Entegra, a global food purchasing organization, will open a new test kitchen in Richmond next year.
The company, which is a division of food services giant Sodexo, supports restaurants, hotels and senior living through bulk purchases of food products. The new test kitchen is part of Entegra’s culinary consulting services, which works with clients on things like product development and performance improvements.
The new test kitchen, called the Entegra Performance Kitchen, will be located across two floors at 2500 Nine Mile Road, which is the same address as The Kitchens at Reynolds. That 50,000-square-foot facility opened in 2020 and houses culinary arts, hospitality and entrepreneurship classes for Reynolds Community College. It’s part of the Church Hill North Development program and located across the street from the Market at 25th grocery store.
Entegra’s test kitchen will take up about 10,000 square feet at the Nine Mile Road building.
The Entegra Performance Kitchen will host food-service operations for product cuttings and matchings, menu development, operational management and marketing services, according to the company.
“Our new home will house our team of culinarians while allowing room for growth as we expand in the future,” John Csukor, Entegra’s chef and head of culinary, said in a statement. “The new space provides advanced technology in both food and beverage equipment, along with software capabilities. It allows clients to experience all our best technologies and services in action firsthand while meeting with us to improve their food service operations.”
Csukor said Entegra intends to create “a strong alliance” with Reynolds and offer students internships and job opportunities.
Entegra said it plans to open the test kitchen in "early 2025."
