International Culinary Studio

What International Culinary Studio does

International Culinary Studio (ICS) is a Christchurch, New Zealand-based online culinary education company founded in 2015 by chef-educator Cheryl Cordier. It delivers professional culinary training entirely online to working adults, career changers, and aspiring chefs who require flexible, accredited qualifications. Its catalogue spans 124+ courses including professional diplomas, certificates, short courses, micro-credentials, an apprenticeship pathway, and age-targeted offerings (Junior Chef, Home School Culinary), with the company reporting more than 10,000 cumulative graduates.

ICS delivers instruction through the Canvas LMS, combining recorded video lessons, live Zoom sessions with chef instructors, and structured assessments. Revenue is generated from per-course tuition fees, payment plans, and internationally credentialed professional qualifications priced individually; the go-to-market is direct-to-consumer, supported by distribution through the FutureLearn marketplace. The company holds accreditations from the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA), Worldchefs, and the American Culinary Federation, which underpin the international portability of its qualifications and its positioning against graduate employers in hospitality, cruise, and airline segments.

ICS appears privately held with no public funding disclosures. Leadership is concentrated under founder/CEO Cheryl Cordier, and the operating base is small (11–50 employees). Its stated graduate employers — including Hilton, Marriott, IHG, Compass Group, Sodexo, and Air New Zealand — are framed as destinations for graduates rather than as paying customers, reinforcing the B2C revenue profile.

Name

International Culinary Studio

Legal name

International Culinary Studio

Website

https://internationalculinarystudio.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

International Culinary Studio is a Christchurch, New Zealand-based online culinary education platform founded in 2015, delivering accredited diplomas, certificates, and short courses to individual learners worldwide via Canvas LMS.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Online Culinary Education

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (61151)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Professional Culinary Arts (Chef Training) (EDAOAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Culinary Arts & Cooking (Baking, Pastry, Global Cuisines) (EDAAAGAG), Workshops, Webinars & Live Masterclasses (MPACALAD)

Keywords

• Online culinary education
• Professional cookery training
• Patisserie qualifications
• Culinary diploma programs
• Kitchen management courses

Headquarters

HQ city

Christchurch

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Course Tuition Fees: Revenue generated from tuition fees for diploma programmes, certificates, and short courses. Payment plans available to make courses more accessible.
2. Professional Culinary Qualifications: Fees for internationally recognised qualifications including Worldchefs, NZQA, and American Culinary Federation accredited programmes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

International Culinary Studio delivers 100% online culinary education through diploma programs, certificates, micro-credentials, and short courses, accredited by NZQA, Worldchefs, and the American Culinary Federation. Students access video-based lessons, practical cooking assignments, e-portfolios, and live Zoom mentorship from dedicated chef instructors via the Canvas LMS, earning internationally recognised qualifications at a fraction of the cost of traditional culinary schools.

Product overview

International Culinary Studio offers an online culinary education platform with multiple programmes and course formats. The portfolio includes: (1) International Diplomas as the core credential programmes (Diploma in Culinary Arts, Diploma in Patisserie, Foundation Diploma in Professional Cookery, Advanced Diploma in Kitchen Supervision, Principles in Culinary Arts); (2) NZQA Accredited Courses including the New Zealand Certificate in Cookery Level 4 and food safety micro-credentials; (3) Short Courses covering specialized skills such as AI Bootcamp for Chefs, Cake Baking & Decorating, Café Chef, and Chocolate Confectionery; (4) Micro-Learning Courses for bite-sized flexible learning; (5) Specialised Programmes including Junior Chef, Home School Culinary, and Food Product Development; (6) Career Discovery Tool for guidance. All programmes are delivered online through a blended learning model with dedicated chef instructors, and credentials are accredited by NZQA, Worldchefs, and the American Culinary Federation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Diploma in Culinary Arts A comprehensive qualification covering professional cookery, kitchen management, and global cuisine, from a Worldchefs recognised school, delivered online through the Canvas LMS with chef instructor mentorship.
• Diploma in Patisserie Master pastry, baking, and dessert creation with a qualification from a Worldchefs recognised school, delivered 100% online with dedicated chef instructor support.
• Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Turn existing kitchen experience into a formal qualification from a Worldchefs recognised school, designed for experienced kitchen workers seeking credential recognition.
• Foundation Diploma in Professional Cookery Foundational level diploma covering professional cookery fundamentals, delivered online with chef instructor mentorship.
• Advanced Diploma in Kitchen Supervision Advanced qualification focusing on kitchen management and supervision skills for chefs seeking leadership roles in professional kitchens.
• Principles in Culinary Arts Foundational principles of culinary arts education delivered online, serving as an entry point into the diploma pathway.
• Diploma in Culinary Arts: Apprenticeship Apprenticeship-based diploma in culinary arts combining online study with workplace practice for aspiring professional chefs.
• New Zealand Certificate in Cookery – Level 4 NZQA accredited certificate in cookery at Level 4, providing a New Zealand government-recognised tertiary education qualification.
• Principles of Food Safety in Catering (Micro-Credential) Micro-credential covering food safety principles in catering, awarded at Level 4 with NZQA accreditation.
• AI Bootcamp for Chefs Short course focused on artificial intelligence applications for culinary professionals, covering emerging technology use cases in professional kitchens.
• Catering Operations, Menu Planning and Food Costing Programme Programme covering catering operations, menu planning, and food costing for culinary professionals and food business operators.
• Essential Culinary Skills for Beginners Beginner-level culinary skills course designed for newcomers to professional cooking.
• Cafe Baker Short course focused on cafe-style baking skills for aspiring bakers and cafe operators.
• Café Chef Course Short course for aspiring cafe chefs covering cafe-style cuisine preparation and service.
• Cake Baking & Decorating Short course covering cake baking and decorating techniques for aspiring pastry professionals and enthusiasts.
• The Art of Chocolate Confectionery Short course focused on chocolate confectionery techniques for aspiring chocolatiers and pastry professionals.
• Micro-Learning Courses Bite-sized learning modules for flexible skill development across culinary topics, designed for short, modular study.
• Junior Chef Programme Culinary programme designed for junior/young chefs introducing foundational cooking skills at an early age.
• Home School Culinary Programme Culinary education programme tailored for home-schooled students seeking structured culinary learning outside traditional schools.
• Develop and Launch a Food Product Prototype Specialised programme focused on food product development and launching prototypes for culinary entrepreneurs and food business founders.

