Outpost Co-op Builds New Commercial Kitchen to Meet Growing Demand
Co-op to Convert Nearly 9,000 Square Feet of Warehouse Space to Expand Capacity
Milwaukee, WI, December 16, 2025 – Outpost Co-op, with four area locations, announced today construction has started on a new, nearly 9,000 square-foot commercial kitchen at its corporate office, 3200 S. 3rd Street, to meet growing customer demand.
Outpost has operated a Central Kitchen facility since 2005 at its Bayview store location, 2826 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., where it produces a wide variety of wraps, soups, salads, entrees, and bakery treats for its grocery stores and wholesale accounts, including hospitals and retail outlets. Items are made fresh and delivered daily.
“With a new commercial kitchen, we’ll be able to increase community access to healthy, locally produced foods made with all-natural and organic ingredients,” said Outpost CEO Ray Simpkins. “Our expanded capacity will allow us to add more products and serve more wholesale relationships.”
Outpost will convert available warehouse space for the new $3.5 million kitchen, which will focus solely on food service while bakery operations will remain at its current 3,100-square-foot Bayview facility.
The new commercial kitchen demonstrates Outpost’s long-standing commitment to environmental stewardship with several sustainable and energy-efficient upgrades. These include Energy Star-certified appliances and water heaters, LED lighting, electronically controlled exhaust hoods, and a refrigeration system that uses R-448A refrigerant, which is a low global warming potential alternative to current refrigerants.
“From environmentally friendly operations to expanded access to nutritious foods, our new kitchen reflects our purpose and mission to create a healthy, diverse, and sustainable community,” Simpkins said.
The kitchen will open in 2026 with 27 current Outpost employees. The Co-op expects to start hiring additional staff in 2027 as the expanded space will allow the co-op to operate multiple shifts.
MSI General serves as the project’s general contractor, Coolsys, Inc. will provide refrigeration installation and systems, and WaterStone Bank will provide partial financing.
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