Black Fork
Black Fork (Schwarze Gabel) is a Swiss founder-run catering and private dining company in Rapperswil-Jona that delivers bespoke multi-course culinary experiences in clients' homes and at corporate and private events across the St. Gallen and Zurich regions.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2022
- HeadquartersSankt Gallen, Switzerland
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Black Fork does
Black Fork operates as Schwarze Gabel Gastronomiekonzepte GmbH, a Swiss private catering and private dining company headquartered in Rapperswil-Jona, Canton St. Gallen. The company is run by two founders, Roland Schwarzenbach and Oliver Gabriel, who together provide bespoke, full-service culinary experiences delivered on-site at client locations. Its core offerings are private dining (the team cooks and serves in the client's own home) and event catering (customized multi-course menus for corporate events, birthday parties, and wedding aperitifs), with menu formats spanning 3- to 7-course dinners, themed experiences such as Tavolata and Grill Buffet, and several apéro packages. The company also routes clients to a partner venue, Gasthaus Löwen in Tuggen, for occasions that fit a restaurant setting.
The underlying "technology" is purely human culinary skill — there are no proprietary software systems, digital platforms, or AI components disclosed. Operations run on a WordPress website with Google Analytics, supplemented by an Instagram presence (@schwarze_gabel) and a LinkedIn company page. The value proposition rests on the founders' combined decades of culinary experience, including classical French training at Michelin-starred establishments and international postings in the Maldives and Hong Kong, rather than on any productized or scalable infrastructure.
Commercially, Black Fork uses a sales-led, direct-inquiry model with no self-serve channels, no public pricing, and no disclosed standard contract. Customers reach the founders via a website inquiry form ("Genussanfrage"), email, or phone, and each engagement is quoted individually. The customer base is event-based and heterogeneous, with named references spanning Porsche Zentrum Oberer Zürichsee, St. Galler Kantonalbank, Raiffeisenbank, ZSC Lions, Drees & Sommer, Stadt Rapperswil-Jona, and Hiltl Zürich, among roughly 17 listed logos. There is no disclosed revenue, no external funding, and no headcount beyond the two founders; the company operates as an independent, founder-owned lifestyle services business.
Black Fork firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Black Fork
- Legal name
- Schwarze Gabel Gastronomiekonzepte GmbH
- Website
- https://schwarze-gabel.ch
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2022
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Black Fork (Schwarze Gabel) is a Swiss founder-run catering and private dining company in Rapperswil-Jona that delivers bespoke multi-course culinary experiences in clients' homes and at corporate and private events across the St. Gallen and Zurich regions.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Black Fork industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Catering Services
- NAICS
- Caterers (72232), Full-Service Restaurants (722511)
- SIC
- Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Private Chef & In-Home Dining Services (HSACAGAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Private Culinary Experiences (Chef’s Table, Home Dining, Market-to-Meal) (THAJALAH), Exclusive Dining Access & Chef’s Table Reservations (HSACAMAJ)
Keywords
Where Black Fork is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sankt Gallen
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Black Fork business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Catering Services: On-demand catering for events (corporate events, birthday parties, wedding aperitifs). Customers select from menu packages (3-7 courses, buffet options) and the company prepares and serves on-site.
- Private Dining: In-home dining service where the team cooks for guests in the customer's own home. The customer hosts while the culinary team handles all cooking and preparation.
- Restaurant Venue (Gasthaus Löwen): The company also operates or partners with Gasthaus Löwen as a venue for events, potentially generating additional revenue from venue rental or food service.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Flying Signature - 7-course menu |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Standard course menus (3-5 courses) |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Apéro and buffet options |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Black Fork product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Black Fork (Schwarze Gabel) provides bespoke catering and private dining services across Switzerland. The culinary team prepares customized menus on-site for corporate events, birthday parties, wedding aperitifs, and hosts in-home fine-dining experiences where the team cooks for guests at the customer's residence. The company also directs clients to the Gasthaus Löwen venue in Tuggen for events that fit a traditional restaurant setting.
