Kensington Food Company, the veteran-owned outfit behind King Kenzo olive oil and a lineup of artisanal pantry staples, is getting ready to flip the lights on at a new neighborhood grocery store and shared commercial kitchen at 3437 D St., Unit 110 in Kensington. The street-level space is slated to stock pantry basics alongside the company’s infused oils, hot sauces and pickles, while a second-floor kitchen is expected to provide work space for small food businesses and bakers. Founder Tom Sheridan has been posting progress shots as crews build out the shop, but there is still no formal opening date. Organizers say the project is designed to keep prices accessible and to open doors for local food entrepreneurs.
What Now Philadelphia Reports On The Build-Out
According to What Now Philadelphia, the grocery will complement Kensington Food Company’s flagship stall at Reading Terminal Market and lean into the brand’s specialties, including handcrafted infused oils, truffle products, hot sauces, relishes, jams and other pantry items. The outlet notes that the team roster features a certified olive oil sommelier, a certified balsamic analyst and a certified mixologist. What Now also reports that Sheridan has shared updates on social media showing refrigerators, freezers, a griddle and a stovetop rolling in, and that he has publicly requested recommendations for a dumpster service and a commercial kitchen cleaning company.
Shared Kitchen Intends To Help Small Food Businesses
Local coverage from Kensington Voice states that the second-floor shared kitchen is expected to host around a dozen small operators at below-market rents, with the plan reviewed in partnership with the Kensington Corridor Trust. That reporting adds that tenants will be asked to donate surplus food back to the neighborhood under a community-focused “sustainability clause,” which is framed as part of a broader push to address gaps in local food access.
Company Roots And Production Capacity
The company already runs a stall at Reading Terminal Market and lists 3437 D Street as its production address on its website, where it lays out its bottling, private-label and co-packing services. In a company press release about its Kensington operations, Kensington Food Company said it has launched full-scale bottling and packaging capacity at the site and highlighted a commitment to hiring local talent as a key piece of the expansion.
Timing And What To Watch For
Sheridan has not set a firm opening date yet, What Now Philadelphia reports, and the business still appears to be in the final stages of its build-out. Neighbors looking to track the progress can keep an eye on the company’s social media feeds and local reporting for fresh photos of the fit-out, hiring announcements and word on when both the storefront and the shared kitchen will officially open.