Quantifiable outcome

• 10,000+ graduates have completed programmes and built careers at prestigious global hospitality brands
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Worldchefs (World Association of Chefs Societies)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational Culinary Studio is a Worldchefs recognised school, enabling graduates to earn credentials recognised across 100+ countries and work internationally in professional kitchens.
• New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNZQA accreditation ensures courses meet New Zealand government standards for quality tertiary education. Courses include micro-credentials and certificates at various levels.
• American Culinary Federation (ACF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACF accreditation validates that programmes meet American culinary industry standards, providing additional credibility for graduates seeking positions in US hospitality sector.
• FutureLearnminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOnline learning marketplace where International Culinary Studio courses are listed, expanding reach to students who already use the FutureLearn platform for professional development.
• Canvas LMS (Instructure)coreTechnology or IntegrationLearning Management System used to deliver all online courses, manage assignments, enable video submissions, conduct Zoom sessions, and track student progress. Technical requirements specify Respondus Lockdown Browser support for exams.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Worldchefs Academy (WACS): World Association of Chefs Societies is the parent credentialing body that recognizes ICS as a recognised school and offers its own Global Culinary Certification. Partner and adjacent — overlaps on credentialing standards rather than direct course delivery, but represents both a partner and competitive channel.

Direct peers

• Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts: US-based online and campus culinary school offering diploma and degree programs accredited by ACCET and ACF. Direct peer — operates online culinary credentials comparable to ICS's Diploma in Culinary Arts with similar target students (career changers, working adults).
• Rouxbe Online Culinary School: Online culinary school offering professional cook certification and self-paced courses for individuals and culinary teams. Direct peer — competing online culinary credential platform targeting working adults and food service professionals globally.
• FutureLearn: Online learning marketplace where ICS already lists courses; FutureLearn hosts multiple culinary and hospitality courses from universities and providers. Direct peer via marketplace channel — competes for the same online culinary learners and is an existing distribution partner for ICS.

Emerging players

• Udemy: Global online course marketplace with thousands of cooking and culinary courses priced individually. Emerging player — serves the same online culinary learner demand via low-cost, instructor-uploaded content without professional accreditation.
• MasterClass: Subscription streaming platform featuring celebrity chef cooking classes (Thomas Keller, Gordon Ramsay). Emerging player in culinary learning — competes for hobbyist and aspirational learner interest, but lacks accredited professional credentials.

Broad incumbents

• Coursera: Large online learning marketplace hosting university and industry culinary courses (e.g., from industry partners). Broad incumbent — competes for the same learner demand for culinary upskilling, though as part of a much wider catalog.
• Culinary Institute of America (CIA): Leading US-based culinary college offering associate and bachelor's degrees in culinary arts and baking & pastry. Broad incumbent — traditional culinary credential provider competing for the same aspiring professional chef segment, though via in-person degree programs.
• Le Cordon Bleu: Globally recognized culinary education brand with traditional campuses worldwide. Broad incumbent — represents the premium-priced traditional alternative ICS positions against; competes for aspiring professional chefs seeking internationally recognized credentials.
• Institute of Culinary Education (ICE): US-based culinary school with campuses in NYC and LA offering diploma and degree programs. Broad incumbent — established culinary credential provider that has expanded online offerings to compete for working adult learners.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/IntCulStdNZ
• Facebookfacebook.com/internationalculinarystudio
• Instagraminstagram.com/international_culinary_studio/?hl=en
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/international-culinary-studio

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 International Culinary Studio