Snapchef culinary staffing company expanding in Worcester

WORCESTER — Culinary training and staffing company Snapchef is expanding downtown.

The privately held company, which has been renting offices at 44 Southbridge St., said Tuesday it has signed a lease for both the existing 1,400-square-foot office and an adjacent 1,400-square-foot space at 42 Southbridge St. that will be renovated as a training kitchen.

"I’m really happy we made the decision to come to Worcester," said Todd Snopkowski, Snapchef chief executive officer. "It’s the right environment for our business, and I think it's doing the right thing."

Snapchef is based in Boston and has sites in Providence and Springfield. The company provides free culinary training and places workers in kitchens in universities, hospitals, hotels, caterers, corporate cafeterias and other settings. In September 2017, Snapchef received a $225,000 grant from the Regional Employment Board of Hampden County to develop an apprenticeship program.

In Worcester, Snapchef is expanding in a building owned by Inception LLC, a company managed by developer James J. Soffan, according to city and county property records and filings with the Massachusetts secretary of state.

Snapchef expects to spend up to about $165,000 on renovations and kitchen equipment for the space, Mr. Snopkowski said. Once completed, likely in February, Snapchef will be able to train up to 10 students at a time in the new space.

In a statement, Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce President and Chief Executive Timothy P. Murray said he was pleased with Snapchef's decision.

"Three years ago, when I first met with Todd about the possibility of them opening a new office in downtown Worcester, it was clear that this business was on the move,” Mr. Murray said. “Their business plan, the quality of their training programs and their commitment to the region remain impressive."

The company has about 100 employees in Worcester, Mr. Snopkowski said, and that number could go up to about 150 in a year.