Gourmet Star
Gourmet Star AG is a Sursee-based Swiss catering company serving weddings, corporate events, private parties, and employee meals across Central Switzerland, operating five event venues, a 1,000 sqm production kitchen, and a vacuum-sealed ready-meal line since 1988.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1988
- HeadquartersSursee, Switzerland
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Gourmet Star does
Gourmet Star AG is a privately held Swiss catering and event-services company headquartered in Sursee, Canton of Lucerne, and part of the Willimann group since its February 2009 acquisition by Willimann Metzg AG from Dagmersellen. The company traces its legal origin to 1988 (as Restaurations AG for the Stadthalle Sursee; rebranded Gourmet Star AG in 2006) and operates a vertically integrated offering spanning event catering, employee catering (Mitarbeiterverpflegung), venue operations, and ready meals. It serves private customers planning weddings, birthdays, baptisms, and family celebrations, corporate clients running events from team meetings to multi-day conferences, and companies needing recurring daily employee meals for staff restaurants.
The operating platform rests on five owned or operated event venues — Esserei in Sursee, Moschti in Dagmersellen, Solitaire in Schenkon, Stadthalle Sursee, and Festhalle Seepark — with combined capacity for events ranging from 10 to 1,700 guests, supported by a 1,000 sqm production facility with separate cold-kitchen capacity, a 35-strong on-call kitchen pool, and a fleet of four refrigerated 3.5t transporters plus two delivery vans. Production capacity is approximately 350 meals per day, used both for employee catering contracts and for the vacuum-sealed Fertigmenü line launched in October 2020 (CHF 12.50 per menu, week-long shelf life, distributed via Esserei home delivery and Willimann Metzg retail points).
Revenue mechanics combine quote-based event catering (personalized offers including event projections, advance notice of 6 weeks for small events and 3 months for events of 50+ guests) with recurring fixed-cadence income from employee catering contracts and retail ready-meal sales. The go-to-market is sales-led and referral-driven: a published reference list of more than 50 named corporate clients (Raiffeisen, Luzerner Kantonalbank, CKW, Hero Schweiz, Emil Frey Classics, Galliker Transport, Brack, Volg, Hornbach, AXA Winterthur, among others). Pricing for ready meals and buffet sets is unit-priced (CHF 12.50 menu; buffet from CHF 15), while event catering is custom-quoted. Marketing relies on the company website, Facebook, YouTube, and seasonal open-air cinema partnerships (Luzern, Zug, Schloss Heidegg) rather than paid performance channels. Effective January 1, 2026, operational leadership passed to co-CEOs Barbara Bachmann and Tino Gebauer, with Hugo Willimann continuing as Board Chairman.
Gourmet Star firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Gourmet Star
- Legal name
- Gourmet Star AG
- Website
- https://gourmetstar.ch
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1988
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Gourmet Star AG is a Sursee-based Swiss catering company serving weddings, corporate events, private parties, and employee meals across Central Switzerland, operating five event venues, a 1,000 sqm production kitchen, and a vacuum-sealed ready-meal line since 1988.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Gourmet Star industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Event Catering Services
- NAICS
- Caterers (722320), Caterers (72232), Food Service Contractors (72231), Restaurants and Other Eating Places (72251)
- SIC
- Retail-Eating Places (5812), Food And Kindred Products (2000), Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Specialty & Dietary Catering (Vegan, Kosher, Halal, Allergy-Friendly) (HSACAGAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Premium Gourmet & Chef-Curated Meal Kits/Prepared Meals (CRAHAJAK), Private Culinary Experiences (Chef’s Table, Home Dining, Market-to-Meal) (THAJALAH), Freshly Made Grab-and-Go (Sandwiches, Wraps, Salads) (CRAHAKAA)
Keywords
Where Gourmet Star is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sursee
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Gourmet Star business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Event Catering Services: Full-service catering for private and corporate events including food preparation, service personnel, equipment, and venue coordination. Ranges from small party service to large-scale events for up to 1,700 guests.
- Ready Meals (Fertigmenüs): Freshly prepared meals sold for takeaway and home delivery. Meals are vacuum-sealed and stay fresh for over a week. Sold at CHF 12.50 per menu through Esserei, delivery, and retail partners.
- Employee Catering (Mitarbeiterverpflegung): Daily meal delivery to corporate cafeterias and staff restaurants. Provides online menu planning and regular catering service to business customers.
- Event Venue Operations: Operates owned and partnered event venues including Esserei (Sursee), Moschti (Dagmersellen), Solitaire (Schenkon), Stadthalle Sursee, and Festhalle Seepark. Manages venue bookings and full catering services.
- Restaurant Operations: Operates Esserei public restaurant in Sursee offering daily lunch menus in self-service format. Also serves as event venue for up to 100 persons.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Ready meal menu (Fertigmenü) - CHF 12.50 per menu |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Catering/buffet sets for events - starting at CHF 15 |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
Gourmet Star product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Gourmet Star AG is a full-service catering company that plans and delivers food, beverage, service staff, and equipment for weddings, corporate events, and private celebrations ranging from 10 to 1,700 guests. It also operates a portfolio of five event venues and a public lunch restaurant (Esserei) in Sursee, produces freshly prepared ready meals (Fertigmenü) for takeaway, home delivery, and retail partners, and runs daily employee meal programs (Mitarbeiterverpflegung) for corporate cafeterias across Central Switzerland.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Event Catering (Wedding & Private Celebrations) Full-service catering for private celebrations and weddings, including menu planning, food preparation, service staff, equipment, decorations, and wedding cakes, for events ranging from small parties to gatherings of several hundred guests.