Product overview
Black Fork (Schwarze Gabel) is a catering and private dining company offering personalized culinary experiences. The company operates two core service offerings: Private Dining (in-home gourmet meals) and Catering (customized menus for events). They also manage the Gasthaus Löwen restaurant venue and offer various menu packages ranging from 3 to 7 courses, including themed experiences like Tavolata and Grill Buffet. All offerings are customized per client and occasion, with a focus on fresh, homemade ingredients and creative preparation.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Catering
- Private Dining
- Gasthaus Löwen Venue
Companies that use Black Fork
Customer profileNamed customers18 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Black Fork technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Black Fork partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- HöcklisteinminorWine and hospitality partner listed on the company's partners page. Represents a local wine/hospitality collaboration.
- Gioia-GenussminorFood and enjoyment partner listed on the company's partners page. Represents a culinary collaboration.
- CultweineminorWine partner providing wines for catering and private dining events.
- Agentur FritzminorDesign and implementation agency that designed and built the company website (Zürcherstrasse 108, 8640 Rapperswil-Jona).
- Gasthaus LöwencoreKey venue partner for hosting events. The company directs customers to this venue for occasions that don't fit their mobile catering model. Located in Tuggen, Switzerland.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Black Fork competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- PetitCatering: Swiss small-to-mid sized catering company focused on bespoke events and private functions in Switzerland. Direct comparable on service offering, scale, and Swiss-German market focus.
Broad incumbents
- Sodexo: Global food services and facilities management company with significant event and corporate catering operations. Comparable on the corporate catering customer segment, though operating at industrial scale.
- ZFV Group: Major Swiss hospitality company providing catering, hotel, and restaurant services across Switzerland. Comparable due to overlapping event catering and corporate hospitality offerings in the same geography.
- Compass Group: Global food services and contract catering giant. Comparable on corporate event catering and B2B food service delivery, though at vastly larger scale and with a contract/institutional focus rather than bespoke private dining.
- SV Group: One of Switzerland's largest hospitality and catering groups, operating staff restaurants, event catering, and hotel F&B. Comparable because it serves the same Swiss corporate and event catering market, though at significantly larger scale and a more institutional service model.
- Mövenpick Restaurants: Established Swiss hospitality brand with restaurant and event catering operations. Overlaps with Black Fork on the premium Swiss dining and event catering customer base.
Emerging players
- Cozymeal: Marketplace for private chef experiences, cooking classes, and food tours. Comparable to Black Fork's private dining offering and chef-led experience positioning, with broader geographic reach but a marketplace model.
- Take a Chef: Global online marketplace connecting customers with private chefs for in-home dining experiences. Comparable to Black Fork's private dining service line and chef-talent-driven model, though operating as a platform rather than a single culinary team.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Black Fork social profiles
Digital presenceBlack Fork financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Black Fork leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Black Fork funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Black Fork 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 Black Fork
What does Black Fork do?
Black Fork (Schwarze Gabel) provides bespoke catering and private dining services across Switzerland. The culinary team prepares customized menus on-site for corporate events, birthday parties, wedding aperitifs, and hosts in-home fine-dining experiences where the team cooks for guests at the customer's residence. The company also directs clients to the Gasthaus Löwen venue in Tuggen for events that fit a traditional restaurant setting.
Is Black Fork a public or private company?
Black Fork is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Black Fork founded?
Black Fork was founded in 2022. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Black Fork based?
Black Fork is headquartered in Sankt Gallen, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does Black Fork make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Catering Services are the primary driver. The others are private Dining and restaurant Venue (Gasthaus Löwen).
Who are Black Fork's main competitors?
PetitCatering is listed as a direct peer. Broad incumbents are Sodexo, ZFV Group, Compass Group, SV Group and Mövenpick Restaurants. Emerging players are Cozymeal and Take a Chef.
Does Black Fork have an API?
No public API is recorded for Black Fork.
What industry is Black Fork in?
Black Fork's product category is Catering Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSACAGAE, Private Chef & In-Home Dining Services, with a secondary code of THAJALAH, Private Culinary Experiences (Chef’s Table, Home Dining, Market-to-Meal). Its NAICS code is 72232 and its SIC code is 5810.