kitchen's need a lot of love (i.e. resources)
Here's a little list of local Vancouver and Lower Mainland resources for those starting out in the commercial food business
licenses, permits, legal stuff
- Food Safe Courses - requirement for operating a kitchen
- Food Service Permit - requirement for operating a kitchen, whether full time or on a temporary basis
- City of Vancouver License - Again, required if you're operating a business out of Vancouver
food suppliers
- GFS - One of the major players in town (formerly Neptune)
- Sysco - Another major player
- Jim M. Koo Produce Ltd. - Specializes in produce but also carries a variety of goods
- Allied Food Services Ltd - (604) 251-2291
- Discovery Organics - If organics is what you want, this is the place to go
- Cioffi's Meat Market & Deli - (604) 291-9373 - Wholesale butcher with a specialty in Italian fare
kitchen equipment
- Pacific Restaurant Supply & Design House - New & used equipment and restaurant design
- Dunlevy Food Equipment - New and used
- Genesis Food Equipment - New and used
- Russell Food Equipment Ltd. - Equipment, kitchen design, and repairs
small business resources
- Greg Lam Small Business Consulting Vancouver - Can help with starting up your small business, with a specialty in multimedia and online marketing (disclosure: Greg is also the operator of this site)
- Small Business BC - Government run small business centre that has a ton of good information and seminars plus a physical location where you can visit.
- OneStop Business Registry - A place where you can start off getting your name approved and permits to start your business
- Small Business Doer - Another website run by Greg (operator of the site) relating to small business matters.