- Corporate Event Catering (Firmenevents) Catering service for company events, exhibitions, annual meetings, seminars, team meetings, and Christmas parties, including apéro through dinner with professional service staff and venue coordination for enterprise clients.
- Employee Meal Program (Mitarbeiterverpflegung) Recurring daily meal delivery and menu planning for corporate staff restaurants and employee cafeterias, providing approximately 350 lunch meals daily to business clients with online ordering and tailored menu plans.
- Fertigmenü (Ready Meals) Freshly prepared ready meals (Fertigmenü) such as Älplermagronen, Poulet Geschnetzeltes, Rahmgeschnetzeltes, and Pastetli, sold at CHF 12.50 per menu, vacuum-sealed for freshness, available for pickup at Esserei, home/office delivery (5+ meals), and retail partners.
- Party Service (Partyservice) Self-organized party package providing hot food, cold drinks, and full event infrastructure from bar taps to kitchen towels, with menu sets starting at CHF 15 per person including PET beverage, plus delivery and setup.
- Esserei Restaurant & Event Venue Public self-service restaurant in Sursee offering daily lunch menus Monday to Friday 11:00–14:00 (accepts Lunch Check), takeaway service, and a small-scale event venue for up to 100 persons, also serving as a pickup point for Fertigmenü orders.
Companies that use Gourmet Star
Customer profileNamed customers15 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Gourmet Star technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Gourmet Star partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Beck Konzept AGminorPartnered with Beck Konzept AG to develop and build the Esserei restaurant space at Wassergrabe 3. Beck Konzept led the renovation and conversion of the sales space into a public canteen and event venue.
- Willimann Metzg AG (Meat Supplier)corePrimary meat supplier for all catering operations. Dagmersellen-based butcher providing premium regional meat products including the famous Dagmersellerli specialty.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves12 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Gourmet Star competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- SV Group: Swiss market leader in staff restaurants, corporate catering, and event catering. Directly comparable to Gourmet Star's employee catering (Mitarbeiterverpflegung) and event catering services, though operating at significantly larger national scale.
- ZFV Group: Swiss hospitality and catering group operating restaurants, staff catering, and event services. Comparable in service mix (corporate catering, restaurants, event venues) and Swiss-centric geographic focus.
- Marché International: Swiss-born restaurant and catering brand with strong regional presence and food-service operations including event catering. Comparable across catering coordination and Swiss foodservice market dynamics.
Broad incumbents
- Sodexo Switzerland: Global food services and facilities management company with Swiss operations in corporate catering and event services. Comparable in contract catering approach but with vastly larger geographic and operational footprint.
- DO & CO: Austrian-headquartered premium event catering and hospitality group with airline catering and event divisions. Comparable in premium event-catering positioning and large-event execution capability.
- Compass Group Switzerland: Global contract foodservice leader with substantial Swiss presence in corporate catering, staff restaurants, and event services. Comparable in B2B catering model but operates at multinational scale.
- Mövenpick Restaurants: Established Swiss premium hospitality brand with restaurants and event catering. Comparable in positioning as a premium Swiss catering/restaurant brand, though broader in geographic and product scope.
- Aramark Switzerland: Global contract foodservice provider operating in Switzerland across corporate dining, event catering, and hospitality. Comparable in B2B contract catering model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Gourmet Star social profiles
Digital presenceGourmet Star financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Gourmet Star leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Gourmet Star funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Gourmet Star M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Gourmet Star
What does Gourmet Star do?
Gourmet Star AG is a full-service catering company that plans and delivers food, beverage, service staff, and equipment for weddings, corporate events, and private celebrations ranging from 10 to 1,700 guests. It also operates a portfolio of five event venues and a public lunch restaurant (Esserei) in Sursee, produces freshly prepared ready meals (Fertigmenü) for takeaway, home delivery, and retail partners, and runs daily employee meal programs (Mitarbeiterverpflegung) for corporate cafeterias across Central Switzerland.
Is Gourmet Star a public or private company?
Gourmet Star is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Gourmet Star founded?
Gourmet Star was founded in 1988. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Gourmet Star based?
Gourmet Star is headquartered in Sursee, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does Gourmet Star make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Event Catering Services are the primary driver. The others are ready Meals (Fertigmenüs), employee Catering (Mitarbeiterverpflegung), event Venue Operations and restaurant Operations.
Who are Gourmet Star's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are SV Group, ZFV Group and Marché International. Broad incumbents are Sodexo Switzerland, DO & CO, Compass Group Switzerland, Mövenpick Restaurants and Aramark Switzerland.
Does Gourmet Star have an API?
No public API is recorded for Gourmet Star.
What industry is Gourmet Star in?
Gourmet Star's product category is Event Catering Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSACAGAH, Specialty & Dietary Catering (Vegan, Kosher, Halal, Allergy-Friendly), with a secondary code of CRAHAJAK, Premium Gourmet & Chef-Curated Meal Kits/Prepared Meals. Its NAICS code is 722320 and its SIC code is 5812.