Welcome Hall Mission officially opened its new centralized kitchen in St-Henri on Wednesday, a facility expected to significantly expand the organization’s ability to feed people in need across the city.
The multi-million-dollar kitchen, years in the making, is designed to increase daily meal production from about 1,500 to as many as 10,000 meals.
“This is going to be a place that serves Montreal,” said Sam Watts, president and CEO of Welcome Hall Mission, in a previous interview.
The facility will support not only the organization’s shelters and programs, but also partner organizations that rely on prepared meals. It will also distribute pre-prepared food through Welcome Hall Mission’s two free grocery stores, expanding access to nutritious options for vulnerable Montrealers.
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In addition, the kitchen will serve as a hub for the organization’s Micro-Entreprise training program, offering culinary training and job readiness support to individuals facing barriers to employment.
The new space is equipped with high-performance, industrial-grade equipment and is designed to meet strict food safety standards, including MAPAQ, HACCP and ISO 22000 certifications.
Welcome Hall Mission says the kitchen will also prioritize eco-responsible practices, including local sourcing and food waste reduction.
Once fully operational, the kitchen is expected to employ between a dozen and two dozen staff at any given time and operate seven days a week.
The organization says the expanded capacity will help meet growing demand for food assistance in Montreal, where community groups collectively produce tens of thousands of meals daily.
