ThinkCulinary

What ThinkCulinary does

ThinkCulinary is a privately held master importer and exclusive U.S. distributor of premium craft proteins, founded in 2014 by Svante Johansson and headquartered at 3080 E Washington Blvd, Los Angeles, California. The company curates a portfolio of 15+ branded protein products—predominantly Australian and American Wagyu beef, grass-fed and grain-fed beef, Australian lamb, Spanish Ibérico pork, and ancillary specialty items such as stocks, glaces, and Tasmanian sea salt—and connects these producers with U.S. foodservice distributors and professional chefs. Distribution is operated exclusively through a channel model, with at least eight named foodservice distributors carrying the portfolio nationwide, supplemented by a direct-to-consumer e-commerce arm called Herd & Grace launched in 2025.

The company's value proposition rests on exclusive import rights with international producers—most notably Australian producer Greenham, which manufactures six of ThinkCulinary's brands (Cape Grim, Bass Strait, Vintage Beef, Wanderer, Altair, Robbins Island)—combined with full sales, marketing, and culinary support for distributor partners and an in-house test kitchen (ThinkCulinary Lab) for collaborative product development. There is no proprietary technology platform; the underlying technology is conventional e-commerce, content management, and marketing infrastructure. Pricing is quote-based and negotiated through distributor relationships, and revenue is generated through transactional product sales to channel partners and direct accounts.

The company operates with a small team of 1–10 employees led by a leadership bench comprising President & CEO Svante Johansson, EVP & Partner Kenny Townsend, VP of Culinary & Brand Innovation Benjamin Udave, Regional VP of Sales Jeremy Roberts, VP of Operations Daniel Cremer, Senior Director of Product and Brand Development Michael Puglisi, and Director of Marketing Erika Fernandes. The firm is independently operated with no disclosed external institutional investment, funding rounds, or parent company ownership.

Name

ThinkCulinary

Legal name

Thinkculinary Inc.

Website

https://thinkculinary.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ThinkCulinary manufactures and sells raised protein beef to retailers and restaurants along with home delivery services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Premium Protein Distribution

NAICS

Meat and Meat Product Merchant Wholesalers (42447), Meat Retailers (44524)

SIC

Food And Kindred Products (2000)

akta.pro primary industry

Game & Specialty Meats Wholesale (Venison, Bison, etc.) (AFAIADAG)

Keywords

• Premium meat distribution
• Foodservice protein import
• Specialty beef sourcing
• Wagyu brand representation
• Craft protein curation

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Protein Distribution: ThinkCulinary imports and distributes premium craft proteins (beef, lamb, pork, wagyu,stocks and sauces) from global suppliers to U.S. foodservice distributors, restaurants, and retailers. Revenue is generated through product sales to distribution partners and direct accounts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ThinkCulinary is a master importer and exclusive U.S. distributor of premium craft proteins, representing 14+ world-class protein brands sourced globally (predominantly Australian Wagyu, beef, lamb, and pork alongside Spanish Ibérico pork and American Wagyu). The company sells these proteins through a network of U.S. foodservice distributors to professional kitchens, restaurants, and specialty retailers, and supplements this B2B distribution with a direct-to-consumer online retail outlet (Herd & Grace).

Product overview

ThinkCulinary is a curator and master distributor of premium craft proteins operating as a unified platform centered on 15+ branded meat and specialty food products. The core portfolio consists of Australian and American Wagyu beef brands (Mayura Station, Robbins Island, Bella Cattle, Black Opal, Jac Wagyu, Altair), premium grass-fed and grain-fed beef (Cape Grim, Bass Strait, Vintage Beef, Wanderer, O'Connor), specialty pork (Campo Grande Ibérico), lamb (Gundagai), and ancillary products (Stock Shop Co. stocks and glaces, Tasman Sea Salt). The company also operates Herd & Grace as its direct-to-consumer retail arm. ThinkCulinary provides distribution services including sales support, marketing programs, culinary resources, and access to a test kitchen for product development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ThinkCulinary: Premium Protein Redefined - curator and master distributor of world class craft proteins
• Cape Grim
• Bass Strait
• Vintage Beef
• Wanderer
• O'Connor
• Black Opal
• Mayura Station
• Campo Grande
• Altair
• Robbins Island
• Bella Cattle
• Jac Wagyu
• Gundagai Lamb
• Stock Shop Co.
• Tasman Sea Salt
• Herd & Grace

