# #141 Commercial Kitchens 101: Mott Smith,  Amped Kitchens

- Show: [The Startup CPG Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast)
- Published: 2024-05-07
- Length: 1h 05m
- Episode: 36
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2024-05-07-141-commercial-kitchens-101-mott-smith-amped-kitchens
- Listen: https://share.transistor.fm/s/5c55c36e

## Summary

Mott Smith, co-founder of Amped Kitchens, explains how their production-oriented commercial kitchens in Los Angeles and Chicago serve CPG brands between pre-revenue and $5 million in annual revenue. He contrasts this model with co-manufacturers, highlighting the control, flexibility, and lower risk of wasted inventory that commercial kitchens offer for brands with specialized processes, unique packaging, or functional ingredients. Smith details the facility's capabilities, including support for various certifications like USDA and SQF, and discusses the operational challenges of staffing and equipment selection. The episode concludes with Smith's thesis on the decline of ghost kitchens and the rise of delivery-optimized food halls as the future of regional food distribution.

## Outline

1. Introduction: Mott Smith and Amped Kitchens
2. The Case for Commercial Kitchens vs. Co-Manufacturers
3. Product Complexity and Custom Packaging Drivers
4. Facility Types, Equipment, and Operational Workflow
5. Certifications, Licensing, and Regulatory Compliance
6. Staffing Challenges and Community Resources
7. Cost Structure and Scaling from Small to Large Spaces
8. The Music-Food Parallel and Perfectionism in Product Development
9. Future Trends: Ghost Kitchens vs. Delivery-Optimized Food Halls

## Topics

- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Certification & compliance](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/certification-and-compliance)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Amped Kitchens (company)
- Keto Farms (company)
- Zab's Hot Sauce (company)
- Beyond Meat (company)
- Fourth and Heart (company)
- Must Love (company)
- Kitchentown (company)
- Kitchen United (company)
- Revolving Kitchens (company)
- Kanpai Foods (company)
- The Kitchen Door (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Advice Line with Pete Maldonado and Rashid Ali of Chomps](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-02-19-advice-line-with-pete-maldonado-and-rashid-ali-of-chomps) (How I Built This)
- [Advice Line with Katlin Smith of Simple Mills](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2025-01-23-advice-line-with-katlin-smith-of-simple-mills) (How I Built This)
- [208: Why High-Mix Manufacturing Is a Sweet Spot for Flexible Automation and AI with Rajat Bhageria, Founder & CEO of Chef Robotics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-10-22-208-why-high-mix-manufacturing-is-a-sweet-spot-for-flexible-automation-and-ai-wi) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [When a robot cooks your lunch with Steve Ells of Chipotle and Kernel](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-11-09-when-a-robot-cooks-your-lunch-with-steve-ells-of-chipotle-and-kernel) (How I Built This)
- [Advice Line with Pete Maldonado of Chomps](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-05-02-advice-line-with-pete-maldonado-of-chomps) (How I Built This)

## Citing this page

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