Hatchery, part of the Industrial Council for Nearwest Chicago, is a nonprofit food and beverage incubator in East Garfield Park. We provide the tools, resources, guidance, and commercial kitchen space to launch in the culinary industry. 

Food businesses create good jobs with relatively low corresponding educational requirements. A lack of affordable food grade spaces available for rent and the high upfront cost to build out a food grade space creates a significant barrier to growth for food entrepreneurs.

The Hatchery removes these barriers to growth and creates good jobs in the City of Chicago. The Hatchery Chicago enables local entrepreneurs to build and grow successful food and beverage businesses and provides job training and placement programs, which in turn create sustainable economic growth and new job opportunities.

Services Provided

Develop ideas

  • Establish goals
  • Price products
  • Create business plan
  • Create forecast

Formalize structures

  • Register legally
  • Buy insurance
  • Buy or rent space
  • Certify as MBE/WBE

Find financing

  • Evaluate equity

Increase sales

  • Update forecast
  • Improve marketing
  • Establish online
  • Develop partners
  • Update business plan
  • Join accelerator

Optimize operations

  • Measure operations
  • Write handbook
  • Prep for wholesale

Hire / retain staff

  • Write job specs
  • Implement payroll

Capture wealth

  • Update pitch deck

Formalize structures

  • Secure licenses

Capture wealth

  • Meet investors
  • Plan for succession
  • Seek legal counsel
  • Sell your business

Develop ideas

  • Define products

Hire / retain staff

  • Draft staff manual
Primary Contact
Dani Zuchovicki
Address
135 N Kedzie
Chicago, IL 60612