Products and services

• Cape Grim Pasture-raised Tasmanian beef from Tasmania, Australia—never fed hormones, antibiotics, or GMOs, raised on rich green pastures in the cleanest air in the world. Targeted at fine dining chefs and premium restaurants.
• Bass Strait Pasture-raised Gippsland beef from the Bass Strait region of Australia, processed using a Natural State Hanging Method following the natural anatomical position of cattle for optimal eating quality.
• Vintage Beef Aged beef program where cattle are not processed until they reach at least 60 months of age—more than double the age of regular cattle—displaying rich, well-developed grass-fed flavor and exceptional marbling.
• Wanderer Pasture-raised barley-fed beef program featuring innovative Ambient Barley Bins for supplemental barley feeding, achieving superior marbling and tenderness without intensive feedlots.
• O'Connor Long fed barley beef sourced from the O'Connor family in Gippsland, Australia, with deep-rooted commitment to excellence and sustainable farming practices.
• Altair 100% grass-fed Australian Wagyu raised on lush pastures in Tasmania, Gippsland, and the Limestone Coast of South Australia, with cattle grazing for up to 30 months before processing.
• Jac Wagyu F1 Wagyu beef from a four-generation family farming operation in Northern New South Wales, Australia, featuring sustainable and regenerative farming practices and consistently ranking in the top 1% of Australian Wagyu by BFI.
• Black Opal F1 Australian Wagyu sourced from southern Australia, finished on grain for a minimum of 380 days through a 1,200-day process, with one of the largest F1 herds in Australia for consistent production.
• Robbins Island Pure Blood Australian Wagyu from Robbins Island off the northwestern coast of Tasmania, raised sustainably without supplements, added hormones, or antibiotics, featuring selective breeding for the rare 'soft fat' gene.
• Bella Cattle Full Blood American Wagyu from Hartsville, Tennessee, starting with full-blood Japanese Black Tajima genetics incorporating award-winning Mayura Station bloodlines, finished on a proprietary Japanese-style feeding program for a minimum of 400 days.
• Mayura Station Full Blood Australian Wagyu from South Australia's Limestone Coast, founded in 1997, known for innovative feeding regimens including locally sourced grains and an exclusive blend of chocolates and confections.
• Campo Grande Ibérico Pork Authentic Ibérico pork from free-range pigs raised on humane family farms in Spain—often called the 'Wagyu of pork'—featuring deep red color, intricate marbling, and acorn-based diet with distinctive nutty taste.
• Gundagai Lamb GLQ5+ Australian Lamb from the NSW Riverina region, featuring a world-first lamb grading system testing Animal Health, Intramuscular Fat, and Lean Meat Yield for consistent quality.
• Stock Shop Co. High-quality stocks, jus, and glaces made by chefs for chefs using all-natural ingredients and traditional methods, slow-simmered and crafted by Greenmount Foods in New Zealand from grass-fed beef bones and Green Shell mussels—no additives, preservatives, or GMOs.
• Tasman Sea Salt 100% pure Tasmanian sea salt flakes harvested from the pristine Tasmanian ocean, produced using solar and thermal energy, naturally rich in minerals with a clean, bright, and pure taste.
• Herd & Grace Direct-to-consumer online retail outlet offering ThinkCulinary's premium proteins and specialty products (pastrami, sausage, ground lamb, unique blends) to home cooks.

Quantifiable outcome

• 14 premium protein brands representing global craft producers
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered primary and secondary.

