Kerb launches new scheme for a host of food start ups to test their menus

Street food collective Kerb has launched a scheme that gives food and drink start-ups three-month long trial residencies in Canary Wharf to test their menus with consumers.

The new scheme, in partnership with commercial property company Landsec, is part of KERB’s business incubator brand ‘inKERBator’. 

It will give new businesses pitches at West India Quay in east London each Tuesday, which they will keep for three months as trial spaces. 

New brands taking part in the scheme include Kitchenette Karts, which makes creative sandwiches including Vietnamese fried chicken with pea and slaw, and labneh and tahini cauliflower; Truffle, which serves burgers, chips, steaks and arancinis made with truffles; and southern Californian Zephyr, which serves a selection of brioche sandwiches filled with pork, avocado, bacon and eggs. 

They will be given weekly mentoring by KERB, including consumer feedback and business consultancy. 

Launching the  inKERBator  scheme at West India Quay gives traders an invaluable platform to grow and hopefully turn into a business that will take on permanent restaurant spaces,” says Ollie Hunter, head of KERB community and talent.

“We’re looking forward to seeing our newest fleet test their creative food concepts and we’ll be helping them along the way to gather feedback to improve, innovate and grow their businesses. 

The new partnership with Landsec allows KERB to secure the Tuesday pitches each week. The West India Quay inKERBator joins Landsec’s portfolio of developing enterprising food brands, alongside Trinity Leeds and newly opened Westgate Oxford. 

Since its 2017 March launch, inKERBator has accelerated the growth of 30 new businesses. 

KERB has helped develop over 130 food businesses and street food traders including Pizza Pilgrims, who most recently worked with Landsec to open its first regional site on the rooftop of Westgate Oxford.

Alongside its West India Quay site, KERB currently operates a permanent market in Camden and market sites in King’s Cross, London Bridge and at The Gherkin.