SPICE is Supporting the Pursuit of Innovative Culinary Entrepreneurs

Spice Kitchen Incubator strives to help entrepreneurs participating in the program develop successful food businesses, preserve their culinary traditions and share their talents with the Salt Lake County community.

Who We Are & What We Do

Spice Kitchen Incubator is a program of the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Salt Lake City created in partnership with Salt Lake County Mayor’s Office for New Americans & Refugees. Spice Kitchen Incubator provides technical assistance, hands-on learning experiences, market access and more to aspiring entrepreneurs during the first years of establishing their food businesses.

Our mission is to assist refugees and immigrants, collectively New Americans, as well as low-to-moderate income individuals as they build viable food businesses as a pathway to self-sufficiency and preserving culinary traditions adding to the diverse culinary community of Salt Lake County.

We assist our entrepreneur chefs connect with businesses and individuals in the greater community with whom they can share their culinary creations. We provide opportunities for our entrepreneur chefs to sell their foods. We also support our local community by offering occasional events, workshops and other community-building events.

Our Model

Step 1: Recruit

Participants are recruited from the local community, attend an orientation session, and are assessed to determine if they have the entrepreneurial spirit, product viability, and community focus needed to run a successful food business.

Step 2: Incubate

During incubation, participants receive technical assistance to establish the foundations of their business plan including product development, marketing, finances, and operations. 

Step 3: Develop

We provide opportunities like catering to help our participants grow their businesses. Our entrepreneurs participate in local farmer's markets and festivals while preparing for independence. 

Step 4: Graduate

Once participants meet all established incubation benchmarks, they are eligible for graduation and move their business out of Spice Kitchen Incubator while still remaining part of the alumni community. 

Support & Stay in Touch

Get involved with or contribute to the Spice Kitchen Incubator program, donate supplies, and sign up for periodic newsletters & announcements.

New Roots & Spice Kitchen Incubator

Spice Kitchen Incubator and New Roots in Salt Lake City are sister projects of the International Resuce Committee (IRC) in Salt Lake City

Introduction to Spice Kitchen Incubator and New Roots. Helping people thrive in their journey from Harm to Home. People who in their home country have owned there own food businesses, ranches, farms, gardens. People needing to know how to operate a business in the U.S. market. New Roots and Spice Kitchen developed to meet that need. New Roots and Spice Kitchen play supporting roles, but each operates their own small business in their journey toward self-sufficiency. (Video produced by Visit Utah, Utah Office of Tourism.)

Spice Kitchen Entrepreneur Chefs

Detailed Chef information is on the Chefs page