• Halperns'primaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHalperns' is a respected foodservice distributor and authorized partner offering ThinkCulinary's premium protein brands to professional kitchens. ThinkCulinary provides marketing support, culinary resources, and brand training to support Halperns' sales team.
• West Coast PrimeprimaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWest Coast Prime serves as a distributor partner serving the West Coast market with ThinkCulinary's portfolio of premium craft proteins.
• Meats by LinzsecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized distributor offering ThinkCulinary brands including Bass Strait and other premium proteins.
• Santa MonicasecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor partner carrying ThinkCulinary premium protein brands.
• Rocker BrossecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor partner offering ThinkCulinary brands to foodservice customers.
• Pacific Provisions HawaiisecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHawaii-based distributor partner for ThinkCulinary premium proteins.
• Rare FoodssecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor partner carrying ThinkCulinary premium brands.
• Moto CitysecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor partner offering ThinkCulinary products.
• GreenhamprimaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreenham is a key Australian producer that manufactures Cape Grim, Bass Strait, Vintage Beef, Wanderer Beef, Altair Wagyu, and Robbins Island Wagyu for ThinkCulinary. ThinkCulinary team regularly visits Greenham's farms and operations in Australia, including their state-of-the-art Tongala processing plant.
• Herd & GracesecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThinkCulinary's online retail outlet (herdandgrace.com) making premium proteins accessible to home cooks, including specialty products developed for other retailers.
• Mayura StationprimaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerMayura Station, located in South Australia's Limestone Coast, is a premier full-blood Wagyu breeding operation founded in 1997. ThinkCulinary features Mayura as part of their curated collection, importing their award-winning Full-Blood Wagyu products including programs with chocolate and confectionery in the feed regimen.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• DeBragga: New York-based importer and distributor of premium meats to top U.S. restaurants and hotels. Operates a very similar model to ThinkCulinary, curating and importing high-end beef, lamb, and pork from global producers for the fine-dining market.
• Allen Brothers: Chicago-based premier distributor of dry-aged steaks and premium meats to restaurants and country clubs nationwide. Closely comparable B2B specialty protein distributor with strong brand identity and curated supplier portfolio serving fine-dining establishments.
• Pat LaFrieda Meat Purveyors: New York-based premium meat purveyor supplying high-end restaurants and steakhouses with custom dry-aged beef and specialty proteins. Comparable premium positioning, restaurant customer base, and curated sourcing approach.
• D'Artagnan: Specialty purveyor of high-quality meats, game, and pâtés serving both foodservice and DTC channels. Comparable curated specialty protein model with strong supplier storytelling across categories like Ibérico pork, foie gras, and organic poultry.
• Meats by Linz: Chicago-area premium protein distributor serving steakhouses and fine-dining restaurants. Notably also a distributor partner of ThinkCulinary; operates a comparable premium B2B protein distribution model with dry-aging capability.
• Halperns' Steaks & Seafood: Atlanta-based premium protein distributor supplying restaurants, hotels, and country clubs across the Southeast and nationally. A current ThinkCulinary distributor partner with comparable B2B foodservice premium protein distribution model.

Emerging players

• Snake River Farms: American Wagyu producer and DTC/online retailer of premium American wagyu and dry-aged beef. Comparable in premium positioning and brand storytelling, though it is also a producer (not just distributor) and operates a heavier DTC channel.
• Crowd Cow: DTC marketplace for specialty meats sourcing from independent ranches and producers nationwide. Comparable premium protein curation narrative but operates consumer-direct rather than foodservice B2B.

Regional players

• Lobel's of New York: Family-run New York purveyor specializing in dry-aged USDA Prime beef and custom-butchered meats for upscale restaurants and consumers. Comparable premium meat purveyor with strong brand identity but more regionally concentrated customer base.

Broad incumbents

• Sysco: Largest U.S. broadline foodservice distributor, parent of premium specialty brands like Butcher's Block and Stock Yards. Represents the broadline incumbent that ThinkCulinary's distributor partners compete against; signals scale advantages and category dominance the company must work around.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/thinkculinary
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ThinkCulinaryLA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thinkculinary
• Instagraminstagram.com/thinkculinary

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ThinkCulinary